Jump to content

Molnia Russian pocket watch

MarkL
 Share

Recommended Posts

MarkL Member

MarkL

Posted
Posted

Dear all, I have just started out with this wonderful world of watch repair, I have bought myself some cheap, non-working watches, among which is a Russian Molnia pocket watch, I guess from the early 1970s (according to the service scratch-marks on the reverse side of the face). I removed the balance cock and escapement wheel, cleaned and oiled them and reinstalled them. The watch now runs when lying flat, but will run erratically and eventually stop when stood upright. I am way too inexperienced to carry out a full strip down and service, so I wondered if anyone could offer me some useful hints or info on how to correct this without giving it a full service. I would be most grateful for all your suggestions, even those telling me to leave well alone untill I have more experience. Thanks in advance, MarkL.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nucejoe Distinguished Member

Nucejoe

Posted
Posted

Hi Mark and welcome. Check

1- End shakes that is you check if both pivots are there and  inside the jewels and staff has lateral play and how much. 

2- Cheack the hairspring( HS) which should be level, concentric configuration and..

3- Check jewels and end stones, broken ...and the shock springs

Top and side view close up the balance complete, I helps very much.

Regaards

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MarkL Member

MarkL

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks again. I checked the pivots, stones and hair spring and the amount of lateral play as you kindly suggested, they all seem in order. (at least to my very limited experience)

Also, now that I have reassembled it, the dam thing has started working in all positions. I'm guessing that my inexperience was the sole cause of these anomalies! I'll keep a close eye on things and let you know how things progress. In the meantime, thanks again for taking the time and for your extremely useful advice.

Best wishes, Mark.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Nucejoe Distinguished Member

Nucejoe

Posted
Posted

Not unexpected, I have twenty NOS malnija in factory tape boxes. The few I have taken out of box, wound ,non worked, all need clean and lube at least the escapement mech.

So, to my ears you are making absolutely perfect sense. The watch dosn,t.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • ManSkirtBrew
      1972 Bulova President "E" Sea King 11ACACB movement

      By ManSkirtBrew · Posted

      Unfortunately I'm not that lucky. I started on the train side and after I noticed the binding I pulled everything out except the driving wheel to rule everything else out. It still binds. I'm going to double check that the pinion is fully seated on the staff first, then if no joy I'll push the bridge jewel up a fraction of a mm. Fingers crossed!
    • Waggy
      Rado rotor removal

      By Waggy · Posted

      Happy to have helped, great way to start the day with a win! 🥳
    • doober
      Rado rotor removal

      By doober · Posted

      Thank you for the advise!! It worked. The setting screw was a lock/unlock to remove the rotor. 
    • GuyMontag
      1972 Bulova President "E" Sea King 11ACACB movement

      By GuyMontag · Posted

      I have that French tech sheet too, it is a little different than the English one (eg, it doesn't have the auto works diagram). BTW, it looks like you are looking up the case number in the 1979 ABC supplement. The 1974 ABC catalog does have the 3093 case. As you determined it takes the 1222-5 crystal.  When I serviced my President 'A' (which also takes that crystal), I was able to fit a 29.8 crystal from my DPA crystal assortment. Those are, in my opinion, a great deal. The assortment comes with 10 sizes each from 27.8mm to 32.4mm in 0.2 increments. I pretty much use them for any non-armored crystal that takes a high dome crystal. I think they no longer make them but Cousins has still has some in stock but when I bought them they were around $40 for the set and now they are around $100. Still, at 40 cents a crystal it's still a good deal. For the large driving wheel, I remember I once assembled the keyless/motion works first and when I placed the large driving wheel it was interfering with the setting wheel on the dial side as the teeth were not fully meshing and it wouldn't fully seat. If that isn't the issue I got nothing and am looking forward to see how you solve it 🙂
    • Waggy
      Rado rotor removal

      By Waggy · Posted

      Not sure, but just looking at it, it seems like the screw on the right may be a fake? The one on the left may not be a screw in the regular sense at all, rather a 2 position device, I think you need to point the slot towards either of the 2 dots and one will secure and one will open. Like I said this is just my best guess looking at the pictures.
×
×
  • Create New...