Accutron 2181 Repace pawl finger (how to)

[LittleWatchShop]

I have changed this topic from slipping fourth wheel...

How do you remove the pawl finger?  I just broke one but I have a replacement once I figure out how to remove it.

Edited December 13, 2023 by LittleWatchShop

[ManSkirtBrew]

Pretty sure they just slide right off the top of the pin. They're a split collet, so you should be able to lift it with a hand lifter or the like.

[HectorLooi]

Use an oiler to turn the pawl finger away from the index wheel first. Then remove the two screws holding it. The pawl can then slide forward, out of the groove of the eccentric adjusting screw.

[LittleWatchShop]

Ok, maybe I was not clear. @ManSkirtBrewyou are correct. I just pried it off. The whole unit comes off as @HectorLooisaid but that was not what I really needed to know but was the correct guidance.

I have a donor, but I see that the finger is bent around the collet making it too short to hit the index wheel. I have removed the finger from the plate. Next, I will straighten it so that it will intersect the index wheel properly. But will wait until tomorrow when I am fresh!

Edited December 13, 2023 by LittleWatchShop

[LittleWatchShop]

An update. On the donor, pawl finger, I was able to straignten it out.  The images show what I mean (I show a bent one and a straightened one...just the finger itself and the collet).

The collet was loose so I had to compress it.  I used a collet-closing tool I bought for hairspring collets.  Very handy!  It also held the collet while I was doing the bending.

It was trial and error getting the collet back on and at the right height to properly hit the index wheel, but I got it pretty close to centered.

The watch kindof runs though it appears to lurch slightly at the frequency of the index wheel.  I think that maybe the index wheel has some damage.

Another indicator is that the current on the test set is fine while the pawl is not engaged, but once engaged, the current goes just beyond the threshold for the 218.

It is a learner watch, so I continue to learn!!

 

[ManSkirtBrew]

5 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

getting the collet back on and at the right height to properly hit the index wheel

Apologies if you already know this, but the recommended procedure is to seat the collet all the way down and bend the post back or forwards to raise or lower the jewel.

6 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The watch kindof runs though it appears to lurch slightly at the frequency of the index wheel.

My experience has been that the index wheels are always out of round. This can make it challenging to get it to run smoothly.

In this video of a 218 I did, you can clearly see the wheel pulsing back and forth:

 

And in this video of phasing a 219, you can see it fully stopping at the high points:

 

Are you phasing with the battery, or with a variable power supply?

[LittleWatchShop]

-----------

Further observations:

The Accutron 218 movement holder (I inherited) is far better than a conventional movement holder.  It clamps on to the movement very secure.

Second, I do not know how anyone could work on one of these without a microscope.  I have the Bulova microscope but I am using my stereo for this work.

2 minutes ago, ManSkirtBrew said:

Are you phasing with the battery, or with a variable power supply?

Using a battery installed on the test set.

3 minutes ago, ManSkirtBrew said:

Apologies if you already know this, but the recommended procedure is to seat the collet all the way down and bend the post back or forwards to raise or lower the jewel.

Yes, I read this but forgot it.  I will revisit this issue today.

 

3 minutes ago, ManSkirtBrew said:

My experience has been that the index wheels are always out of round

The couple that I have looked at also corroborate this.

[LittleWatchShop]

On 12/13/2023 at 3:55 PM, HectorLooi said:

Use an oiler to turn the pawl finger away from the index wheel first. Then remove the two screws holding it. The pawl can then slide forward, out of the groove of the eccentric adjusting screw.

@HectorLooi, I asked @ManSkirtBrewabout his Accutron cleaning method and am curious about yours. He uses ultrasonic and L&R clean/rinse

[HectorLooi]

I reinstall the fork, index wheel and pawl back onto the mainplate. The index and pawl fingers must be turned away from the index wheel to prevent damage.

I clean all the parts in L&R #111 and Rinse #3 in my ultrasonic cleaner. 

[LittleWatchShop]

1 minute ago, HectorLooi said:

my ultrasonic cleaner

How is it configured?  Do you fill the ultrasonic with water and put your parts in a jar filled with the cleaner and then put the jar in the ultrasonic bath?  Picture?

[HectorLooi]

I put all the small parts and screws in parts baskets then load them into a jar fill with the solution and put the jar into the ultrasonic filled with water.

[LittleWatchShop]

26 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

reinstall the fork, index wheel and pawl back onto the mainplate

This seems scary.  The index and pawl fingers vibrate in the watch, so I guess vibrating in the US is OK.  Still seems scary.

[ManSkirtBrew]

2 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

This seems scary.  The index and pawl fingers vibrate in the watch, so I guess vibrating in the US is OK.  Still seems scary.

It's scary to me, that's for sure. The only thing I leave on the mainplate is the index wheel. I reinstall it and the upper bridge, then put them in their own basket.

The fork and pawl bridge get separately cleaned in fresh hairspring dip.

Edit: from the 218 service manual:

Edited December 15, 2023 by ManSkirtBrew

[LittleWatchShop]

Update on this watch.

I was running crazy fast which I attribute to incorrect setting of the index and pawl fingers.  After making further adjustments, the current is now in range and appears to be keeping time.  I will put it on the Vibrograf and check it later today and report back.

[RichardHarris123]

I'm finding this thread really interesting but I don't have a clue what anyone is talking about.  I  could Google it but I  haven't worked on an Accutron and probably would have to do so to fully understand. 

[LittleWatchShop]

[JohnR725]

17 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

his seems scary.  The index and pawl fingers vibrate in the watch, so I guess vibrating in the US is OK.  Still seems scary.

Hopefully it's okay because typically I always clean tuning fork watches in the cleaning machine with ultrasonic. Always clean the index wheel in the ultrasonic. Always try to remember not to clean the tuning fork because it's amazing how much metal particles floating around in the cleaning machine.