Reply To: Removal of a CANNON PINION

[Bob Tascione]

Hi BYJWR1,
Yes, it sounds like your safety pinion may have kicked in and saved your watch!
Might want to check the mainspring condition and if it’s good then make sure its not letting loose from the arbor or barrel.

Those Elgin cannon pinions usually come off without much effort. As Paul suggests you can make a couple of simple pry bars out of some steel rod but it’s sometimes difficult to find a place for them to grab on the cannon pinion. If you have the bridge removed from the other end of the center arbor you can use a tiny punch and press the center arbor out of the cannon pinion. I usually use a dull pair of “nipper” (straight edge) tweezers and just pull the cannon pinion “straight” off of the arbor. Must be careful not to squeeze too hard and to pull straight. I’ve been doing this for a while so I’m comfortable with it. Not suggesting that you do it this way as it may not be something you would be comfortable doing.

Hope this helps BYJWR1. Please let us know how it goes.
Bob