Expert: Martin Meyer - 11/3/2007

Question
Martin,

I asked John Newman about my Urgos movement stopping.  He was supposed to get back to me, but he didn't, and now he's on vacation.  Will you go to the thread titled "Urgos movement stopped" dated 10/14/07 and see if there's any more advice you can offer me?

Thank you,
Dave

Answer
Hi Dave,
    There's very little I can add to John's thorough and detailed answers.
    Your problem is clearly the adjustment of the verge's depth of engagement onto the escape wheel. All the Urgos movements that I can think of have the rear pivot of the verge mounted in a bearing hole on a small plate on the back of the clock. This small plate also mounts the post which holds the suspenson spring.
    Theoretically, the only way to increase this engagement is to lower this small plate. Two screws hold the small plate onto the back main plate of the clock. If the holes in the small plate are vertically oval, you can loosen the screws and lower the plate a tiny amount. If the holes are round, you would have to file them oval to allow the plate to be lowered. I said "theoretically" because, in practice, this adjustment lowers the entrance pallet of the verge, but lowers the exit pallet little or not at all. The anchor-type verge on this movement is not able to be adjusted, which is what would be necessary to increase the engagement of the exit pallet.
    As John explained, the problem is wear on either the pallet faces or escape wheel teeth. Beyond a limited amount, adjustment cannot compensate for this wear.
    If your clock is 20 years old, the movement is at the end of its expected life span anyway, lubrication and maintenance notwithstanding. You may be fighting a losing battle, and it might be time to replace the movement with a new one.