Jump to content

Bulova accutron servicing


Recommended Posts

Hi all.. I recently purchased the above watch with 221 movement for my daughter. Everything works, but as expected it runs fast. Does anyone know of anyone in the UK that can sort this out? It's a lovely, clean example that should be worn (if it can tell the time) 

Thanks in advance

 

Screenshot_20190902_072857.jpg

Screenshot_20190902_073021.jpg

Screenshot_20190902_072926.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HI, just a couple of thoughts off the top..

How fast is it running? If a few seconds a day, then you will able to adjust with the tiny tabs where the magnets almost meet (they rotate). If it is several minutes fast then it may be 'indexing'. This means that I assume you have placed a 1.5 volt battery in there and I think these movements were meant to use the 1.35 volt batteries (mercury) that are no longer available. I have had this problem from time to time. I also believe you can obtain some kind of insert to manage the excess voltage. I also recall that if the watch is in adjustment the effect settles down after a day or two of operation.

I'm also pretty sure there is a lot of forum info on this on the web on these watches and I'm not saying my approach was the best fix either as there are some that say it is possible to damage the coils with the excessive battery voltage, but this was not my experience.

To perform any adjustments on the pawl or detent you will likely need a microscope or very powerful magnification.

Go well.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Hamish said:

HI, just a couple of thoughts off the top..

How fast is it running? If a few seconds a day, then you will able to adjust with the tiny tabs where the magnets almost meet (they rotate). If it is several minutes fast then it may be 'indexing'. This means that I assume you have placed a 1.5 volt battery in there and I think these movements were meant to use the 1.35 volt batteries (mercury) that are no longer available. I have had this problem from time to time. I also believe you can obtain some kind of insert to manage the excess voltage. I also recall that if the watch is in adjustment the effect settles down after a day or two of operation.

I'm also pretty sure there is a lot of forum info on this on the web on these watches and I'm not saying my approach was the best fix either as there are some that say it is possible to damage the coils with the excessive battery voltage, but this was not my experience.

To perform any adjustments on the pawl or detent you will likely need a microscope or very powerful magnification.

Go well.

 

    i have an accutron meter (looks much like a volt ohm meter)   and a bunch  of their repair books. they didn't help much.  buying a new mvmt.,  was the easy  repair.  when they went out of production,   the collectors bought most of the parts.  vin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

' the collectors bought most of the parts.  vin'

 

Yes, I believe that is so...I think (again from memory) the one above is the 2210 movement and fairly common still - or at least, last time I looked. They are interesting to work on and the main faults are the coils going open circuit. Another issue I found was that where plate meets a contact requiring cleaning...once done you are frequently rewarded with a satisfying hum.

Also consider if at first it does not start on its own, give it a sharp flick with your index finger...Agree that reading the manuals first is always a good start.

Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Thanks for your input chaps.

@TheFixer thank for the heads up, though looks like paul isn't servicing accutrons  at the moment, though I have found a chap in the states, I'm awaiting reply...

@Hamish @vinn3thanks for the ideas.. yep 2210 movement, the tone sounds rough/distorted ? too high an amplitude on oscillation? i haven't worn the watch, at rest it's not bad but on small amounts of movement it does gain time. I'ts a lovely clean example and has probably never been serviced. I'm aware of the small diode thing that reduces voltage but cannot find one anywhere, This would be the ideal solution (as I think it is indexing.), but given what I've read, the next available solution is  to make an alteration that I don't understand how to do without specialist kit. untill I can get it running correctly, it's nothing more than a nice curio.. shame, as I wanted to gift it to my daughter...

I may stick in my pocket for a day and see what gains it makes..

Thanks again for your input

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 6:57 PM, Hamish said:

HI, just a couple of thoughts off the top..

How fast is it running? If a few seconds a day, then you will able to adjust with the tiny tabs where the magnets almost meet (they rotate). If it is several minutes fast then it may be 'indexing'. This means that I assume you have placed a 1.5 volt battery in there and I think these movements were meant to use the 1.35 volt batteries (mercury) that are no longer available. I have had this problem from time to time. I also believe you can obtain some kind of insert to manage the excess voltage. I also recall that if the watch is in adjustment the effect settles down after a day or two of operation.

I'm also pretty sure there is a lot of forum info on this on the web on these watches and I'm not saying my approach was the best fix either as there are some that say it is possible to damage the coils with the excessive battery voltage, but this was not my experience.

To perform any adjustments on the pawl or detent you will likely need a microscope or very powerful magnification.

