Jump to content

Center Seconds Hand Support While Installing


Dumasdrew

Recommended Posts

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!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • although not in this case.  It was the Lugano Convention and its deficiencies that allowed a Swiss court decision in the first place.  This isnt really a Brexit issue at all.  A decision that affects both the EU and the UK should never have been heard in Switzerland. I bet the authorised service centres in the UK are pretty pleased.  It's a massive shame, though; I believe watch owners should be able to choose to have their watch serviced by whoever they trust.
    • Hi guys I think that old hippy is correct, it opens the gates for china to manufacture aftermarket spare parts. considering that they already do work on behalf of the Swiss I guess this decision gives the a little more legitimacy to tool up and I am sure they will take advantage of the situation either with or without the blessing of the Swiss watch industry  Having read about the protectionist machinations of the Swiss in the history of Europe they were the only ones to get fat at everybody else’s expense. I think the outcome could have been guessed at but ,  fair play to Cousins UK for standing up to them.  Now the question,  will everybody boycott Swiss watches and Swatch, no way they will still fill their coffers.  Me I stick with the Japanese once renowned for cheap shitty watches who came good through industrial effort and don’t for get the Russians that most dismiss as low grade crap. Wouldn’t buy a swatch product ever how about you all.? a
    • Hold the crown when in winding position, move the click away from the crown wheel, and then while holding the crown let it slowly unwind. I recollect that you must remove the automatic device bridge first, but maybe I'm wrong. You can first try without removing the automatic device bridge.
    • nevenbekriev- You nailed it with your description of me and my reaction when the clock started ticking again. I am a newbie.  I love the sound and idea of mechanical clocks but the idea of owning one and trying to keep them running has never appealed to me. My wife bought this one and an antique German wall clock.  When I looked into having someone repair them for me, the universal response was "it's really expensive to work on them, you should just replace the movement". So, I had nothing to lose, I started researching them and opened them up. The wife is happy because she hears the sound of the clocks again. But I have gone down the "accuracy" rabbit hole. In the vertical position, the balance wheel was not floating. It was sitting on the bottom of the frame. I adjusted the lower spring collet and got it floating. It easily passed the 270 degree 3 to 5 minute oscillation test. It took 8 minutes for the wheel to completely stop moving.  I put it the unit back in the movement and checked the safety pin. It does not touch the safety roller anywhere in +/-270 degrees rotation from neutral position. But the amplitude of the rotation with the spring fully wound is weak based on what you are saying. It rotates +/-90 degrees from the neutral position.  No, I did not take the movement completely apart.  That seemed way outside my skill set at the time. There is a reason I became an electrical engineer and not a mechanical engineer. I am much more comfortable with moving electrons than tiny moving metal parts. Will I do it in the long run? Anything can happen. I don't seem to be able to let it go.
×
×
  • Create New...