Mainspring winders

[MrRoundel]

You bring up a good point on buying used mainspring winders. I have a few different types that I use, but mostly I use my old K&F Robbin's Patent #125a winder. The big reason is that the three winding handles still have their hooks intact. Another, Watchcraft, I bought at an NAWCC Mart is missing the hook on the smaller handle/arbor. I, like you, didn't think to check it when I bought it. Consequently I've only used it once or twice, as invariably I need the smaller size.

Recently, my Robbin's style didn't have the right sized barrel for the V&C I'm working on, so I checked my other winders. Fortunately, was able to use the largest size of the Watchcraft Bracelet winders I have. Otherwise I may have been winding it in by hand as well.

Moral: When buying a used mainspring winder, closely inspect those hooks. Of course, an honest seller should let you know (if they know) of such material issues before you buy. Good luck.

 

Edited February 8, 2019 by MrRoundel

[Pip]

I feel all your pain, I've had trouble with these and I found out the hard way about checking for the hook on second hand winders. I'm expecting to see a tutorial pop up from  @jdrichard on how to knock one together soon  (and although I'm joking I wouldn't be too surprised, there doesn't seem to be a lot that man can't manufacture!) 

[MrRoundel]

BTW, it should be fairly obvious that I meant K&D, not K&F. Doh!

 

[jdrichard]

I feel all your pain, I've had trouble with these and I found out the hard way about checking for the hook on second hand winders. I'm expecting to see a tutorial pop up from  [mention=1704]jdrichard[/mention] on how to knock one together soon [emoji3] (and although I'm joking I wouldn't be too surprised, there doesn't seem to be a lot that man can't manufacture!) 

Very funny. I’ll prepare a video on how to replace the hooks on mainspring winders....if enough people want this.


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[Pip]

Very funny. I’ll prepare a video on how to replace the hooks on mainspring winders....if enough people want this.


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I knew you wouldn’t let me down, haha! And although I *was* joking, yes please to the video. Didn’t know they could be replaced so will be interesting to me at least.


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[TexasDon]

I vote: For the video

[jdrichard]

I knew you wouldn’t let me down, haha! And although I *was* joking, yes please to the video. Didn’t know they could be replaced so will be interesting to me at least.


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So I had a quick look and with a lathe and some blue steel rods at about 1mm, it is possible to replace the stud on a spring winder.I think you just punch out the old one and then grave the small piece of 1mm blues steel down to size with i minor 3 deg taper, then tap it into the opening. Easy Peasy


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[Pip]

You da’real mvp! (I’m English so I probably have the context all wrong but thought it better than typing “Good show old bean!”)


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[ARubinstein]

Has anyone used the adjustable LG winder? They seem to be quite reasonably priced. Not sure what size range they cover, though. Thanks.

[jdrichard]

Has anyone used the adjustable LG winder? They seem to be quite reasonably priced. Not sure what size range they cover, though. Thanks.

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[ARubinstein]

27 minutes ago, jdrichard said:

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See item wt7138 here: http://www.daveswatchparts.com/MainspringWinders.html

 

 

[Colditz]

Hi Fireftr 45

I too am suffering  exactly the same frustration on a Seiko 7S26C movement. I split the barrel only to find the same sort of mess Mark shows in his video with the added non bonus of a broken spring end. I also bought a second hand set of winders only to find out that they were too worn to be useful. Buyer beware when you cannot examine first! I checked Cousins and sure enough no springs to be had here. I decided to take Old Hippys advice and order a barrel complete prt. no. 0201075. On Cousins web site it states Seiko Barrel complete Hattori part no. 201.083 available May 2nd 2019. I will order this and let you know if it fits the bill.

Hope this helps.

[rwrimes]

Can anyone tell me where I can get a mainspring winder for  a 12mm barrel?

Thank you

[mikepilk]

Note that in Japanese movements the springs often wind the opposite way to the 'standard' Swiss movements. You can see in Mark's video above it has a RH bend. Therefore the standard spring winders don't work - the nib faces the wrong way and won't grab the spring. 

I'm working on a Citizen with a 10mm barrel, and had to use a 9mm winder bit to wind the spring the wrong way, then transfer the spring to the 10 mm bit to reverse it before putting in the barrel. 

