Need advice winding Hamilton Model 21 chronometer (NAVSHIPS pages)

My Hamilton model 21 with both boxes arrived today,and seems mechanically fit,and runs for about 10 seconds before stopping. It looks in about mint condition , and is I-D'd to a Victory Ship,the "SS New Rochelle Victory". However though it appears to be fully let down, when I try to wind it it seems to be locked or jammed and will not wind? Anyone have any idea what this signifies???? .

Hi Tom,
WAS it shipped without the balance not being blocked ?( That a no no) .Dose the indicator show any power. Are
you winding the right way ? My advice is find a qualified person to look at it. You may want to return it. If you are not careful it could end up a deep money pit.
Hub.

hi Hub; yes it was shipped without the balance corked but was extremely well packed and bubble wrapped and double boxed and the balance appears to be fine. However , it's fully wound down and on inserting the key it just won't turn in the winding direction. There is no spring tension against the key ,it's just rock solid and will not wind!!!

Hi Tom
Have you had it out of tub? Take it out.
Try winding the main spring a couple turns , Make sure you wind the right way . If you go wrong way
arbor could break . I still think you be ahead to
find qualified persons help . Go to u tube type model 21,get a model 21 manual . Be careful ,
or it could cost some real money to fix. I have
two 21,reg. & break cir.
Hub.

Here are a few pages from NAVSHIPS 250-624 that show the winding and setting of the 21

Next page

Running & winding cycles

thanks Hub and Robert.

Tom, is the fusee chain on the barrel or on the fusee? There is a wind stop that comes into play when the fusee chain passes over it. You can see this in the previous description. If the chronometer has not been cleaned in a long time then this bar could be stuck in the lock position.
Paul

hi Paul; the chain is on the fusee as shown in photo,and the key works in reverse only,seems locked out in wind mode,??? The movement appears not to be taking power from the fusee,or the fusee is not getting power from the spring drum,Tom

Tom, from your photo it doesn't look like the fusee chain is attached to the spring barrel. It should look like it does in figure 12 above. I will post a few more pages from the NAVSHIPS manual on the reassembly of the fusee and barrel when I get a chance to scan them.

excellent eyesight and understanding of the problem,Robert. On closer examination that is exactly the state of affairs with the fusee chain ,it is not attached to the spring drum !!! and I don't know how to re-attach it!!!

SO I'M GUESSING THE FUSEE IS WOUND FULLY UP BUT SINCE THE CHAIN WAS NOT ATTACHED ,THE SPRING DRUM IS FULLY UNWOUND ????

Tom, here is a page from NAVSHIPS 250-624 that shows how the chain is attached to the barrel (fig 75)

And here is another that shows the sequence for the initial winding ,steps 53 through 56. I assume that when it says to wind the mainspring in step 56 that it is done by winding the mainspring barrel arbor not the one on the fusee. Hopefully someone who has actually done this will comment if that's not correct!

Here is a little more info from an article that Doug Sinclair did on servicing the Model 21:

"The proper way to set up the mainspring on these chronometers is to wind all of the fusee chain around the fusee
except for about 3 inches and then to position the fusee in the movement. The mainspring barrel is then fitted, and the
other end of the chain is hooked to the barrel. At this point, the mainspring is completely run down. The barrel bridge
and ancillary parts are then assembled, the balance wheel and cock are fitted, and then the mainspring is fully wound,
after which it is let down by the method shown earlier, about a quarter of a turn. During normal operation of the
chronometer, winding actually occurs at the arbor on the fusee, not at the barrel arbor."

On seeing this new photo, I concur with Robert. Of course you will have to find out why it has come detached. Could be a broken mainspring. Look closely as there could be ancillary damage from whiplash.
Paul

After reading this post, I am paranoid. I purchased a very nice Model 21 via an online auction (N869). The photo shows it is wound down completely. Im thinking that those folks would not have a clue on how to lock the balance down or cork it. Is there anything I can do other than double boxing to hope it gets here in one piece. I really don't want to try to walk some auction guy through locking the balance... any ideas?

Bruce, it should be partially wound and corked. Double bubble wont get rid of trouble!

Any ideas on walking a complete novice thru that complicated process? Hey Paul, You dont live near Melbourne Florida Do you? For that matter, any of our members live around there?

Bruce, I am about 75 mi from Melborne.

wish you were 75 miles from Aylmer Ontario and
could help with my Hamilton 21 LOL