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Bulova accutron servicing

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Nost Member

Nost

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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

 

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Hamish Member

Hamish

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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.

 

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vinn3 Distinguished Member

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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

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Hamish Member

Hamish

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' 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

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  • 2 months later...
Nost Member

Nost

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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

 

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vinn3 Distinguished Member

vinn3

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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

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vinn3 Distinguished Member

vinn3

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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

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jdrichard Distinguished Member

jdrichard

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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

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FLwatchguy73 Super WRT Addict

FLwatchguy73

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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. 

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