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First watch project started


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Ok, So the screwdrivers, tweezers ect arrived today. Could not wait to start! 

 

Have got a Fortis as first project, that seems to come from a lot of sparepart watches. It has the FHF 96ST movement. Looks brand new, and was sold as a non runner. It is missing the stem. And the dial looked loose. 

Pried up the case lid. And the movment fell out. So, I tried to wind the barrel a little with a screwdriver. No surplice there, It didn't run. :) After a little closer look. I saw the balance jewel is missing. Also looked like the pivot might be broken. Bit exited, I started with removing the hands. Had little trouble there. The houerhand was pried to dial face. But after a little more fiddling than expected. I got it off. 

For my life. I couldn't find the screws to the dial. Turns out it was glued on to the movement.. Even more intresting!  :) But got that off too, with little "fiddling" 

Tried to get it running again. But noticed that the balance looked out of alignment. Time to bring out the new "chunky" Bergeon screwdrivers! (love them already) With a "some" intresting trying out different work positions, shifting between 4x and 10x loupe. Half scared to mess up the balance, possibly even more. Still exited. But with some fueling with the tweezers. Tha balance came out in one piece with the hair spring. Im not sure why its called hairspring. It sure is thinner than a hair..  After som try and tribulations with the loupe. I managed to notice that the lower pivot on the balance staff is ok. Had hard time to see if the upper pivot was existing. The hairspring is in the way. Im not sure how you guys do it? Im sure scared to mess up the hairspring! But eventually, I got a glimpse of it. 

Looked at the fork and timing wheel. It seemd to want to "tick". So I decided to remount the balance again. Well..That took some time. Again very fiddly! First time, I got the impulse jewel out of alignment. Took me a while to figure out. And even more time to reassemble with it in alignment. But got it there on the second try. Im not telling you about how long it took.. ;) 

With everything back. I I tried to "kick" the balance. Veeerrry carefully. It wanted to go!  With the missing to jewel in mind. I decided to give it "some" oil. Since it never has been up and running. It is probably very gummed up. So disassembly, cleaning and oiling have to be done anyway. So I thought it is the perfect first oiling effort, as I can clean upp my mess, anyway. 

Oiling. Jeez.. Those jewels is tiny!! Let say.. Comparing on what Ive seen on turitorials ect. My jewels isn't missing any lube.. :D

But it started ticking!!!  It definitely isn't strong ticking. But an houer later, writing this. It is still ticking! Mezmerasing! I call this evening a success! 

 

Some notes to self: 

1. Im getting a bit shakier over the years. Loupes magnifies that too.. LOL

2. Improve working position. Sitting on the floor isn't an option. So raising the office table some how, is needed. 

3. I did like to use the loupe better without the head band. It was quicker to change between magnification. (have only 4x and 10x)

4. Amongst many other things. A microscope is now on the wishlist for the future wallet enlightener list.  

4. When doing close up work. Don´t poke the nose with the screwdrivers.(unintentional, or not). The new Bergeon screwdrivers will be offended!! 

5. Somehow, I need to find a correct jewel, spring ect.  Find out if a jewel press is needed?. Hm. have to get a stem and crown too.

6. The only thing I got top quality tool to start with. Was the Bergeon screwdrivers. As the first set "stuff" needed. Didn't come cheap any way. But Im happy I got quality screwdrivers. So Im pondering if the wife get upset if I have them on the night table! Hm!  

7. Today was a great day! lets make tomorrow even better! 

8. Tomorrow is disassembly day. Remember to take maaany pictures!! 

9. Get some sleep! 

/Johan

 

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I think twice and examine pix from a digital microscope before wasting money on one.

To put the jewel, end stone and spring on the cock, I  detach balance, stud and regulator arm off the cock, makes the task a lot easier.

Needs three cleans.       

Good luck

 

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I see you might have been at Tradera and looked for treasures.
That glue what looks like the Swedish specialty "Karlssons klister" might be tough to get off but a good rub with pure acetone on a cotton Topps would do it.
Since the dial lacks feet you shouldn't glue it back on, I recommend you begin with dial feet stickers and take it from there, when you get a bit experienced swap them to dial feet’s.
Unfortunately I don’t have that kind of cap jewels for the FHF (ST) 96 at home, if you don't find it I have a replacement movement which I can donate for free. 
Just pop me a PM.

