Introduction

[Clive]

I have just joined this group and based on the videos and comments I am really excited to be part of it.

I retired from full time work about 18 mths ago and have been filling my time with lots of cycling and also tinkering with watches. I help a local charity, all the watches they get are sent to my mother (80) who puts new batteries in them , if they work then they are sold at the charity stores as well as on Ebay for some of the better watches. I get the ones that need more than a battery and have quite a selection of movements that I have used to replace faulty units and provide more watches to the charity. I have more recently started to fix movements a little. Most recently I have been given a watch in pieces  (movement is an ETA 940 111). I have replaced the minute wheel as it had teeth missing and now I am ready to put the dial and hands on. One problem I have is that its a 2 stage stem i.e you pull out a little to get the date to move and then pull out further to get the time adjusted. My challenge is that when the stem is pulled out to adjust the time, at no point does the date move on and so I am at a loss how I determine the tipping point for the date. Is there a known /recommended way of doing this or do I put the hands on and then wait for the date to change and then adjust the hands accordingly?

I really want to get into more mechanical fixes, but lack proper cleaning tools. I have experimented with lighted fuel and then orange degreaser, but they aren't great. my next purchase is going to have to be a cleaner I think. I have tried stripping down a few mechanical watches and have rebuilt a few of them successfully, but I still need more practice.