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I have been working on a valjoux 7740 chronograph and found quite a few problems with it. Already we are over budget on parts, but that's how it goes sometimes. The barrel was very worn and all the teeth were worn to around half length on another wheel. But now the watch is running fine I just have the Flyback lever to deal with. It is common for flyback levers to break where it is bent down 90ºs in order to engage the reset pusher but unfortunately the flyback lever for the 7740 is obsolete, can't find one on ebay so I thought it would be fun to see what I can do with the broken one. Not sure how this will pan out as I have not finished it yet but in theory this should work. Whenever I think outside the box like this I always try to think of non-destructive ways to execute the job so that it can be reversed easily if required. In this case, I am not modifying the watch movement in any way - just the broken flyback lever - this way, if a flyback lever is ever found in the future then it can be fitted with no problem and my modification discarded. As for recycling - I decided to use an old watch back for the material, because - why not? This is where the flyback lever goes... I softened the original flyback lever and drilled a hole - I am going to rivet an angled piece in order to engage the lever with the pusher. So I cut a piece out of a watch back :) Bent it about 90ºs and drilled a hole in it for the rivet. Turned a rivet on the lathe... And tried it all for size... So I now have to re-harden and temper the lever, then rivet the material to it, clean it all up, and give it a test. This may not pan out - but it's fun thinking outside of the box. I will update the thread to let you know wether it worked or not. What about you - any "out of the box" repair stories to share?

All, This is my first post to the group...hopefully the first of many. I wanted to let this community know that I've finally completed my project to digitize K&D's 163 page reference book from 1910 titled "Staking Tools and How To Use Them". This is the complete original book, including the tool catalog information that was omitted from previous reprints. High resolutions scans in color and b&w are available at: http://kanddinverto.weebly.com/staking-tools-and-how-to-use-them.html For those who just want a pdf of the complete book, I've posted it on my DropBox site at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/py5i68llm1e4ghn/StakingToolsAndHowToUseThem1910-163Pages.pdf?dl=0 Fair warning: the pdf is over 330MB so it'll take a while to download. I'm making this available in the spirit of, and appreciation for, Mark's work on his YouTube channel. While I've only been a lurker here in the past, I'm a subscriber and regular viewer of his excellent tutorials. And on that subject, the latest series has me thinking "Please save me from ever being called upon to work on a Breitling chronograph..."! Just keeping track of the names of the components is daunting enough. Enjoy! Tom

Very helpful Don, thanks for posting.

I got to use my new Erem brass tweezers last night and so far, I'm impressed. They're a little lighter and finer tipped than my Bergeons and the tips are flat - less pointy. I'm not sure if that's an advantage or a disadvantage. The tips are well aligned out of the package, which is good since learning to dress tweezers is still on my to do list. They felt very secure, no parts pinged on me and I was easily able to manipulate tiny parts comfortably. I'm still prefer the Bergeon 2AM tweezers, maybe because I'm just used to them, but I think the Erem tweezers are very, very good for the money. I'll probably pick up another pair. Bergeon in the front, Erem in the back The rest of the photos are all Erem. You can see the beveled chisel type of point they have.

If it was in my house, I would be giving it a kick in the petiole nodes!

Train it to help with these fiddly watch movements. :) Good picture though!

I hope it remembers the number. :D

Excellent, Jobs a good un! :)

Nice to see that it worked out ;) Great job, as always!

Sorry. Now I see difference. Still on mobile titchy screen.

Well - it turned out OK. Initially my rivet was fouling the screw and the hammer but a bit of whittling sorted it out. Riveted in place... Just a bit of cleanup and it will be fine - functionally it works perfectly.

Let's not forget Marc's picker upper for handling jewels and hands, particularly small chronograph hands. "Just for you Geo... This is the smallest one in the range, I don't think that I would have a use for the bigger ones. And no, that jewel isn't balanced, it's hanging. I don't know how long the sticky lasts. I've had mine just over a year now and have used it a lot with no loss of tackiness. When it does eventually lose its stick I suspect that it will only require a rinse in cold water and then air dry to rejuvenate it, although at the price I will probably just replace it."

Hi All , I seem to have Accutron Fever lately . I never was really interested in them before , and in the last month and a half I have acquired 5 of them . Today the postman brought me this 10K rolled gold and plated beauty . It has been really well taken care of . It's from 1973... N3 Yesterday , Sunday , I went to an All Collectors show in Honolulu and picked up this minty Spaceview on the $1 table...I picked up 3 watches for $1 each . I think that the vendor didn't know what he had with this Spaceview . I put a new Accucell battery and it's running great . It's from 1961... M1

That's more than a fair trade Don. I think you would be due her at least another visit to see some costumes with her. :) I would love to go to see the Breguet exhibition!

I'm going to assume that you are talking about fitting the balance back into the watch correctly so that the impulse jewel enters the fork correctly when the balance turns. Here's what I said in an earlier post on the subject:- "This is the bit that gave me the most heartache when I started. Wind the watch 1-2 turns and check that the escapement levers flicks sharply from side to side by gently pushing it with a dry oiler or tooth pick. If all is well, fit the balance wheel. Make sure that you position the balance jewel correctly regarding the end of the lever. Looking down on the lever, if it lying to the right, ensure that the balance jewel is even further to the right when you drop the balance into position. Vice versa if the lever is lying to the left. As you turn the balance cock into the correct position the balance jewel will automatically engage the lever and watch should start running. As a wee aside, when oiling a watch, do not oil the pivot jewels on the escapement lever." Oops I almost forgot, welcome to the forum! :)

Sorry to hear that, never been done myself but my parents had a visit a couple of years back. These pondlife are like magpies - anything shiny - worthless or not. As clockboy & geo have already stated please post pics - they need to move this stuff, fleabay & similar are good places to fence stolen goods. Hopefully something may turn up. As for the rest of us - try to take pics of any valuables you own, yes I know its a pain but it can help in these situations.