[JBerry]

Can buy them individually here: https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/watch-bergeon-winders-by-size

[rwrimes]

Unfortunately, the Bergeon is for ETA movements. The movement I have is from the USA. Thanks for trying!

[JBerry]

Unfortunately, the Bergeon is for ETA movements. The movement I have is from the USA. Thanks for trying!

Should do the job the same, far as I'm aware. Provided the dimensions are correct.

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[nickelsilver]

Bergeon used to offer their old standard winders, and then offered the "Nivaflex" series with recessed eccentric hooks which were a lot nicer to use and easier on the spring. From what I remember the arbor diameter didn't change (or change much) between the two. I only have a regular set in front of me but a number 8 has an outside diameter of 11.90mm and an arbor of 4. Seems about right for older springs. The next size up measures 13mm outside also with a 4mm arbor. The new Nivaflex winders (still available) from Bergeon should have similar arbor diameters. The ETA series will undoubtedly have proportionally smaller arbor diameters which would be a pain with older springs meant for larger arbored watches.

There's always older K&D and Marshall and various other makes of winders on Ebay which are well suited to older American watches and almost useless on more modern Swiss stuff.

[vinn3]

its hard to damage a main spring.   very often the main spring is put in the barel with the thumbs!  watches, not with clocks.

[rwrimes]

4 hours ago, nickelsilver said:

Bergeon used to offer their old standard winders, and then offered the "Nivaflex" series with recessed eccentric hooks which were a lot nicer to use and easier on the spring. From what I remember the arbor diameter didn't change (or change much) between the two. I only have a regular set in front of me but a number 8 has an outside diameter of 11.90mm and an arbor of 4. Seems about right for older springs. The next size up measures 13mm outside also with a 4mm arbor. The new Nivaflex winders (still available) from Bergeon should have similar arbor diameters. The ETA series will undoubtedly have proportionally smaller arbor diameters which would be a pain with older springs meant for larger arbored watches.

There's always older K&D and Marshall and various other makes of winders on Ebay which are well suited to older American watches and almost useless on more modern Swiss stuff.

This is one of the many areas I'm not experienced or knowledgeable enough. I was going by the inside diameter of the Mainspring Barrel that I measured with a digital caliper at 12.0 mm. I do not know what the wall thickness of the Barrel is at the moment. The wrist watch is a 1930's Ingersoll Mickey Mouse. The Mainspring is not replaceable with a new one, as everyone probably knows, so I've cleaned it and now I thought I would try to reshape it some, for lack of better terms, before greasing it. The connection to the Barrel Arbor looks like someone else tried to use pliers to get it connected, but did not succeed.

[rwrimes]

3 hours ago, vinn3 said:

its hard to damage a main spring.   very often the main spring is put in the barel with the thumbs!  watches, not with clocks.

I wish that were true in my case, but I've broken the hole (rectangular slot) on one of the mainsprings from cold-working it too much. I've been trying the thumb method with some success, but I thought maybe the winder would do a better job to naturally get it done right.

[vinn3]

nothing wrong with thumbs.   also,   never work on a spring end without Anealing it first.  vin

[matabog]

Not to brag or anything... but my question about the arbors being too thick for some Mainsprings was featured in one of Marks videos.

Bogdan

 

Edited March 30, 2019 by matabog

[hairspringdestroyer]

Excellent thread I have been giving some thought to making a winder and this is real food for thought. 

[Colditz]

Well still no joy with Cousins on obtaining a barrel complete for a 7s26c Seiko. They now show availability 29th May.

Anyone know where I can get one from? Are the manufacturers trying to shut amateur horology down?

Really disappointing not being able to expedite a repair in a timely manner. I totally empathise with Fireftr45 I too am getting really frustrated.

I noticed that many ebayers are buying up watch tools and although they are not interested in using the tools they are interested in boosting the price. I was bidding on Platax tool after watching Marks vid as I have broken balance. The price went stupid £350 ish. Thing is no-one new if it was worn, had defects or would do the job. If there was another way or tool to replace balance staffs other than DK which are just as hard to obtain I for one would be interested.

Thanks to all.