Pallet Bridge Abuse

From time to time I see something like this.  The bridge for the pallet fork has been sloppily ground down on top.  The nickel finish is completely gone, and now it's all rough.  I think people do this because they've replaced the balance wheel and not trued it correctly, such that it rubs on the top of this bridge.

The correct thing to do is to shift the balance wheel up and make sure it stays true in flat and round.  One of the cardinal rules is never to alter what's there to fit a replacement part, always the other way around.  Also, nothing should ever be done that can not be undone.

File under "creative fixes"...