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Center Seconds Hand Support While Installing

Dumasdrew

By Dumasdrew
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

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Dumasdrew Member

Dumasdrew

Posted
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Hey all,

Just wondering what your particular tools/methods are for installing a center seconds hand that needs a support. Is there a best/recommended tool/method? Or is it one of those "many ways to skin a cat" type of situation? Thanks in advance!

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Poljot Super WRT Addict

Poljot

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Well, in my experience, a specially designed movement holder for a specific calibre, or a staking tool (no hammer !!) did the trick.

Some movements are pain in the (you know where), no matter which tool you are using. One must be extra careful, but firm. ETA 7753 is one example as its Central Hand is sitting very-very tight, making it hard to remove and nerve-wracking to install.

 

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Tudor Distinguished Member

Tudor

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Dedicated holder (with proper support installed) is the best; and the Burgeon generic holder is the next best (but I don't have one). The table is sprung, and it has a center support, so when you press on the movement, it drops and the pin comes up to support the pinion end. Sorry, I don't know the number off the top of my head.

I had considered making one, but I probably won't.

I believe they are designed to be used with a hand press, so you can center the pin under the plunger before you place the movement (for off-center pinions), but no reason it couldn't be used manually as well.

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Dumasdrew Member

Dumasdrew

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Thanks Tudor and Poljot! I have seen the Bergeon 5409 holder, but it's rather expensive. It's definitely worth the money for a good product, but as this is just a hobby for me, I'm on a limited budget. ?

So the other route would be to have a specific movement holder for an Omega 562. I haven't been able to find one, so if you happen to know of one, I'd love to know about it! This is when a 3D printer would come in real handy...

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Poljot Super WRT Addict

Poljot

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4 hours ago, Dumasdrew said:

So the other route would be to have a specific movement holder for an Omega 562. I haven't been able to find one, so if you happen to know of one, I'd love to know about it! This is when a 3D printer would come in real handy...

If you haven't found one.. perhaps there is no need for one. A gentle push down - it's all you need to set a Central Seconds Hand on that watch. Just make sure your "pusher" is clean, flat, soft enough not to scratch the hand surface, etc. Do NOT try to push it 20 times "to make sure". One gentle push after it was centered and set correctly on the pivot. Then tilt the movement to see from the side if the seconds hand is sitting in parallel with the minute hand. There should be enough clearance between two. If it sits too low - it maybe that the minute hand was not pushed all the way down, or you need to tighten the seconds hand tube slightly.

Hands
1.50 x 0.80 x 0.18mm

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ricardoch New Member

ricardoch

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Hi all,

I have had to install several times second hand on my omegas (10xx) that were a pain due to their soft spring.
I have not an omega holder, so I made my own "tool" from a piece of copper wire with the end filed flat.
I removed the auto weight whose axle lays just below seconds pinion, and dropped the wire to just lay on the seconds pinion.
Then marked the wire where it exits from the rotor hole and bent it from the mark to make an "L" with the shaft measuring just the length from the rotor base to the seconds pinion. Let it go through the rotor hole and check that shaft goes all the way down, to ensure no pressure will damage the seconds pinion or axle.  
Simply lay it on the movement, support with a piece of tape and lay the movement on a flat surface. with the new "L" tool lying on the bench.
The seconds axle will remain in place while installing the hand.

Not a high tech solution, but it served me.
I hope it helps you, taking care to not miss axle length, better short than long

Sorry, but I have not better photos, I did new just to give you an idea.
The last two are the actual size and position on my watch

Regards

Seconds00.jpg

Seconds01.jpg

Seconds01b.jpg

Seconds02.jpg

Seconds101.jpg

Seconds102.jpg

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