Reply To: runaway clock

[Bob Tascione]

Hi Ed and William,
I think your problem could possibly lie with the hairspring. A dirty, corroded or magnetized hairspring can cause what you’ve described. Check to see that no coils are making contact and/or sticking onto one another while the balance is oscillating. Also make sure that the hairspring is horizontal to the plane of the balance wheel and not making contact with the balance arm or bottom of the balance cock during any part of oscillation.
Another thing that can result in a fast rate is a missing balance screw.

Hope this helps Ed,
Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.
Bob