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5 hours ago, HSL said:

I see you might have been at Tradera and looked for treasures.
That glue what looks like the Swedish specialty "Karlssons klister" might be tough to get off but a good rub with pure acetone on a cotton Topps would do it.
Since the dial lacks feet you shouldn't glue it back on, I recommend you begin with dial feet stickers and take it from there, when you get a bit experienced swap them to dial feet’s.
Unfortunately I don’t have that kind of cap jewels for the FHF (ST) 96 at home, if you don't find it I have a replacement movement which I can donate for free. 
Just pop me a PM.

Yes I got this from Tradera. Wich I have come to realize, is a intresting place. With many pitfalls. If you aren't careful. Got this fortis as a "ok to wreck" first project. But the goal is to get a nice working watch! 

It is Karlsson's klister! :) I have not decided to what to do with the dial. As im not very experienced with watches. But Im not sure it is Fortis genuine dial? Im in the digital large format printing biz. But for many years, I was a production specialist/graphics/prepress. At one of the most renowned silkscreen companies in the country. And this dial has at best, a half decent print quality. If so, I might end up remake it with a own design. But.. that is a waay later problem. I have to get the movment up working, have it fitted in the case nicely ect. :) 

Have spent a bit today, to investigate this movment, and spareparts. It seems this movment have to versions of the jewels. One with the more common incablock type, that I know of. Then a different variant that I havet seen before. That is the variant I have. 

 

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5 hours ago, watchweasol said:

Hi and welcome to the forum   as a first attempt you deserve a pat on the back.  Getting it to work brilliant, long my your hobby continue and long may you enjoy it.:Bravo:

Thank you! :)

Its defenetly a challenge and steep learning curve! 

A pat on the back, is defently needed. ;)  I knew it will be, and can be frustrating. With micro sized parts and all. but Im trying to do this with some humor and a smile. Just because it is a hobby.(If it isn't fun, it isn't a hobby)   Had some flyers yesterday. But ended well. Had to walk a way for a few minutes a cpl of times yesterday. But it was fun, and it is ticking, albeit slowly. By my side right now! 

have a great day! 

Johan 

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14 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

I think twice and examine pix from a digital microscope before wasting money on one.

To put the jewel, end stone and spring on the cock, I  detach balance, stud and regulator arm off the cock, makes the task a lot easier.

Needs three cleans.       

Good luck

 

Thank you for you're response! 

One of tonights projects is to disassemble the movment for cleaning. :)  But I will keep the balance, bridge in one pice. 

When, and If. I have managed to assemble it again. Will will look in to getting Jewel. Chances are quite big. I mess something up massive. Then I don't need a jewel anyway. :D

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When working on the dial side I like to work on the movement inside a clear plastic bag.It keeps the Jesus springs from flying off to heaven.working on a clean white surface such as a piece of printer/copy paper helps   you to see small parts.

Edited by yankeedog
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Yankeedog is right on with the plastic bag trick, can save hours scraping round the floor. A usefull tool for finding errant parts is a long magnetic knife holder covers a lot of ground with one sweep.  You have the right attitude to succeed, dont get frustated just walk away have a beer then start again    you are doing ok. 

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I have disassembled the movment. 

Springs.. I was determined to not..Have one go! :) 

Result: The keyway spring took off! :D But, it kept close. and I did find it emeidietly. (pure luck!) 

The movment has never been running. So a easy clean. Not sur what to do with the hairspring/balance assembly. Have no lighter fluid on hand. But acetone, and isopropanol. So, I have left the pallet fork and hairspring assy. As is, for now. 

Have taken a lot, I mean, a lot of photos. :) But I don't want to wait to long before reassembly. Memory is like teflon now days. Well, not that bad. But its getting there. 

The glue on the mainplate. Did come off, after about an hour or so. But has left some etching on the plating. that won't come off. But, its looking better anyway. 

Tomorrow, assembly time! 

