Hi from new member

[clark348]

Hi All,

A not so quick intro, i’ve always loved watches, and anything mechanical really, but normally on a much larger scale, cars, boats, anything R/C, I studied mechanical engineering with automotive design, but never really put it into any practice, but i’ve always got some projects i’m working on, restoring something, an old car, bike, motorcycle etc etc.... never even considered watches as something i could work on... then at the beginning of this second lockdown I found an old Tissot that I bought when I was about 15... (42 now with 3 kids) i loved this watch a wore it for years and it had always been great, very stylish with its square face and leather strap with clasp... i felt really guilty i hadn’t worn it for so long, it had long been put aside for a Rolex i got a bit later and have since grown to love and use all the time, (35mm SS Mechanical Precision Datejust) I felt like I just have to get this Tissot working again, so I put a new battery in it, It worked for a bit then stopped, so i though it needs a service, got a quote of +£300 to sort it and couldn’t believe that, so i thought i’ll do it myself, and my online endeavours brought me to Marks lessons, i’m currently half way through the 3rd course, the Tissot (i find out has got a ETA Quarts Movement 251.471) its currently in a million bits, cleaned it now, lost a few parts, when dismantling , but managed to work out what parts and reordered the parts... like a mad jigsaw puzzle, so now im nearly ready to re assemble it, just seems like it was very dirty, i think dirt right down in the motors, pinion within stator i believe, love this watch almost as much as the Rolex... so one way or another i’ll get it running, even if i have to buy a new movement (last resort, and would be cheating, i think) enjoying the silence of being at the desk, parts in front of me and a mechanical challenge... i find it so relaxing, i must be mad really, looking forward to seeing members others projects too, and would love to be able to service my Rolex too, but woun’t attempt that until the Tissot sorted... i recon the Rolex would probably be easy in comparison to what i’ve started, anyhow, my intro has dragged on a bit, i’d love some fundamental lessons on quartz, have been surprised about the lack of info on quartz movements, if anyone could point me in direction of basic info on them/lessons etc that would be fab... Looking forward to working on a few other watches i have, (Post Tissot) and looking at other members projects too...

thanks Clark

ill try a post a few pics of the tissot and its parts for you to see... i hope you agree it’s a nice looking watch, worthless but of big sentimental value to me...

[HectorLooi]

Hi Clark, welcome to WRT.

I'm no expert on quartz watches but I recently restored about 30 dead quartz watches for the kids in an orphanage. Although I do repair mechanical watches and clocks, I have a penchant all things electrical, hence I gravitate towards things like Timex Electrics, Electronics, Q Quartzs and regular quartzs.

Most watch repairers limit their scope on quartz watch repairs to replacing batteries and straps. Occasionally replacing dead movements. I only learnt that certain quartz movements ( higher end ) can be cleaned, lubricated and repaired like a mechanical watch. I will be repairing an obsolete Seiko Quartz tonight.

The parts in a quartz watch tend to be smaller, making it more difficult. And losing parts is much easier. And quartz movements tend to use plastic parts that are so delicate that holding them wrongly with a pair of tweezers can damage them.

Good luck with your Tissot. Your love for it certainly shows.

[oldhippy]

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

[Nucejoe]

Hi clark, welcome to the forum.

A datasheet/ schematic diagram, can usually be found on line and is helpful, furthermore you can take pictures as you disassemble which will be helpful for reassembly.

In general even if you lack experience with quartz movements, as long as parts get cleaned and go back where they belong plus light oiling, you have done an accepable clean.

Good luck.

[clark348]

2 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

Hi Clark, welcome to WRT.

I'm no expert on quartz watches but I recently restored about 30 dead quartz watches for the kids in an orphanage. Although I do repair mechanical watches and clocks, I have a penchant all things electrical, hence I gravitate towards things like Timex Electrics, Electronics, Q Quartzs and regular quartzs.

Most watch repairers limit their scope on quartz watch repairs to replacing batteries and straps. Occasionally replacing dead movements. I only learnt that certain quartz movements ( higher end ) can be cleaned, lubricated and repaired like a mechanical watch. I will be repairing an obsolete Seiko Quartz tonight.

The parts in a quartz watch tend to be smaller, making it more difficult. And losing parts is much easier. And quartz movements tend to use plastic parts that are so delicate that holding them wrongly with a pair of tweezers can damage them.

Good luck with your Tissot. Your love for it certainly shows.

thanks for that, the seiko quartz project sounds great, would love to see some pics of your work... good luck with it, the tissot is on the bench still at the moment, just waiting on one more part to come in from cousins, i’ll take some pics as i rebuild it.. thanks