Go well.

 

   there are many accutron manuals published by boliva for their dealers in the U. S..   one of the special tools ia a volt/ohm meter.  i'll post some pix.,  if i can find it.    vin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Nost said:

Thanks for your input chaps.

@TheFixer thank for the heads up, though looks like paul isn't servicing accutrons  at the moment, though I have found a chap in the states, I'm awaiting reply...

@Hamish @vinn3thanks for the ideas.. yep 2210 movement, the tone sounds rough/distorted ? too high an amplitude on oscillation? i haven't worn the watch, at rest it's not bad but on small amounts of movement it does gain time. I'ts a lovely clean example and has probably never been serviced. I'm aware of the small diode thing that reduces voltage but cannot find one anywhere, This would be the ideal solution (as I think it is indexing.), but given what I've read, the next available solution is  to make an alteration that I don't understand how to do without specialist kit. untill I can get it running correctly, it's nothing more than a nice curio.. shame, as I wanted to gift it to my daughter...

I may stick in my pocket for a day and see what gains it makes..

Thanks again for your input

 

     the best thing about the accutron is the good looking watch cases.     a replaceable mvtm. is hard to find.   vin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It’s the battery voltage and there is a company where you can buy the lower voltage battery, but it’s not cheap. I fixed and cleaned a friends Acutron and had the very same problem, but he was not interested it it being accurate as this was his dad’s watch and he was not planning on wearing it, just making sur it worked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure about the 2210 movements, but I know with the 214 1st gen movements, the battery voltage was critical. I have been told that the later 218 and 219 movements were ok to run at 1.5 volts and do not require any adjustments. From what I've learned, the indexing pawls are what need to be adjusted on the 214 movements to get them back in time. I also know that when Omega got the license to produce the Accutron, they hired it's inventor, Max Hetzel, to improve the design. 

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.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I have read some suggestions that it can cause wear , particularly on the fork horns of a fully treated pallet fork. I've had half a kilo of steriac acid powder on a shelf for almost a year now, might have a little play today with a heater and a jar.  I think its because it gets into their cleaning solutions Mike. Theirs or anyone else's that services the watch next time, or if they need to strip back and rebuild. Could preclean but thats all time for a pro.
    • As I'm only cleaning watches in small numbers at home, I pre-clean any significant deposits of old grease and oil before using the cleaning solutions. I scrape off deposits with pegwood and Rodico, and if really dirty, wash parts in naphtha with a brush.  So I'm happy using DX, but can understand why it's avoided by the pros.
    • I think attaching a nut to the lid to pull it off is the least destructive, any damage damage on the outside is going to an easier fix than any created when trying to push it out from the inside. Scratching up the inside of the lid , mainspring or arbor bearing will be risk. Just my opinion.
    • yes the things we read in the universe I did see some where it was either difficult to clean off or it contaminated the cleaning fluid there was some issue with cleaning. I was trying to remember something about grease where as opposed to a substance of a specific consistency they were suggesting it had a base oil with something to thicken it. That conceivably could indicate that the two could separate and that would be an issue. But there is something else going on here that I had remembered so I have a link below and the description of the 9501 notice the word that I highlighted? Notice that word appears quite a bit on this particular page like 9415 has that property all so they 8200 mainspring grease and that definitely has to be mixed up when you go to use it because it definitely separates. just in case you didn't remember that nifty word there is a Wikipedia entry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thixotropy   https://www.moebius-lubricants.ch/en/products/greases I wonder if what you're seeing is the boron nitride left behind after cleaning. In other words it's the high-pressure part of the grease and it's probably embedding itself into the metal which is why it doesn't clean off and shouldn't be a problem?
    • Yes and no. I use Moebius 9501 synthetic grease and it is significantly runnier than the Moebius 9504 synthetic grease (and I assume Molykote DX) that I previously used. I haven't seen 9504 spread and it is in my opinion the best grease money can buy. However, my current method of cleaning doesn't remove it from the parts, so that's why I have decided to use the 9501 instead. I believe I read somewhere that Molykote DX too is difficult to clean off. Thinking about it, I'm pretty sure my 9501 grease which expired in June 2022 is runnier now than it was when it was new, but whether new or old it always needs to be stirred before use. So, that's why I treat the parts of the keyless works, cannon pinion, etc. with epilame. That was very thoughtful of you and something that had completely passed me by. Not sure what the epilame will do when it wears off in a non-oiled hole. Anyone?
×
×
  • Create New...