Re: Naive time-change question.

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:00:47 -0400, Moka Java
<rtwatches@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Olaf Peuss wrote:
Moka Java wrote:

Olaf Peuss wrote:
Strictly speaking, that's correct: Movements shouldn't be set
anti-clockwise as that might harm the wheel train.

Really? On a modern lever escapement watch? What exactly can be
harmed and why, how?

1. What does the type of escapement have to do with the ability of the
wheel train to withstand reverse setting?

I don't know. I'm not a watchmaker, are you? I have several verge

Damn, I wish i knew a watchmaker.. ;)
I've said this before a few times. It is very rare that setting any
watch backwards would cause a problem(date argument aside), but the
possibility does exist.
You can damage the escapement on any watch, if the escapement(mainly
it's safety features) are out of whack. Now this out of whackness
could happen tomorrow to your watch, the safety pin is a very slight,
um.. pin on the pallet fork, which a knock could move and it would no
longer provide protection when the balance is on it's swing, this in
turn can allow the pallet to drop back slightly and be collected by
the returning balance..
Don't get paranoid about it though, the only reason i chime into these
discussions is that too many people tend to think that the damage is
an impossibility, which it is not. Being aware is half the battle and
i hate resetting pallet jewels or replacing roller pins. :-)

escapement watches that are 200+ years old. I am told by watchmakers
that I should not set them backwards. I don't know why but since they
are rare, old it's difficult to find someone willing to repair them, I

Same reason as above, but the verge has no safety features to start
with. It is more akin to a pendulum clock escapement than a watch one,
even the cylinder escapements are more protected.
When you turn the hand backwards, the little flaps on the balance will
collide with the (now backwards driven) escape wheel's tooth. Right on
the tip of it, which is not good for the flimsy balance staff they
usally have, or for the tooth.

--

Regards, Frank
.

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