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Thanks for your advice. I haven't seen the quartz quick clean before. It could be handy in some cases. Anyway, I think I'm too afraid to test it with accutron. It will probably flush away all oil from jewels (if there is any left...) and I'm very concerned about coils not to ruin them. I think too that disassembling would be the only right method to clean the movement, but probably its best not to do it myself. I don't have for example stereo microscope for adjusting indexing mechanism...

Thanks both for your advice. I'm not concerned about the accuracy, I'm actually very pleased to it, I'm only concerned if it will make some harm to the movement that the fingers are that dirty. I think it looks like brass oxidation as it is green.... could it be that the watch has been sitting for a very long time, and the index wheel toothed surface has been oxidised? When the new battery has been put to the watch and it has started, the jewels have "brushed" the oxidation away, and it has remained to the jewels? I have cleaned mechanical watches, and I'm not afraid to disassemble the gear train of the Accutron, but I'm not sure if I'm capable to handle the indexing mechanism.... And here in Finland is just a few watchmakers who even knows what a tuning fork watch is and those watchmakers has started on 70's, younger ones haven't even heard about them :rolleyes: . If it is safe to just let it run, I will keep it as it has been until now. If the mechanism is stiff, it will drain the battery quicker, right ? It should run with AG10 battery for approximately 11 months, am I right ? Thanks for your opinions, very appreciated ! It is no use to trying to discuss about technical matters at Finnish FB-groups, people is just bragging about how expensive watches and cars they have .....

Hello, I am new at this forum, and I have a question right at start. I have got an accutron for a year, and I looked into it with a microscope first time (only with loupe earlier). I found out that fingers are dirty, looks like oxidation. I put photo of them. Is it possible to clean them without disassembling the movement? I have read that someone has applied naphta to the index wheel while running... Thanks in advance for help! BR Jukka

Although I was trying to be good and not purchase anything till I had sorted out the multitude of watches I have in the queue, I saw this Accutron on the bay and bought it for £32.49 plus about $5 postage to my sons place in LA. I had not got an Accutron 2210 up to this point in time, and to be honest the movement does not have a particularly good rep for reliability. However, the parts are comparitively cheap compared to the 214 and 218 and through a quirk of fate I have quite a few NOS 2210 parts that were amongst a job lot of 214 and 218 bits I bought some time ago. It is a 1973 movement and coincidentally that is when these were first produced and the movement is quite small, being used in lots of ladies watches which do not command the same prices as the mens accutrons - good for getting parts. I queried with the vendor the size and was advised it is 34mm excluding the crown so it is in a mans case. Condition was described as "Awesome" but I will settle for reasonably good seeing it is over 40 years old, there are some scratches on the glass and I deduce from the back that the case is gold plated which is difficult to tell from the photos, but I will take what comes. It will be a while until it is sent over to me along with some 218 coils I took a punt on but I look forward to seeing it. Was not going to buy any more repair jobs but I weakened, however, I am definitely back on the wagon for a while. Cheers, Vic

Howzit Vic , I'm on a vacation right now , but when I get home I'll post some Accutron pics . I was amazed at a pic of the index mechanism with the teeth on the index wheel visible , the small misalignment of the pawl jewel , and the pile of debris at the end of the index jewels .

I can't seem to access the Accutron Page lately . I am trying to get the info on phasing for silver oxide batteries but can't connect . Does any one have this info or is anyone else also also having a problem connecting ? Thanks , Louis

You might also have a look on the accutron site at rephrasing where they also cover the phenomenon called double and triple indexing, if it is not the battery the watch may need rephrasing to resolve issues Cheers, Vic

Thanks I have the accutron post bender and the collet tool also I think if I can find them. Just like to try new ideas. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't know if Vic will be able to cope with this Accutron porn! It should have read "Booty" not "Bowtie" ;)

Aloha All , Here's a trio of Accutrons I just received . I got the "Bowtie" in one auction and the other two watches in another... First off is the Accutron Bowtie...it's stamped M7 on the back which dates it at 1967 . It was running when I received it but have not yet removed the case back to check things out so I'm not really sure what the movement # is , but it is a date only . It has the tuning fork second hand . I had a new Accutron Teju Lizard strap that I installed on it ,... the strap has a gold Tuning fork emblem on it . It's a Long size and a bit too long for me so I am going ask an acquaintance that works with leather if he can size it for me . It's nice . Next is a really nice looking Woman's Accutron . Gold with a metallic Orang y dial with Gold indexes , and a 10K gold filled case . It has a snap on case back and is stamped N2 which dates it to 1972 . It was advertised as a mans watch ,...but it's not . The mesh band is part of the watch and not installed with spring bars . It has a 2183 movement ,...no day/date and no second hand . Last but not least is a kind of different character . I think it does not have the original case back as it does not have the date stamp that I can see and is stamped Swiss on the inside of the case back . It has the 2182 day/date movement with USA stamped on it , but it is skewed so that the stem is at 3 o'clock instead of 4 o'clock....this movement was probably re-cased . It has an accutron dial but there are a couple of small letter "T"'s by the 6 o'clock index . Still , it is a nice watch ,....a bit larger than other Accutrons .

