Why are some balances harder to reinstall than others?

[ColinC]

I have a few watches where I have really struggled to get the balance back in.

On some watches the balance jumps into life as you are putting it in place and others it just seems impossible to get the pivots to line up and get the pallet fork always seems to be in the way.

I also seem to find that those watches where I struggle are also the ones where I have poor amplitude problems...

Any tips or tricks?  Is what I am seeing with the difficult ones a symptom of a problem with the watch (or is just a problem with me  )?

Out of desperation I have tried a few things and had some success with them

1. Removing the shock setting jewels before installing the balance - This did seem to make it easier.  I am assuming the problem could be a bent pivot here (It didn't look bent but then perhaps a couple of degrees is hard to see!)
2. Installing the balance without any power in the mainspring.  I have has success with this tactic in a case where I really struggled with the pallet fork being in the way.

Edited November 10, 2023 by ColinC

[Neverenoughwatches]

4 hours ago, ColinC said:

I have a few watches where I have really struggled to get the balance back in.

On some watches the balance jumps into life as you are putting it in place and others it just seems impossible to get the pivots to line up and get the pallet fork always seems to be in the way.

I also seem to find that those watches where I struggle are also the ones where I have poor amplitude problems...

Any tips or tricks?  Is what I am seeing with the difficult ones a symptom of a problem with the watch (or is just a problem with me  )?

Out of desperation I have tried a few things and had some success with them

1. Removing the shock setting jewels before installing the balance - This did seem to make it easier.  I am assuming the problem could be a bent pivot here (It didn't look bent but then perhaps a couple of degrees is hard to see!)
2. Installing the balance without any power in the mainspring.  I have has success with this tactic in a case where I really struggled with the pallet fork being in the way.

The pallet fork is more prone to jumping around if there is power on, it can quickly get on the wrong side of the impulse stone. Tip the movement holder up at the back to help the balance come in at angle,  sort of a scooping motion of the movement under the dangling balance.

[mikepilk]

Kalle has some tips 

 

[ColinC]

23 hours ago, mikepilk said:

Kalle has some tips 

Thanks - Don't think I have seen that one before.  I have watched both this and  Alex Hamilton's similar post.  I can definitely improve my technique here!
 

[mikepilk]

It's one of those things that you struggle with as a beginner, but then find it much easier with practice.  Though some movements are easier than others, and I still don't manage it first time on some. (I hate movements with old blue hairsprings, especially Omega, which are really soft, so that you can't let the balance hang. I always lay a finger alongside the balance to prevent anything falling off the edge - the number of times the balance cock or wheel fell over the side and bent the spring )

[oldhippy]

Just keep practicing it will soon pay off and i won't take long.  

[RichardHarris123]

Most of the time straight in, just like the videos, sometimes half an hour later and after much swearing, I'm glad that the hairspring is intact.