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Hair springs? Acetone  and alcohol  dont work very  well.  Naphtha  does. Alternatively  you could spray some carburetor  cleaner  in a small  dish and dip.electric contact cleaner  works as well. Just a brief dip ,no soaking. You will  loosen the shellac  that  keeps  the impulse  jewel in place. I usually  turn the assembly  upside  down  and lay it on it's back in the dish.i agitate the fluid  and set it to dry on a piece  of paper. Works like a champ.

Edited by yankeedog
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Thank you all, for very encouraging replies! :) 

Spent yesterday about 12 hours or so, assembling. Have not cleaned the jewel and balance wheel assembly yet. 

Anyhow.. It was a bit frustrating, and starting to be a bit tired, I started to get a bit shaky. So had to tak quite a few breaks. But when you find the right working position. Things get installed with a good flow. Thats a great feeling! 

As a mentioned before. I didn't clean to much. Most looked prestine, including the inside of the barrel and spring. Some corrotion that I tried to remove as best as possible. 

Started to install the timing wheel and fourth wheel. Then the rest of the wheeltrain and bridge. Barrel and winding wheels and clicspring. (I didn't get to take flight! :) ) Well, nothing of these when really easy. Geting the alignment was.. Well, it eventually worked out nice. More experience will defenetly makes things easier, I hope! ;)  Gear train is after some time, decently oiled. Not to much excessive oil. Runns like silk smooth. Just that, made my day! 

The troubles.. :)

Was on a roll assembly the timing gear and fourth wheel bridge. Nicely aligned. Just to get the screws installed. Got found of my brass tweeter. But in a "flow" I didn't look up, and picked up a screw with the tweezer. Not realizing it was the brass tweezer. With lightly bent tips.. Well, the screw to a really good flight wit a "ping!" Flew all aver the room. Towars the pile of stuff that is for restoring the office. Lets say, I didn't even consider looking for it. :D

Other "problems" is I might have messed up the treads on the small whinding wheel. Not sure yet. Was not feeling great when installed. Even with great care. The clingsprind isn't working. Defenetly my messed up installment. :) 

Keyless work, is not installed yet. But I have two parts that I have missed photographed dismantling. One is a small shaft that fell out during disassembly. Sertenly from the keyless work? Unfortenly. I have no clue where it goes. Well it will be sorted somehow. Include a pic of the two parts. If anyone has a lead of its origin. :)

The main problem was, I had big problem to get the the balance installed, and running. And when it all felt right. The geardtrain lost the little power I've given the barrel..  Its really hard to be able to look at the alignment of fork ect. But after a while. I concluded that the right jewel on the fork, has twisted upwards. And maby, (im not sure) the upper pivot is slightly shorter than the lower? 

Anyway. I carefully tweeted the jewel bak to its alignment. Put it back, but no joy! Im sure it needs to be heated for the shellac will be proper. But just wanted to test if it worked. But it didn't. For now, im not sure what to do. It is really hard to se anything. Especial on the right fork jewel! 

Think I need to take up on the offer of the spair movment.  Looking forward to have the thing ticking in my hand! 

Cheers all! 

/Johan 

 

p.s Im happy I got one of those rotating boxes. I really like the design. It keeps the parts organized. And nor risk of all "take flight" Since only one compartment opens at the same time. But, id recommend a bit better quality. This is fairly annoying to twist the lid. It get slightly stuck all the time.  Annoying when it is so small an delicate part to handle. 

 

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Edited by Rocket
Things wrongly named. :) some more might be. ;)
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I think the set lever screw goes on before barrel bridge dose, did you not get a datasheet for this?

If too many missing parts, a scrap/spare movement hurts wallet less. ST96 has been made in India for sometime now, cheap and good for spare.

Lighter fluid is available in supermarkets( you save on shipping) inexpensive and works real well. I keep like 10mml in small jar, cork keeps the fluid from vaporizing and leaving the jar. Good for final clean and rinse of complete balance& cock, fork and all gears/ pinions.

 

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I havent found a proper techsheet prmanual. 

Its 3am, and I cant sleeping. :) 

But I found this old thread! 

Some problems seems to be the same as I have. And, Im sure my watch is a Mumbai special. If I got the ”term” correct. 

 

Same scratchas at the screw for the stem. Stripped screw for crownwheel. My also comes with a lowbudget silkscreen dial, glued to the movement. :)

otherwise. Movment looks good. Exept some small corrotion. 

