ESA 9154 frustrations.

[MrRoundel]

A few days ago I posted a question about the case for this ESA 9154 movement sold by Wittnauer.  However, this post relates to the movement. I just can't get it running. The train seems free enough, the battery is good, and I have tried two different circuit boards in it, but still no go. At first I was wondering if some other knucklehead got their hands on it (pun?) before this one did, and demagnetized the balance. However, when I short the pins of the transistor (switch), the balance will oscillate a bit, albeit in very short arcs. It's like it's switching back and forth too quickly. That just a guess. If the train was binding, or the balance wasn't being magnetized, I'd think it wouldn't twitch back and forth like it does when it's powered.

The watch doesn't appear to have had a battery meltdown or anything, but it just doesn't want to work for me. I have a Wittnauer with an earlier, ESA 9150, that is running like a champ now. I cleaned and oiled the movement. The balance swings for a bit shorter time period than the 20 second standard and the train moves fine as it does. Does anyone have any clues on what could be wrong? The troubleshooting section, for the coils specifically, is geared towards the ESA9150, which seems to have an extra test-point contact.

Parts for the 9154 seem hard to come by. I have 3 other parts movements, but of course don't know why they became such. Any help is appreciated. Cheers.