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I thought this would be relaxing.

Tom32

By Tom32
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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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Hi all,

I'm a frontline emergency services worker in London and started watching Mark's video's on YouTube as a form of relaxation and destressing after work.  I eventually convinced myself I could build my own watch. So I ordered an automatic movement, watch case, dial, hands and strap.

I broke the first movement, the dial doesn't fit the case, and I'm now waiting for delivery of a dial spacer I didn't know I needed when I started this project in January. So if nothing else I've started to examine my understanding of patience.

I've had a great time reading around the subject of horology and have started getting the materials together for my second watch. Learning to maintain them will be the long term goal. In the meantime, I'll be asking for your help to put them together.

Please bear with any obvious questions and thank you in advance for any guidance offered.

All the best,

Tom

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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1 hour ago, watchweasol said:

Hello and welcome Tom to the forum,  At least you can put it down and have a pint and start again in a better light, as far as that goes ther is no pressure.  two attachments that might be of use to you.    Cheers

TZIllustratedGlossary.pdf 4.2 MB · 1 download TimeZone Watch School Home.html 8 kB · 1 download

Thank you for these attachments and encouragement, they will prove hugely useful I'm sure!

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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12 minutes ago, Nucejoe said:

Welcome to the forum. You didn't break the whole movement, I hope! A true watch maker never throws any broken part away, at worst you have bunch of spare parts.

Thank you. Hopefully not, I hope to fix it one day, or at least you it for parts/practice as you say.

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AndyHull Distinguished Member

AndyHull

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1 hour ago, Tom32 said:

I broke the first movement

I'm pretty sure we have all broken a few over the years, its all part of the learning process.

I seem to still be capable of breaking the occasional victim in "new and interesting ways" from time to time.

The skill lies in fixing more than you break, and "unbreaking" the ones you broke while trying to fix them.:P
Hairsprings are a particular favourite on the "ooops what happened there part" of this journey, followed by balance pivots. 

Unless you ran it over with a tank, I'm pretty sure your broken movement can be fixed. What exactly went wrong?

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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19 minutes ago, AndyHull said:

What exactly went wrong?

Thanks Andy. I'm all out of tanks, but sadly that does accurately describe my handling of the first movement.

While the hour/minute/seconds hands were keeping time, the date wouldn't change with the passage of 24 hours. When the stem is in position two to change the date manually, the stem just spins freely without changing the date.

I may have also upset the mechanics between using the stem to manually change the hour/minute hands as when the stem is in position one, it is making a loud clinking sound when turned that I do not hear on the second Miyota 8215 movement I am now using. It is also not moving smoothly and eventually crunches to a stop when turned.

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AndyHull Distinguished Member

AndyHull

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The first few minutes might be where your issue lies. I'm not advocating stripping the movement down unless you are comfortable doing that and have the tools, but it will give you some idea of what is involved. 

Whatever the issue is, the keyless work is likely to be what has popped out of alignment.

EDIT: If you do attempt to strip it down, be aware that there are a couple of springs that like to become airborne, when you remove the three screws in that top plate. Don't say i didn't warn you. :P

 

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nad WRT Addict

nad

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Welcome Tom

Nice introduction.

As you're finding out, Mark's experience makes it look straight forward. Don't give up though, it's a rewarding hobby once you've cracked it

Keep safe.

Sent from my moto g(6) play using Tapatalk

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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45 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

Thank you for your introduction and welcome to this friendly forum.

Stay safe Tom.

Thank you, I look forward to increasing my knowledge and pushing my skillset.

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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Just now, nad said:

As you're finding out, Mark's experience makes it look straight forward. Don't give up though, it's a rewarding hobby once you've cracked it

Exactly that, I also blame the music for assuming I'd be in some kind of zen state when working away.

Thank you for the post.

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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44 minutes ago, AndyHull said:

If you do attempt to strip it down, be aware that there are a couple of springs that like to become airborne, when you remove the three screws in that top plate. Don't say i didn't warn you. :P

 

Thank you for the video, that will prove invaluable. Maybe I could do all my work in a well lit one man tent to increase the chances of finding springs that like to sprung!

The current plan is to finish the automatic watch for everyday wearing, and the quartz watch I want to use at work. As soon as that's done, I "look forward" to stripping down the mishandled movement.

It also just occurred to me that I read your introduction thread before signing up. The 404 club is an inspiring collection, being able to service and refurbish watches half as well as some of yours would be a huge achievement.

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eccentric59 WRT Addict

eccentric59

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The yoke of the keyless works is very easy to break. I should know, I did it to my first movement ... TWICE! The nice thing about using readily-available movements is that parts are easy to find and relatively affordable. Take your broken movement apart, taking LOTS of pictures in the process so you can get it back together. Inspect everything closely and see if you can find where issues might be. Even if you don't get it running you will develop some good part handling and examination skills.

 

Oh, and welcome to the forum. 

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Tom32 Member

Tom32

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31 minutes ago, eccentric59 said:

The yoke of the keyless works is very easy to break. I should know, I did it to my first movement ... TWICE! The nice thing about using readily-available movements is that parts are easy to find and relatively affordable. Take your broken movement apart, taking LOTS of pictures in the process so you can get it back together. Inspect everything closely and see if you can find where issues might be. Even if you don't get it running you will develop some good part handling and examination skills.

 

Oh, and welcome to the forum. 

That's reassuring to read, thank you. Pictures will no doubt be key, not only for me to put it back together, but also for when I come here to ask why my square peg won't fit a round hole.

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