I was able to restaff my 1944 Waltham but had to use a new wheel.I have the roller jewel and collet in approximate location,any tips from all of you on setting the beat??

Also I have restaffed,cleaned and replaced mainspring w/a 2227 on a Waltham 23j Vanguard # 30,xx,xxx but I think the mainspring barrel is not right.if I start to wind the watch with pressure on the stem the balance will go,but once I let go it stopos.I notice the barrel cap does not snap in like others ,the arbor seats fine as well as the bridge and if I put slight pressure on the center wheel the balance goes as well.Any thoughts??

With the hairspring off and roller table in place you should first poise the balance assembly. Next you will need to vibrate the balance because this is a different balance wheel/hairspring combination than what was in the watch originally. Depending on how much correction you have to make during the vibrating process you might have to re-poise the balance again. After that is done you can put the hairspring back on and put the balance assembly in the watch by itself and check for good balance motion in all positions by a twist of the wrist and watching the balance go back and forth. If it goes for at least a full minute and comes to a nice gradual stop with no jerking, that is good. To place the watch in beat, when at rest the roller jewel should be centered between the banking pins when sighting along the pallet and escape wheel holes. The hairspring collet is turned to achieve this adjustment. Be prepared to spend a lot of time doing all this if you want to get it right.

Hi Mark, you have asked two very disparate questions. Roger, (bless him) explained the issues with changing the balance wheel and also setting the beat. While there are alternative methods, they all depend on understanding what Roger so clearly explained.

As for the Vanguard Mainspring situation, that is a true motor barrel design and NOTHING "snaps" into the spring barrel. It holds the spring by its outer pierced end and is only secured to the movement by the bottom end of the winding arbor which connects at the top to the click wheel and extends through the arbor stud motor wheel assembly to plug into the square hole of the spring barrel.

If the movement is not running when it is wound, but runs with pressnre on the center wheel, I suggest you take out the motor and make sure that everything there is together right. Also check the safety pinion, maybe it unscrewed and dropped when the apring broke originally.

Thank You Roger and David for your helpful replies.I do not have a poising yet,just a beginner at this,I did check it on a caliper,,, but I did get the Vanguard in beat ,and you were right on target David concerning the motor barrel!! I did not have the square arbor end finessed just right in the bottom of the spring barrel.What a thrill to get one of these beauties running again!

Mark