Internet Horology Club 185
pocket watch runs fast.Solved.
August 02, 2012, 12:48
Peter Kaszubskipocket watch runs fast.Solved.
Hi all I have one pocket watch that just run fast
so far gain 35 minutes in 8 hours.
What can be done to slow it down also watch been service last year.
and what can cause the watch to run fast.
August 02, 2012, 12:59
Jared Brinkerpeter. Very possible to be a hairspring issue someplace. running that fast means the balance wheel is getting too short of a motion. As I said before, probably a haispring issue where it is either rubbing the ballance, the frame, or itself. It could also be a power issue. either way it would probably need to be looked at for further analysis. if none of these items are it, then the balance coul dhave more weight added, but this is a last resort after everything is thoroughly checked before this.
Jared
August 02, 2012, 13:25
Tom Bruntonsometimes just demagnetizing will do the trick

August 02, 2012, 16:37
Buster BeckThis is a blessing in disguise Peter !! You will never be late for another engagement

Just reset your watch every morning !!
A win~win

regards,
bb
August 02, 2012, 20:24
Dan CarterI agree with Jared. I have a
Hamilton 952 that ran REALLY fast after I cleaned it and installed new mainspring. It turns out that 2 of the balance screws were WAY too short. I took some pictures and you can find them at the link above. But like Jared said, get it completely checked out to make sure that there aren't other issues with it as well.
Dan
August 02, 2012, 22:00
David AbbePeter, when a watch runs that much faster "all of a sudden" the usual cause is a "thrown" balance screw.
To check for this, let the watch "run down", then open the watch and carefully inspect the balance wheel to confirm that
EVERYbalance screw position on the wheel is "paired" with a screw 180 degrees around the wheel.
My guess is one came off.
August 02, 2012, 22:10
Peter KaszubskiWell if one is off I would have find by now
this watch is size 18 full plate so no way for screw to hide.
could be that one screw is not tight?
But I will check per your instruction Dave.
Thanks all for the imput
Could that be that the watch some how got magnetize in transportation?
August 03, 2012, 00:02
Buster BeckMake sure the hairspring is "inside" the two regulator pins Peter and should have just a bit of wiggle room to vibrate back and forth between them as it "breathes".
It definitely could become magnetized by passing thru some scanners the shipping services use.
I would check the pins and demagnetize it. Then it might have to go see the watch doctor.
regards,
bb
August 03, 2012, 13:38
Peter Kaszubskiall screws are there hairspring is between two pins
so now what?no missing balance screw.
August 03, 2012, 15:32
Jim BielefeldtYou could try adding more weight to the balance. If it speeds up you know that ballance is not making complete spins. If it slows down its spinning to fast.
August 03, 2012, 16:07
Buster BeckRead pg 79 of the price guide and follow the directions and check the degree of motion the balance makes.
You haven't said whether you demagnetized the watch ??
Adding weight to a balance is a fine art and shouldn't be attempted without knowing what one is doing. One needs a scale and a steady hand and a good supply of weights to try and balance out or equal two exact halves of a balance.
Make sure your weights are paired up all around the balance by each one half[180 degrees] of the 360 degrees that the balance consists of. Another words make sure there is a "like" screw 180 degrees away from each screw exactly [pairs], as pointed out earlier.
I would guess that your balance is throwing less than a 180 degree arc of vibration. 180 degrees is required to keep close time and 220 degrees is better. A watch throwing less than 180 degrees will run fast.
If you're balance is throwing a minimum 180 degree arc, your balance screws are paired, the watch is not magnetized, it was serviced last year, the hairspring is between the regulator pins, and it kept good time after your watch was serviced, there may be oil on the hairspring somewhere, two or more coils may now be touching each other as it breathes, or there now may be rust on the hairspring.
regards,
bb
August 03, 2012, 16:49
Peter KaszubskiThanks Buster,
After reading and looking under 20X loop i think
i found the problem here is the picture
looks like the hairespring is rubbing touching
the balance cock and not breathing to full potential.
So I push the hairspring pin down and tight the pin
screw.
Watch runs near perfect for 130 years old
