Reply To: lining up escape wheel pivot holes

[arutha]

Great idea William,
just make sure whatever piece of wire you use is perfectly straight otherwise this could cause a problem. I like to check my escape wheel pivots by chucking them up in my watch makers lathe and then lining them up with the tail stock. Once you know the arbor and pivots are true you will soon know if there is a problem with the plates. It is not unknown for a previous repairer to do a bushing and move the centre of the hole enough to make the wheel bind. If this is the case you can plug the incorrect hole with brass wire and then find the centre again by using the other clock plate for reference using a pair of dividers and using two holes that run to and from the wheel that would be in the hole that is incorrect. If both sides have been done badly you will struggle unless you have a depthing tool.
Paul.