Another Speed Adjustment Issue

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:53 pm     Post subject: Another Speed Adjustment Issue

Like a previous posting, I have a mantle clock that has a timing issue. It had stopped working and cleaning it up some has got it working again but it runs VERY fast as in gaining a couple of minutes in fifteen minutes.

It has a balance wheel and I believe the same set up as the previous fellow said his had with the holes, I've adjusted the two wheels from one extreme to the other and it doesn't seem to affect the timing at all.

I can find no other way to affect the timing on the balance wheel or the works. The works are 340-020. Any help would be appreciated.

PS I wrote in awhile back about a broken main spring problem and with advice from this forum now have the clock working perfectly. Thanks guys for the support.

Bonehead

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:35 pm     Post subject:

Hi (ahem) Bonehead,

Just curious. I had a 340-020 do that to me too. It turns out that the balance wheel was "lazy", meaning that it wasn't swinging agressively at 270 degrees or better each way but rather maybe 45 or 60 degrees. The clock ran very fast due to this because wheels cycles were so short and no amount of adjusting would correct it. Maybe I'm not expressing myself correctly here. What I found out was that I inadvertantly tangled one of the turns on the balance spring while cleaning and oiling it. To fix it I took a toothpick and VERY gently stroked the spring with it and the tangle popped out and the balance wheel instantly returned to normal. keep in mind that this was a flat spring type and I think you may have the helix style, but maybe the same rules apply. Hopefully one of the other posters that know a lot more about this stuff than I do will chime in and give you some other ideas.

Jim

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:56 pm     Post subject:

yep - the balance is not turning enough.

a short swing will cause the time to go fast because the swing isn't a full turn at least.

i think yours will be the flat hairspring type and you need to make sure there is enough power getting to the balance to work correctly. there is no definitive way to measure how much power is getting there.

a strong 'tick' when its working will mean it should have enough power so check the fork of the pallets is deep enough towards the balance pin - should be about a third into the fork.