Jump to content

O-ring lubrication

DPhillip

By DPhillip
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

 Share

Recommended Posts

DPhillip Member

DPhillip

Posted
Posted

Hello, 

I was replacing batteries in two watches - a Pulsar over 20 years old and a year-old Timex, and I used an Esslinger silicon lubrication/grease kit to lube the o-rings in the watch backs.  The kit consists of sponges in a plastic jar, soaked in the silicon grease.  

Both o-rings expanded, making it impossible to re-seat the watch backs. The Pulsar back screws down, the Timex is a press fit.  I actually tested the fit on the Timex before installing a new battery and lubing the o-ring, as I had trouble with the Pulsar o-ring earlier and I wanted to record what happened.  As soon as I lubed the Timex o-ring, it got bigger - putting any pressure on the watch back causes the ring to ooze out one side or the other.

Any thoughts on what is going on here?  Esslinger has a good rep, I thought; I never figured their silicon grease product would cause something like this.

Is there anything I can do to shrink the Timex o-ring?  The Pulsar o-ring needs to be replaced - it is old anyhow.

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
vinn3 Distinguished Member

vinn3

Posted
Posted

  O  rings expand:  esslinger screwed up.   probably bought chineeze rings with out specified the "rubber formula".   o rings made in the US and UK have a "specifide grease"  for each ring.   this happens with hydrolic seals also.   TO BE SAFE,  use Vasoline.  vin

Link to comment
Share on other sites
watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

Posted
Posted

Hi Vinn is right the grease should not make any difference to the the ring other than coat it,  The grease may have a carrier liquid which is reacting with the sealing rings (being absorbed)  Try  dropping the rings into boiling water it may help shrink it, it used to work on dictating machine drive bands. If it works do what Vinn suggests and use vaseline. I use a tube of DOW CORNING silicone grease I used at work as a heat transfer for large transistors a s a thermal comductor  it works ok.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
vinn3 Distinguished Member

vinn3

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, watchweasol said:

Hi Vinn is right the grease should not make any difference to the the ring other than coat it,  The grease may have a carrier liquid which is reacting with the sealing rings (being absorbed)  Try  dropping the rings into boiling water it may help shrink it, it used to work on dictating machine drive bands. If it works do what Vinn suggests and use vaseline. I use a tube of DOW CORNING silicone grease I used at work as a heat transfer for large transistors a s a thermal comductor  it works ok.

     it does make a difference.  vin

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jdm Distinguished Member

jdm

Posted
Posted
On 11/6/2019 at 11:45 PM, DPhillip said:

Both o-rings expanded, making it impossible to re-seat the watch backs. 

I don't know of what these o-rings are made of, but as others have said the NBR normally used never expands and the grease actually helps keeping it in place. I suggest that you replace these and switch to a different grease. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DPhillip Member

DPhillip

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I tried boiling the o ring and then using a heat gun on it.  Neither worked.  As soon as I pressed the back into place the ring oozed out of the groove a quarter of an inch.  The watch is only a small lady's Timex.  Bizarre.  I have to get a new o-ring, clearly.

Also, I test-fit the back and o-ring on the watch before using this silicon grease and it clicked into place just fine with no problem.  

So if we want to expand o-rings, perhaps to take out some enemy's missile program, this stuff is the ticket! 

BTW I emailed Esslinger about it - no reply.  

To be clear, the grease is an Esslinger product - the watch was made in India - not sure where they source their o-rings.

DP

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • VWatchie
      Epilame / Fixodrop

      By VWatchie · Posted

      Sounds great! And yes, I would use grease for the keyless as well although treating the parts with epilame would make the grease less likely to spread in the long run. Not critical but won’t hurt. My current strategy is to epilame treat all parts getting in contact with oil or grease.
    • Knebo
      Epilame / Fixodrop

      By Knebo · Posted

      Hello everyone, for what it's worth, here is my approach: 1. Escape wheel submerged in Epilame, then dried quickly with a hairdryer. Then the final tip of the pivots are cleaned by poking into pithwood. The logic being that the Epilame is removed at the intended contact point (to avoid any residue that may mix with the oil), but remains in the areas where oil is not supposed to spread to (further down the pivot towards the wheel). The escape wheel teeth also benefit from having Epilame to keep the 9415 in place.  2. I use a syringe to treat only the pallet stones. I suspend the pallet fork with some Rodico so that the stones hang downwards. I notably use a rather thick needle where a drop WON'T form, but rather where the Epilame liquid stays in the needle tip, which I then dip into the pallet stones. It requires some practice to get the right amount of Epilame into the needle tip, but it works for me now. This way, no drop will "jump" onto the pallet fork and potentially go all the way to the pivots.  3. I let the movement run for a few minutes without lubricating the pallet stones... to scrape off the Epilame in the intended contact "channel". Then I remove the balance again and lubricate the exit pallet stone with 3-4 successive drops. See the "channel" that forms on the pallet stone in the picture -- not so easy to see, but it's visible.       I am conflicted about the use of Epliame in balance jewel settings. My impression is that the two jewels sufficiently suspend the oil (even 9010). Apparently Rolex recommends NOT to use Epliame there (heard from a former Rolex service center watchmaker), as it could cause additional wear. Apart from that, I follow specific instructions where I can find them. E.g. the infamous Rolex reverser wheels or sometimes (parts of) the seconds wheel. Exception: I'm currently servicing an Eta 2824 and will probably ignore the service sheet that recommends treating the whole keyless works with Epilame and then using HP1300... I'll skip the Epilame and use 9504 grease.        
    • GuyMontag
      Movement holder made with 3D printer

      By GuyMontag · Posted

      I'm going to give this a try today/tomorrow on my UTC33/Seiko 66, thanks!
    • RichardHarris123
      Intro

      By RichardHarris123 · Posted

      Hello and welcome from Leeds, England. 
    • oldhippy
      Without Our Forum

      By oldhippy · Posted

      Don't forget Mark is a hard working watch maker so he is also tied up with work. I'm sure he is keeping his eye on this forum making sure it is running along nicely. 
×
×
  • Create New...