Learning to Identify Mechanical Clock Parts

Many of today’s mechanical timepieces are wind up and run by gears and stored energy, without the use of a battery. Thus, if you already own a watch of this kind, it is essential to know how to identify its parts. That way, you will be able to clearly point out where the problem is, thereby expediting the process of repair.

Start your education by unscrewing or popping off the face of the clock to reveal the mechanism underneath. Loosen the entire gear unit from the back casing of the watch. If you turn the unit on its side, you will begin to see the individual gears and springs within.

Pay close attention to the main wheel. This is the brass gear wheel that sits below a thin strip of metal that is tightly wound. Called the main spring, this strip holds a specific amount of energy based on its composition.

Now, move in closer to see the three gears of the wheel train below the main spring. These are gears that are positioned close together. They function by turning each other at a steady pace, thus keeping time. The biggest of the gears turns the minute hand while the smallest turns the second hand. The centre wheel then keeps pace between the two.

Train your sights next on the four components of the escapement gear that is just beside the wheel train. Notice that a fourth wheel sits beside the second hand gear as the escape wheel. This part then connects to the balance wheel on the further side of the wheel train. When the balance wheel swings, the corresponding spring that is located above the balance wheel will oscillate. This set of motions creates a divided time that is stored as energy to power the clock gears.