 

Edited by Rocket
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Not some actual "hands on" progress on the movment today. 

But some more good info collected! 

Found this! It certainly clears a few things for me. So it is the same movment as the FHF 96. So I think I let it in this thread. For future rerference on this movment. Hopefully it helps some more ppl. :) (hope it is ok to share this) 

 

Another pleasant news. Is HSL has offered to donate a spare movment. 

Im humbled of his offer. I offered to pay something for it. But he galantly refuse! 

Thank you HSL. It will defenetly help my skills move forward! :)

 

 

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watch bridges are pretty unique. some like the eta 1080 were copied a great deal.But the fhf 96 not so much. one thing i have to say about the India watches is that the cases are generally made from a decent grade of stainless steel, it is a hot country and people sweat. you need a watch there that wont corrode on your wrist

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On 7/31/2020 at 9:42 AM, Rocket said:

 Got this fortis as a "ok to wreck" first project.

 

Congratulations on getting it to tick again! Don"t think of it as wrecking something.  When things do become damaged or more  damaged, think of it as a training aid to fix that part. I have a couple of training aids that I have created for my self. When I am ready to learn to straiten out hairsprings, I already have 2 to work on. 

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On 8/4/2020 at 4:38 PM, yankeedog said:

watch bridges are pretty unique. some like the eta 1080 were copied a great deal.But the fhf 96 not so much. one thing i have to say about the India watches is that the cases are generally made from a decent grade of stainless steel, it is a hot country and people sweat. you need a watch there that wont corrode on your wrist

Agree on the case looks very good! 

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Hm. Made a pretty long text today. But it seems to have vanished! 

Ill check on my iPad history, or Il rewrite. 

Anyway. Some cold beer to fight the heat. While working on the movment. Practice, practice!! 

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On 7/31/2020 at 9:53 AM, Rocket said:

Thank you! :)

Its defenetly a challenge and steep learning curve! 

A pat on the back, is defently needed. ;)  I knew it will be, and can be frustrating. With micro sized parts and all. but Im trying to do this with some humor and a smile. Just because it is a hobby.(If it isn't fun, it isn't a hobby)   Had some flyers yesterday. But ended well. Had to walk a way for a few minutes a cpl of times yesterday. But it was fun, and it is ticking, albeit slowly. By my side right now! 

have a great day! 

Johan 

Humor is a big part of it for me. Welcome and isn't cool make it run? Even if it's not all correct or whatever, it's a thrill. Congrats!

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  • 1 month later...

Little update on the project! 

Life has been, is very hectic at the moment. Though, i had som short times to work on the movment. But looking forward to this weekend. Where I will have some serious time to sit down and enjoy it. 

Noticed the palletfork had one jewel loose. Probably me ”fixing” it, so to speak.. Lesson learne. Dont try to attach the bridge with the fork inplace. Timing wheel will/might knock the pallet Jewels. 

I saw it as a opportunity to try heat the schellack and fix the problem. But it seems there was a airbubble behind the jewel. A small poff.. So it didnt work. And not having any schellack. I have come to a conclution...

HSL Sent me a spareparts movment. Very, very kindly! His comment: dirty as.. To my eyes, its mint condition compared with the one I got with the watch! So, picking parts from a better condition movment. To a far lesser one. Is very.. well. Not smart! Took a while to get that thought in my mind. Because Im quite stubborn, wanting to finish projects I start. 

So, I will dissasebly and clean the donated movment, for the watch. But one more practice run on the other one first. :) 

Late evenings, and daytime brakes. Have been looking at auction sites. Watch info. So collection of knowledge has been continued, at least. 

Got and HMT for pretty much nothing. Hoping it would (as Mumbai special) have a st96 movment. It didnt. Looks a bit similar. But quite less quality, the looks of it anyway. But, for 6euro. Including shipping. I got a wriststrap, nice case and a nicer dial then the fake fortis. Well., lets say its very, very purple! :Laugh:

It for another thread. But have tried to find some info regarding the movment in my pocket watch. Very tricky and Intresting. But Atleast lerning things there too! 

 

And again, Thank you HSL! :bow:

 

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