Hi.
I have just completed the going train of Allan Timmins 8day long case clock. I have set up the clock temporarily to observe the action of the escape wheel and anchor before progressing with the strike train and I have 2 questions. The first is "What constitutes excessive drop", my observation on the motion of the 'scape action leads me to think that there maybe excessive drop on the entering pallet, at least I have come to this conclusion based on the 'scape action on my previous clock, Wildings Elegant Skeleton Clock" which seems to have a smoother action. Although both the entering and leaving drop seem to be identical or very close, the entering pallet seems to drop heavily onto the 'scape wheel, or visa- versa .When I was filing up the pallets as I neared the scribe lines I cautiously filed each pallet until they released, I think I was as close as possible to perfection without risking a jam. A temporary paper hand on the 'scape wheel arbor shows some recoil but not much. This my second question how much recoil is enough and how do you measure it?
After depthing and assembling the 'scape wheel and anchor in the clock frames before attaching the pendulum, I put a little pressure on the 3rd wheel arbor and the escape wheel turned as the pallets oscillated just as they should. The clock has been ticking for 3 days without stopping and has the familiar tick-tock of a grandfather clock that I remember. I hate to start "adjusting" the drop if it is unnecessary and finish up damaging the escape mechanism. Any advice and guidance before proceeding would be appreciated.
Thank you David.