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Showing content with the highest reputation on 03/01/15 in all areas

  1. As promised, here's the reassembly of the watch who's fusee I posted photos of: First, here's the bottom plate with the fusee, centre wheel, lever, escape wheel & 4th wheel in position: and the fusee ratchet paw on the top plate: The plates are joined & pivots located in their holes & pins replaced. (This watch was a non-runner when I got it & the lever had a rather badly bent pivot which I straightened & I'm hoping this was the only problem stopping it running): At this stage it's best to fit the 3rd wheel bridge, solely to protect the 4th wheel pivot which also has it's hole in the bridge: Next fit the barrel: and the barrel bridge: Next the fusee chain needs fitting - the hook end goes in the fusee & the pointy barb end in the notch on the barrel Apologies but it's not possible to photograph the actual chain fitting, but after fitting fit the blued steel barrel ratchet, add some tension (say half a turn of the ratchet) then screw in the ratchet click to hold it in place: Now fit the 3rd wheel & replace the bridge: At this point it's worth winding some chain onto the fusee & check that the lever snaps to & fro with a little movement of it with a cocktail stick...this shows that power is getting through the train. Then the balance wheel can be fitted - the staff has a safety roller & jewel peg like a Swiss lever escapement: Here the balance cock has been fitted & it's ticking nicely Part two will come later when I'm satisfied all is well which will take a few days of windings...I'm not 100% happy with it at the moment as after running for a minute or so it kept losing power to the lever & stopping...having said that, after some fiddling it's running now...it could be that the fusee is not giving maintaining power...if it continues to play up I'll have to strip it down again & investigate....anyway, hope that was interesting!
    2 points
  2. When asking for help it would be nice if you would give us the model number. So pulling out one of my books an automatic watches as a guess it look like a longines 19a Or perhaps a 19as. So I've attached Your photograph with a circle as to where the set lever screw Is. Then googling I found some helpful links for you with lots of pictures. http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?12&ranfft&0&2uswk&Longines_19A http://archive.horlogerie-suisse.com/vintages/longines/longines-calibre-19A-14350209.html http://watchguy.co.uk/service-longines-conquest-calibre-19as/
    2 points
  3. I finally finished servicing my Rolex submariner this weekend and I encountered few issues. I thought it might be useful to share the repair for anyone on the forum who tackles a Rolex 3135. Stripping the watch down & cleaning was textbook really with no issues by following Marks Vid. This is the cleanest watch i have ever cleaned The only obvious dirt was on the oscillator weight axle & the mainspring barrel. MAIN SPRING The first issue i encountered was the mainspring winder that I have been using for a while was not up to the task. The winders correct barrel shaft for the watch barrel was way to fat. I tried to use a smaller barrel with the correct shaft BUT because in effect I was fitting the spring into a barrel that was too small the catch that the spring hooks onto snapped & unbelievably the snapped part got wedged in between the shaft & spring. After fiddling for along time trying to release it, the spring flew hit the workshop door (see pic). I therefore had to fit a generic spring. KIF SHOCK SPRINGS The other issue was I removed & cleaned the balance jewels with no issues. However when I lifted the top KIF retaining clip of the escape wheel it flew and disappeared (found it this morning attached to the underside of the watch clamps adjusting thread!!!). i purchased two replacement clips but I just could not get them to fit & I eventually bent them. However on my next attempt I used a tip from noirrac (Joe) which was to cover the springs & bridge with cling film. This worked a real treat. However as this watch was in a very clean condition I thought I would be prudent & I lubricated the bottom jewel with a Bergeon Auto oiler. STRANGE ISSUE. before the service this watch was running consistently (never off my wrist for the 6 years) + 20secs. a day. So I purchased a microstella tool expecting to make regulation adjustments. However when I put the watch on the timegrapher after the service it showed either 0 or +3sec. depending on its position without any adjustment. The only explanation I can think of it is now fitted with a generic mainspring which is shorter in length. I also get a very brief bit of snow when changing position so I guess there might be a end shake issue with the balance but this is beyond my abilities at present Mark or somebody else might have a possible reason but I have no complaints it was a pleasant surprise. I would have liked to have changed the crown seals but could not find genuine Rolex seals or how to fit. I will do this when i source some. CONCLUSION. I would never have tackled this service if it was someone else's watch.But with Marks excellent vid & the help from this forum I thought it was worth attempting. The Rolex is a top quality movement and in my opinion servicing needs to be only be attempted with good guidance the correct tools. One dead Rolex mainspring Dial UP Dial DOWN Crown DOWN ON MY WRIST JOB DONE
    1 point
  4. Bluddy ell Geo, do you live on the tropical west coast? or is it due to this global warming cobblers?? I occasionally cut lawns for a living & aint even thought about sharpening the blades yet. Mind you, I do live in the English version of outer Mongolia.
    1 point
  5. I agree with John, if you have not disassembled watches before, take it to a watchmaker. Regarding what I said earlier about pressing down on the screw, I have just ahead a look at a picture of the keyless work and it looks like it could be a possibility. The setting lever spring is pressing down on top of the lever and preventing it from releasing the broken stem. If you back off the screw a couple of turns then press down on it, it will push against this flat spring and should free off the stem. If you look at the middle top of the picture you will see the back of the screw in the centre of the lever with the flat oddly shaped spring to the right of it. It is this spring that is preventing the lever from disengaging from the stem.
    1 point
  6. If you really can't get the stem out and disassembly the watches definitely not in the beginners category a compromise would be to remove the dial. The setting parts are underneath and you can usually get the stem out sometimes if you're lucky without having to remove all the setting parts.
    1 point
  7. Thanks guys. Didn't manage to lay the floor. I had quite a lot of wood left over so decided to put it to good use by building a new desk for my computer and recording stuff. Spent the whole day yesterday on it and should finish that today. Then I can lay the floor (less dust). After that, laminate the worktops, fix the architrave's and skirting boards, move in, start working! :D
    1 point
  8. Just a thought guys, is there any chance that when you back off the screw identified by JohnR, that you would then push down on the head of the screw or what appears to be a button, to release the stem. I'm sure somewhere down the line I had to press down the screw head to release a stem, after backing it off. It's certainly worth a try before pulling the keyless work apart.
    1 point
  9. Hi, really glad you found it interesting & yes I'll happily do a future full walk-through...this one is completely dismantled so I might photograph the reassembly, then the dismantle with the next watch & then post in a few parts as it'll probably be rather long! :)
    1 point
  10. Listen here Bob! ... all these great pics and detailed explanations are going to have to stop! What?! Do you want the average man on the street to gain the knowledge, and confidence, to service his own watch ?!@#! :blink: This must end now, and this thread should be removed! I'll be writing to the admin of this forum to explain that watchmakers are a magical elect group, like ninjas :ph34r: :ph34r:, and our secrets must not be relieved!!
    1 point
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