Balance oscillation

[rossjackson01]

Hello to all

Working on my own, as many of us do, we gain our experience from practice. Unless we ask a question about something we never realise that answer. Like many, I have become good at basic service and no longer have a problem in certain fields. Still working on some. But that's another story.

When I was learning I always had a particular problem .

Doing a build on the 'drive' side of the movement. I complete the build and install the balance. It oscillates well. Happy chappy! Even demagnetise and place on the Timegrapher. All ok. 

Until

Rotate the movement to 'dial up' and the oscillation stops. Dial down, starts again. 

No matter what I did. Dial down, ok. Dial up, stopped. Dial up, starts again. This occurred for many of my first builds. Infuriating. 

 

I no longer have that problem.  My pegging is rigorous. My clean is rigorous, My oiling is achieving good results.

 

Here's my question of my original problem. 

Why did the oscillation stop?

I've tried to find the answer in various locations in Youtube and in my books, but to no effect. It would be nice to know what caused it? Any possible information please?

Sorry to ask such a basic question. But, as I said. Working on you own at your desk. No one to ask. Practice makes perfect. But without the knowledge? What did practice overcome?

Regards

Ross

[Neverenoughwatches]

Even basic questions need answering Ross and its good that you still want to know what the issue was even though it has gone away. As we know different issues can have the same symptoms, but can you think of anything in particular that you changed ? could it be that you just got much better all round ?

[watchweasol]

Hi Ross.   Consider this, taking the watch as a whole. The Mspring supplies the power through a train of wheels , the escapement fork and lastly the balance. Now as we all know any interference in any of these areas can stop a watch ,it doesn’t take much. Now when a watch stops positional ie dial up dial down etc one has to understand what changes. In fact everything changes all the wheels run in another jewel bearing probably the only constant is the mainspring.the balance is very light and requires litt to stop it. You seem to have answered your own question with the fact the problem has gone away due to rigours pegging of jewel holes which means you were thinking on the right line diagnostically which is a brownie point to you .

The answer is a grain of dirt, bit of dried up oil in a jewel hole which only affects the movement positionaly

[rossjackson01]

Just in case others think "The answer is a grain of dirt, bit of dried up oil in a jewel hole which only affects the movement positionaly" was the only reason.

The reason for asking for alternatives was that it happened on at least 8 watches consecutively. I have not altered my cleaning method since. It was the same method that I use now. All pivots and gems were checked under microscope and all did appear correct. On three, I even stripped and re-cleaned. Same result. 

Ah well. Time to move on.

[praezis]

If the balance stops, there will be more than a bit of dirt. Did you check freedom of the hairspring to balance wheel and cock? Freedom of pallet fork to roller table? You probably did DD, the easy position.

But everything changes by vertical play of all staffs in DU, the uncomfortable position. Here rubbing of components can occur, check in this position, too.

[mikepilk]

I agree with Frank. Check balance end shake, balance and hairspring clearance in all positions,  pallet fork to roller clearance etc. Then check end shakes throughout the gear train.