Got the Accutron 218 running! Another question or two.

[ManSkirtBrew]

Sorry for the multiple threads. I'll be honest--I just noticed there was a separate forum for tuning fork watches So I'll keep my posts here.

I don't have the 344 silver oxide cells yet, so I'm adjusting with the 1.35v Accucell and the model 700 test set, per the service manual, to get a feel for how things work and to have a good starting point. This is really a learning experience. The index pawl is even more sensitive to tension than I expected.

So the first question is regarding the last few steps in the process:

Quote

9. Rotate the pawl bridge cam VERY SLOWLY in either direction until movement begins to run. TURN THE CAM FARTHER IN THE SAME DIRECTION UNTIL THE TRAIN STOPS, AND THEN CONTINUE STILL FARTHER UNTIL YOU REACH THE POINT WHERE IT STARTS AGAIN AND CONTINUES TO RUN (Momentary hesitation permissible)

10. Tighten the pawl bridge lock screw...the ACCUTRON train should continue to run.

I'm a little confused on the momentary hesitation part. Are they saying it's permissible while rotating the cam after it stops the first time, but before it continues to run consistently?

The other thing I'm wondering about is trueness of the index wheel. I noticed that the one on this movement is noticeably out of true at the rim. Is that normal?

I did my best to take a close-up video, and you can see the index and pawl jewels moving back and forth.

 

Edit: I was also using Henny Frystack's excellent video on the 214 here as reference, but it looks like the actual phasing part is cut out of it. He talks about the theory of it, but the practice seems to be cut off at 43:00. Anyone know if the rest of it is out there on the internets?

Edited June 5, 2023 by ManSkirtBrew

[nickelsilver]

The index wheels all seem to have a strangely large amount of runout. As long as the teeth are intact they just seem to work though. When phasing, I do as in the quote above, but I don't want to see any hesitation- smooth running only.

 

That's a shame they skip the actual phasing part in the vid! Henry was actually a guest instructor when I was in school to teach us Accutron work- interesting guy and he really did know his stuff.  You could check with AWCI, the American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute, who made the video; if you are a member you can check out books and videos from their library.

[Alastair]

Most are eccentric on their shafts Ive found--doesnt seem to make much difference--Providing they aint worn!

Hesitation--when you hit that second run position of the adjustment, although this happens rarely.