socket tool required for Metamec 701 mechanical batch 8

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi All, newbie here,

I have worked on clocks and watches for a little while now, and seem to find that many I buy suffer with a spring that winds up, the clock or watch goes for a little while then stops and will only go with a little persuasion and then for not very long.

BUT today we picked up the clock mentioned above, I have the above problem and want to take the movement out to clean and oil it. BUT I cannot find a socket to undo the tiny hexagon nuts which are at the bottom of tiny holes. 

The nuts are all about 4.84 mm across flats and the holes are 7.7 mm in diameter.

I do not have a lathe otherwise I would turn down  a 5 mm socket.

Can you tell me, please, where I can obtain a special socket with a thin enough wall to do the job?

I would be very grateful.

Thanking you in advice.

Stan

[watchweasol]

Firstly welcome to the forum Stan.  Regarding your problem can you post pictures of the movement and the screws to enable members to see your problem and advise.   Thank you.

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi watchweasol, I cannot get into the movement to photograph it as the nuts I am talking about are on the outside of the case, thus preventing me from getting it open. 

I'll pop off and take some pics then put them up once I've worked out how to do it on this forum!

Cheers for the prompt reply!

Stan

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi again, the pics show one of the nuts in its hole in the wooden surround. the other shows the four round the outside and then the four inner ones in the bakelite/plastic back where I believe they may be holding the movement.

The three screws won't be a problem.

Ooops.

One image, a close up of a nut in its hole, refuses to be uploaded. So i will try to contact a mod or someone for help. It isn't too big so i exp[ect it will be down to lack of focus or something.

Anyway, here goes with the one shot.

Stan

[Tmuir]

You want a set of nutdrivers.

If you are measuring 4.84mm that is very close 4.7625  which is 3/16 inch.

Being British it's likely to be imperial sized.

Here are some fancy metric ones that may work

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/nutdrivers-socket

 

Or just have a look on ebay or an online tool shop for a set of imperial ones.

[watchweasol]

Most of these can be removed with a small socket set most good tool shops have them, I have two from my computer repair days. As Tmuir said Cousins uk . HSWalsh material houses who sell tools.

[Stanleysteamer]

Hi Both.

thanks for your replies.

I measured them in metric as that is what my caliper is in, but I am pleased to see it confirmed that imperial is the way to go and hopefully AF and not BA or BSF on any other wonderful size. 

I will follow your advice re obtaining a set.

Thanks again.

Stan

[Tmuir]

Yes I didn't want to start us down the path of talking BSF, BSW BA etc, but from my experience it doesn't matter how many spanners you have, you never have the one you need.

Besides horology I also like vintage motorcycle and vintage bicycles, or just about anything else old and mechanical and despite having full sets of Imperial, BSW and Metric spanners and a good selection of taps and dies I still regularly come across a nut or bolt I don't have a socket or spanner to fit and have to resort to the 'bodge it' tool and use an adjustable spanner.

[Stanleysteamer]

Tmuir. you don't happen to have a Land Rover or two knocking about do you?

With me it's them and Kit Cars, which are a lot more difficult to do in Oz I understand!

How off topic are you allowed to go on this forum?

In Landyzone they have a special place where you can post about anything, but it gets a bit rude and rambunctious. Not as much decorum as on here!

I am a member of AULRO and they seem to be a very friendly bunch.

So having looked all over tinternet for what I want, none of them seem to be able to tell me the wall thickness, so I think I will just butcher one of my 5mm sockets as 3/16 doesn't seem to be quite big enough for one or two of them. 

Still surprised to find "tamperproof" fittings on a 1947 clock!

[watchweasol]

Tamper proof fittings can be a pain, I have seen some where there are four screws normal and one torx, or a special just to cock you up  clever eh.

[Stanleysteamer]

I also have read that Rolex are no longer supplying spares, which is really making me cry into my beer, cos I would LOVE to be able to afford a Rolex!!!

[Tmuir]

23 hours ago, Stanleysteamer said:

Tmuir. you don't happen to have a Land Rover or two knocking about do you?

With me it's them and Kit Cars, which are a lot more difficult to do in Oz I understand!

How off topic are you allowed to go on this forum?

In Landyzone they have a special place where you can post about anything, but it gets a bit rude and rambunctious. Not as much decorum as on here!

I am a member of AULRO and they seem to be a very friendly bunch.

So having looked all over tinternet for what I want, none of them seem to be able to tell me the wall thickness, so I think I will just butcher one of my 5mm sockets as 3/16 doesn't seem to be quite big enough for one or two of them. 

Still surprised to find "tamperproof" fittings on a 1947 clock!

It's your thread so you can go as much off-topic as you want, but for just random offtopic stuff that is what 'Relax Zone' is for.

No Landrovers for me, mainly because I don't have the space to work on one, but the bike in my avatar is a 1961 BSA C15 which has all those 'special' magical made in Britain parts that give you so much fun and has me always swapping between imperial and BSW spanners on it.

I just checked the 2 Metamec clocks I have and neither of them have nuts recessed like on your clock

[Stanleysteamer]

Thanks for the reply.

I too can't get a Land rover in my garage as they are all Discoveries 1s and a 2. So I have to work on them outside in all weathers.

My first mechanicking was done on bikes too. I was never likely to own one, what with my mother being a doctor, but I worked on my mates' and he had a Matchless, an AJS and a Triumph 650 as well as various others. All old and cheap and thus in constant need of work!

Maybe I'll post one day in "Relax" sounds cool, if I am allowed to sound my age! (66).

all the Best

Stan