Thanks George, I am thinking about stripping away or cutting off some parts of a scrapper to get some pics of the index wheel with jewels in place to try and demystify some of the accutron oddities, but unfortunately I have other stuff calling me so it will have to go on the back burner. I should have mentioned to folk not to use the tools straight away but give them a good clean before every use to get rid of any shavings, one of which would knack the index wheel action if it got into the teeth, blow air through the tubes and ultrasonic if necessary, demagnetise etc, I always have a quick look at mine under the scope. I have to emphasise to all that I am in no way to be considered an expert on Accutrons but muddle along quite happily because I like them. Cheers, Vic

The index pawl should have a gap like the manuel shows but the jewel should touch the index wheel and be centered on the wheel. The crown pulled out the pawl finger should be 1/2 to 1 jewel away from the index wheel. To adjust bend the post that is next to the pawl finger. Once this is adjusted then the pawl plate has a cam shaped screw on the back of the plate, loosen the front screw just enough so you can move the plate with cam screw. This moves the pawl finger on the index wheel. to get watch running you have to adjust both the index and the pawl fingers. If the gap onm the index finger is set then most likely all you have to move is the pawl finger. I have a Accutron microscope but i hardly ever use it, I have a 10 power loupe that I use most of the time. Hope this helps hard to explain on paper. Let me know if you have more questions.

I haven't checked the manual yet , but is adjusting the pawl bridge procedure in there . I know I read about tweeking the pawl finger post to adjust hacking ,...is that what you mean by adjust he index pawl gap ? 1/2 to 1 jewel width away from the index wheel with the crown pulled . I just bought some diabetic syringes and needles to do that . Also , do you use the accutron or a stereo microscope to do your adjustments ? How do I adjust the pawl bridge ? ...A lot of questions I know ,.... But Thanks , Louis

Hello Louis, Pity about the Accutron but the Seiko seems to be a good find and with a new crystal it should be a vintage looker. Cheers, Vic

Thank You , I can assure you that not all of my purchases are a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow . Just in the last week I received an Accutron that was advertised as a non runner . The outside looked good and I thought that maybe all it needed was a stem and crown and a battery .When I opened it , it was a pile of rust . But the Seiko in this post is a nice one and I am always on the lookout for a nice watch at a value .

Aloha Vic , lowcountry and All . I have started studying the Accutron tech manual for the 218 movements...there's a lot of ground to cover . I have a movement that I just received and the fork hums ,but the gears do not continuously spin when I push in the crown to the run position . The index wheel does start but stops every time I pull the crown out and back in . I checked the troubleshooting section and it states that the index wheel may be dirty . But , I played very sightly with positioning the crown and there's a place where the gears all turn as normal . that position is neither in or out of the setting or run positions . I also read that there is a hack adjustment on page 20 . SO , I think that I need to either adjust the hack , or [God I hope not ,...not yet anyway ] , replace the hack . I am also thinking that the pilot part of the stem that engages the hack may be worn ...or too long . I do have a couple of new accutron stems coming my way and hope that they are for the 218's . What comes after step #2 ? My pdf jumps from page to page.... Can anyone please give me your thoughts and input on the hack adjustment ? ......... Thanks , Louis

Thanks lowcountry , I'm not sure which caliber it is right now , but there is a Seiko with an indentation on the date plate where you push the small day detent spring in after the plate is attached . Because of the design on this Accutron , the spring was ready to take off for the moon when I lifted the date plate . I did have my hand covering the watch anticipating this to happen , and I corralled the jailbreak of parts , but didn't have a chance to see how the puzzle went together . The light over my head went on when I fitted the spring to the plate .

Howzit Vic , I moved to a new post . Part 1 was turning into a Novel . You had said that you use altered [ filed , cut ] hypodermic needles to as a tool for the Accutron index /pawl finger collets . Can you please explain that more ? A couple of pics would help . Mahalo , Louis

Thanks Vick , but that's not the same spring as the one in my post . I had come across that blog in my search , but that spring has a little hook that goes into a hole on the date plate . I've so far done a few of those . The one in my post does not have the hook , just straight ends . I'm sure it goes in the same place on the watch but I don't know how it's secured without the little hook . FYI , I received the Accutron 700 test meter and the movement holder with the jack in it...neat . The power supply you built that's connected to your meter is for what ? To supply power for testing instead of using a button cell ? I appreciate your help and Info Amigo ,....Laters , Louis

Hello Louis, You may find this useful: http://watchguy.co.uk/teardown-bulova-accutron-218/ I think the pic you need is there. Cheers, Vic

Aloha lowcountry and Vic ,...Help .... I removed the plate for the date mechanism on an Accutron 2180 and the date trip spring flew out . I never worked on this model and don't know how to fit it . I have been trying to get a pic off of the internet to see the placement in the movement including the service manual with no luck yet . Do either of you gentlemen have a pic or drawing ? Even a hand drawing would help ...........Thanks , Louis

Thanks for the Info Marc...The Tissot has a presentation case back , but I haven't taken the time to look at it yet . I'm looking forward to doing that now . I have been gathering a few 218 Accutron movements with dials described as not running , humming , and parts or repair . I want to see if I can get some running or at least have spare parts .

I think you will find that the Tissot uses an ETA 2824-2 movement which means that supply of spare parts could very soon dry up with the imminent Swatch group embargo. Bulova Accutron parts have not been made for decades though so your best bet there would be donor movements unless you can find someone who still has stocks.

Hi All , The postman delivered this Accutron 2180 today . In good condition and running smooth . The dial fades from dark blue to light blue . I installed a new Bulova strap I had and will install a new crystal soon . The date on the back says N3 , which translates to 1973 . Also on Craigslist here on Oahu , Hawaii I picked up this Tissot Visodate Heritage for an offer under $200 . I had been looking at them on the "Bay" , and at the local Auth. Dealer . I'm Stoked...

About to build a Mega Accutron are we? :D