Tming it right

[nctinsley]

A week or so ago after cautiously dismantling, cleaning and lubricating, I managed to put life back into an old and unwanted Seiko automatic (with the invaluable help of the forum - and it is still working). I now need to know how to go about setting its consistent accuracy.
Is it simply trial and error?
In some instances adjusting the balance wheel regulator causes the balance spring to catch on the stud holder, seeming to deform the balance spring and stop the watch altogether. At which point I freak out, set things back to what they were before and have an inaccurate watch (+/- 5 minutes per day)
Whilst it must be a matter of finesse and incremental movement I would be grateful for any tips people may have come across in their experience to set both me and the watch on the right path.

Many Thanks again.

[aditya]

A picture would certainly help. Does the watch have beat adjustment? This means that apart from the regulator arm the hairspring stud is also mounted on a movable arm.

Does it 'tick-tock' correctly? If it is a 'ti-tock' (tick shorter than the tock) your watch might be out of beat.

To correct this I would dismantle everything and mount only the balance on the dial plate.

With the balance at rest the roller jewel should line up perfectly with the escape & fourth wheel jewels. It should also be perfectly centred between the banking pins.

If it is not, move the hairspring stud arm and observe the balance again after it comes to rest.

After the movement is assembled move ONLY the regulator arm.

Hope this helps.

Aditya

[mrwatch54]

Do you mean the hair spring catches on the two studs? It sounds like the hair spring stud is not at the correct height in the regulator. The spring should be inside the two studs with the spring level. Also to check the beat with out a timing machine let the main spring down and check if the pallet fork stops in the middle with out taking the movement apart. On the Seiko autos the hair spring should rest against one of the two studs. Most all other brands when it starts to tick the hair spring will move away and start contacting both studs as it picks up speed.