Another '67 Timex Mercury question

[MyFavoriteObsession]

Hello again, I had a further question about this M24 movement. I've given it a dunk in naptha (with the dial and ratchet wheel removed) and the balance wheel danced nicely for a bit afterward but eventually stopped. The watch is wound. I allowed it to dry completely, then lubricated with Moebius 8000 according to the service manual guidelines, however I haven't attempted to oil the V-conic bearings. I'm not certain I could reinstall the balance assembly if I were to remove it to fill the bearings 3/4 full as the manual indicates. I have a Bergeon fine oiler... is there a way to oil the V-conic bearings without removing the balance assembly? Or, is there something else I should check first to determine why it's not running? Thank you in advance.

[MyFavoriteObsession]

Please disregard, three escape wheel teeth lightly oiled and it's running right now... fingers crossed!

[AndyHull]

4 hours ago, MyFavoriteObsession said:

Please disregard, three escape wheel teeth lightly oiled and it's running right now... fingers crossed!

This all sounds very familiar. This watch for example had a similar issue.

If theses mechanisms seem a little erratic after cleaning, then the escape wheel is often the culprit. Very light oiling of the pins on the fork, and the teeth on the wheel does the trick. Don't drown them though, or things will get worse, not better.

The symptoms are that it stays in beat for a number of seconds, then jumps wildly about, then runs OK again, then repeats, often the erratic running is enough to bring it to a complete halt.

This behavior shows up nicely on the time-grapher. 

[AndyHull]

5 hours ago, MyFavoriteObsession said:

is there a way to oil the V-conic bearings without removing the balance assembly?

I have had some success by carefully oiling from the side of the bearing. As with all of these things, less is more. Be very sparing with the oil or you will swamp the thing and bring it to a halt, and take care not to get any on the hairspring. Stand the mechanism on a blob of rodico to keep it rock steady as you focus on your target.

[MyFavoriteObsession]

10 hours ago, AndyHull said:

I have had some success by carefully oiling from the side of the bearing. As with all of these things, less is more. Be very sparing with the oil or you will swamp the thing and bring it to a halt, and take care not to get any on the hairspring. Stand the mechanism on a blob of rodico to keep it rock steady as you focus on your target.

Thank you for the advice, that's exactly what I needed to hear, or read rather. The Mercury is still going strong this morning, so strong in fact that it's a good thirty minutes fast with the regulator set as far toward S as it will go. Happy New Year! According to my Timex, it'll be 2021 around teatime. 

[AndyHull]

12 hours ago, MyFavoriteObsession said:

The Mercury is still going strong this morning, so strong in fact that it's a good thirty minutes fast with the regulator set as far toward S as it will go.

Sounds like the hairspring has some oil on it and it is sticking to itself. Give it another quick bath. You should be able to regulate it to a few seconds per day if it is running correctly.

[MyFavoriteObsession]

20 hours ago, AndyHull said:

Sounds like the hairspring has some oil on it and it is sticking to itself. Give it another quick bath. You should be able to regulate it to a few seconds per day if it is running correctly.

It turned out to be so heavily magnetized that it moved a compass. I've got a Chinese demagnetizer coming in the mail soon... hopefully that will sort it out. 

[JerseyMo]

the Timex watch forum stood by a 3 stage process when it came to the typical mechanical movements. This is what I use and it is successful the majority of times and when it is not it is because of wear or damage that has occurred to the parts.   The following are the basics.  Of course more detail in each step and one day I'll write a book. Nah, I hate writing 

1) ammonia bath - water rinse

2) lighter fluid bath - air dry

3) oil and grease