Adjusting Speed - Hermle Floating Balance Escapement

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:19 pm     Post subject: Adjusting Speed - Hermle Floating Balance Escapement

Hi

If I need to adjust my clock to slow it down how would I go about doing it?
Many thanks for your responses

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:47 pm     Post subject: Adjusting fast/slow on Hermle floating balance

There is a triangular 'spider' on top of the balance wheel. On the back plate you will see both a + and a - sign. Carefully hold the balance wheel stationary. Using a fine screwdriver or small tool with a fine point, move the spider in the direction desired to either speed up (+) or slow down (-) the movement. There are dimples around the circumference of the balance. The spider should only be moved in small increments a couple of dimples a a time. Release the balance. Allow 24 hours and observe the amount of gain or loss before making any further adjustment.

Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 6:10 pm     Post subject:

Hi

I have had a look at the back of the clock. You are correct on the backplate there is +/- sign. This is next to the balance wheel, above this is another +/- on a plate and protuding from this plate is some type of screw, the plate itself has a piece of metal coming from it with a gap which the wheel itself swings through. Which one of the 2 do I adjust. The clock is a moonphase clock, added that incase the top screw is for this. The +/- on the backplate is under what looks like a thin headed screw that sits flush with the backplate.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:06 am     Post subject: Hermle balance

Don't touch any of the screws. The speed adjustment is on top of the balance wheel (the horizontal wheel that oscillates left and right). Note the three fingers spaced out around the top of the balance wheel. I referred to it as a spider in the previous posting. Moving it in the direction of the minus sign will slow the movement down.

The moonphase has nothing to do with the balance. The moon gear is on the handshaft on the front of the movement and turns with the hour hand.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:40 am     Post subject:

I am really sorry but I cannot see the spider. I have given a link for the movement I have, rather than try to explain it.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lukegleave/images/hermlemechanicalmovements3.jpg.

I do appreciate your help[/img]

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:43 am     Post subject:

Sorry that link does not seem to work. The movement I have is the 340-020.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:54 am     Post subject:

The newer style floating balance does have a screw as you descibed to regulate the timekeeping. Turning the screw in the direction of the + Speeds the clock up the oposite slowes it down.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:27 pm     Post subject:

Many thanks. Would it be the screw that sticks out at the top or the screw that sits flush in the back plate. I think it is the one at the top, on top of this screw is a little plate with a bobble on the end of it. This little plate then extends left and has a piece of metal that hangs down with a little slit in it through which a flat coil spring moves left to right in it. Once again thanks for your help

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 12:36 pm     Post subject:

Yes what you are speakig of is the proper screw to adjust. The peice with the slit that the hairspring passes through is what actualy alters the timekeeping by shotening or lengthening the effective length of the hairspring.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:03 pm     Post subject:

thank you very much. The -sign has a downward pointing triangle, does this mean I turn to the right to slow it down? Last question I promise

Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:39 pm     Post subject:

Yes to the right slows it. Be sure the screw driver is not magnetized you can check by trying to pick up a small peice of steel or a little steel screw with the screw driver. I dont think you need to worry about asking questions im pretty sure thats what this forum is for? I am just passing by on this site, but im sure there are others that can help?

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:57 am     Post subject: Hermle balance

I have yet to have one of the Hermle balance movements with the screw adjustment. The previous style that I mentioned had been around for more years than I can recall and I still have a few of them. Hopefully the new style will be as reliable (or better than) the older type.

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:42 am     Post subject:

They certainly are easier to adjust, they no longer have the balance on a tube that slides over a piano wire or the heiliciol spring that floats the balance. The balance is on an arbor with pivots and a regular hair spring.

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:29 pm     Post subject:

It certainly makes it easier for non experts like myself, however haveing said that it is still confusing for the following reason. On the back plate itself the + sign has a triangular arrow that points down & the - sign one that points up & just below the adjusting screw it is the other way around. Which way do I turn to slow it down?

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:22 am     Post subject:

The markings on the back plate are left over from the old style balance dont pay any attention to that, stick to the markings on the balance unit itself and as long as there is no other problems with the movement it should effect the changes you desire.

Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 2:15 pm     Post subject:

I have moved the adjustment screw both ways and it still seems to gain about 4 minutes each day. The clock has been recently serviced (so I am told). Any ideas?

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:23 pm     Post subject:

you need to turn the screw about 4 full turns clockwise to slow it down.

of this is assuming it has a good action on the balance (balance should be turning a full swing) . a poor action could make it gain.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:06 pm     Post subject:

clokfxr

Thanks for your reply. Did not realise that I had to turn it so far. I have only been doing small turns. The balance does do a full turn. I thought clockwise sped up the movement.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:40 pm     Post subject:

From what I understand by trawling the internet one turn = 10 seconds. The clock is still running fast. I managed to get it to 2mins a day and adjusted even further. It then went back to 5 mins a day gaining time. I think I have adjusted almost as far as it can go. It is almost at the end of the grooves on the adjusing screw. It does seem to be turning a circle (balance wheel) If it help the gain seems to come mainly within the 1st 12 hours, ie if I adjust a 7pm by 7 am most of the 5 mins are gained, then it gains 5 mins per 24 hours after that.

Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:05 pm     Post subject:

It sounds like you dont have suficient motion of the balance. im not sure if it was talked about in previos post as to the age of the movement. I think i seen in a previous post that yours was marked (FHS) which means this is an older movement and because it has a newer style balance unit in it means it has been worked on before. When looking in the rear of the clock, and underneath of the balance wheel itself, in close to the axis is a pin (roller pin) you should also see a brass lever that comes up from beneath that has a 90 dergee bend inwards, the lever clicks back and forth as the balance rotates it is pushing that pin. With the balance stop the pin would come to rest toward the rear plate of the movement or near the lever. With any power at all the lever will start pushing the pin back and forth. under its own power the pin has to make a 360 degree minimum swing or in other words 180 degrees from the center of the levers travel. With less than one full turn of motion, the movement needs serviceing or replacement.