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What are the Causes.... "Click" to Login or Register 
IHC Life Member

Picture of Jerry King
posted
I have a few (3 or 4) PW that will not run, either in the dial up or dial down position....other wise they run okay.

What is the reason for that?

What say you.... Confused

Regards,
Jerry
 
Posts: 2828 | Location: California in the USA | Registered: June 23, 2008
Picture of James H. Miller
posted
most the time i find that to be a broken staff and or jewel.if you lay it on the side they are good on it will run.Chris can help you out with them he is very good and dose not charge to much.
 
Posts: 279 | Location: Wheatridge, Colorado in the USA | Registered: January 20, 2008
IHC Life Member

Picture of Jerry King
posted
Doesn't appear to be a staff, but could be the jewel....

Chris has done great work for me in the past and I have a few that he will be getting....

Thanks, James....

Regards,
Jerry
 
Posts: 2828 | Location: California in the USA | Registered: June 23, 2008
IHC Life Member
posted
I think it could be a few different things. Bent balance pivot/or pivots. The pivot can jam against the side of the jewel in the dial up or dial down position easier than pendant up where it can "float" between the cap jewels. When you say "runs OK", does the balance have good motion in a pendant up or down, etc position? There is less gravity working on the balance in the vertical positions, so it might run, but not necessarily well. This could mean it just needs a good cleaning. Hairspring might be rubbing against something in different positions. Is the hairspring between the regulator pins? There are probably other reasons I can't think of right now, but it should be easy to diagnose once disassembled.

Roger
 
Posts: 1078 | Location: Ticonderoga, New York USA | Registered: March 01, 2008
posted
I have a watch that runs in all positions except dial down, would that be the same problems as explained above, or something else. It drives me crazy, but the watch looks good, any solutions,
Thanks,
Bill
 
Posts: 1278 | Location: British Columbia in Canada | Registered: May 19, 2008
IHC Life Member
posted
Hi Bill...Yes, it could be any of those. I would suspect a bent pivot, however.
 
Posts: 1078 | Location: Ticonderoga, New York USA | Registered: March 01, 2008
posted
Thanks for the info Roger,
what causes a pivot to bend or the other mishaps that are listed. Would dropping the watch do that type of thing. Unfortunately I am a collector rather than a repairer. This watch shows no sign of abuse at all, either to the case or the movement.
Thanks again,
Bill
 
Posts: 1278 | Location: British Columbia in Canada | Registered: May 19, 2008
IHC Life Member
posted
Bill...Dropping or a sharp jolt is about the only way I know that a pivot can bend. They will often break because the material is so hard. The pivot could also be worn or there may be dirt in a jewel or a cracked or broken jewel. If you would like I would be happy to look at it for you and determine the cause of the problem. If it needs a simple repair there will be no charge except for shipping back to you. If it is more involved, such as restaffing, I will let you know before I do anything. BTW...I hope we are talking about an American Pocket Watch. I can make repairs to others, but parts can be a problem.
 
Posts: 1078 | Location: Ticonderoga, New York USA | Registered: March 01, 2008
posted
Roger,
I appreciate the offer to look at my watch, but this particular one is a swiss one, unfortunately.
Let me sit on this one for a bit, I have someone that is actually interested in buying it off of me, knowing that it has a problem, so will see where that goes first.
Thanks again for the offer, this could only happen in this club.
Bill
 
Posts: 1278 | Location: British Columbia in Canada | Registered: May 19, 2008
IHC Life Member
Certified Watchmaker
Picture of Chris Abell
posted
Hi Jerry,

This is not uncommon, and hopefully a thorough COA and some pivot polishing will restore them, most watches will show a decrease in amplitude when moved from horizontal to vertical, once stating to fail this drop is emphasized.
Of course there are many reason that can also happen if it was working well and has not been dropped etc dirt would be my first guess hopefully. As for bent pivots I have had a run of watch recently that have had the upper pivots bent form poor removal of the balance cock being lifted at a angle
 
Posts: 2625 | Location: Northeast Texas in the USA | Registered: November 20, 2003
IHC Life Member
posted
Chris...Thank you for checking in on this topic...your vast experience is obvious and I appreciate reading your posts.

Roger
 
Posts: 1078 | Location: Ticonderoga, New York USA | Registered: March 01, 2008
IHC Member 376
Watchmaker
Picture of Samie L. Smith
posted
Jerry some good advice has already been posted.

Bill something you might check is the endshake on your watch,s balance ,, when a watch won,t run in dial down or up position there could be too much endshake.If there is too much endshake it will allow the pivot too drop down so far down that it will no longer be in the jewel, the watch will stop, but when you turn the watch over it will drop back in the jewel and take off running again.
 
Posts: 3208 | Location: Monticello, Kentucky U.S.A. | Registered: June 24, 2004
IHC Life Member

Picture of Jerry King
posted
Yes, you are correct, Samie & I thank one and all for the professional advice....

One of the watches I was refering to is a 12s GM Wheeler Elgin and I gave it a full wind a couple of day ago and it is still running, but only in the face up position....change positions and it stops immediately....This one will be going to Chris as soon as I can find a case for it. Big Grin

Thanks again to all....

Regards,
Jerry
 
Posts: 2828 | Location: California in the USA | Registered: June 23, 2008
posted
You might look for a tilted hair spring or a roller table that has not been fully seated.
 
Posts: 160 | Location: Hartville, Ohio in the USA | Registered: August 18, 2005
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