SP5B - 8 day mode
Hi Steve, firstly thank you for your amazing clock design! I've had fun building the SP5B in 8 day mode, but had some issues.
With a fully assembled test, sometimes it goes for 12 hours, sometimes for only 20 minutes, every time I start it again it seems to be random, but it's never been more than 12 hours. The pendulum swings around 2 to 3 degrees in either direction with a 2 Kg weight hinging directly without the pulley.
Sometimes I get the feel that it runs better after I've taken it all apart and put back together, or if I push the gears up or down on their arbours and start it again.
With the pendulum not connected to the escapement, it swings for around 6-7 minutes before stopping completely, I've tried 3 different types of bearings and tried IPA and white spirit to clean them that that's the best I can get it.
With a 500g weight and the pendulum not connected, the escapement can always start, but I feel like it has more or less power as the gear rotates, like when stopping it on one side it takes longer to start going again. I'm not sure if I'm just imagining that though. I attached a video showing it below.
Also the gears wobble when they turn like they're buckled or warped, I tried reprinting some of them with different filament but it's the same, I'm not sure if that's an issue?
I've checked that all gears have a bit of end wobble, and that the arbours aren't too long.
I did find my bearings were extremely tight on the rods. At first I tried pushing them on to the 3mm rods with a vice, but that broke some. So I've been grinding the ends of the rods thinner so the bearings can slide on. Is this normal? I've tried 3 different brand of bearings and the hole is always around 2.88mm. My rods are around 3.02mm. I'm in Europe, buying the bearings from Amazon. I'll try to order some more, since they should allow mere than 6-7 minutes anyway.