Opening Raketa

[ryhj]

Hi everyone,

Any ideas how to get the back off? it looks sunken in so the notches don't really help. 

I'm completely new to this, does anyone know anything about the watch, or could translate what's on the bottom of the face? Just out of interest. 

Thanks,

ryhj

[m1ks]

You need a case back opener that fits the notches to unscrew the case back ring.

This lifts away separate to the case back which sits on a wide flat rubber washer and is located by a tang.

[vinn3]

  older Bolivas have the same case back.   you don't want to "cross thread" the back.   get a good case back opener.  vin

[Nucejoe]

Your common JAX back opener advertised above for 6.99 bucks.

[WatchMaker]

Good advice above and if you're just starting out you can't go far wrong with the style @Nucejoe mentions which looks like this:

 

And сделано в ссср on the bottom of the dial? It simply means 'Made in USSR'!

[VWatchie]

Nice watch @rhyj and a great movement (I would expect a Raketa cal. 2609) for any beginning watch repairer! 

You can see how the case back is removed in the video below. The movement in the video is a Vostok 2409 but the principle should be exactly the same. You'll find several videos on the same channel working with the Raketa movements and many other Russian movements such as Vostok, Poljot, etc. Now, be aware that the guy (Ratfaced Git) working on these movements is a self-trained former car mechanic who always insists to do things in his own way, which sometimes isn't best practice. That said, he was a huge inspiration to me when I got started. He just goes for it! No fear, no regrets! 

Good luck!

 

[VWatchie]

The Russian words on the case back mean "Waterproof" and "Shockproof".

Raketa means "Rocket" and СДЕПАНО В СССР means "Made in USSR". The name Raketa came about in the dawn of the space age.

[ryhj]

Such great responses! thanks all, i'll buy the opener and I look forward to getting involved with it all! 

 

ryhj

[Nucejoe]

Universal jaxa back opener gives a choice to use two or three bits, use two bits across , better results than three for this type of back screw.

 

[anilv]

I think you'd also need to remove the upper bezel (which holds the crystal in) as the dial will be bigger than the case-hole.

Anilv