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Posted (edited)

Hi everyone,

My name is Matt and I'm new to the board and the hobby. My interest in watchmaking was recently piqued through some videos I saw on YouTube and it's led me to start this fun hobby. I have already picked up a basic tool set and screwdrivers, etc. and I'm a mechanically-inclined person who fixes darn near everything in my home, vehicle, etc., so I'm not going into this with a complete lack of ability, more a complete lack of knowledge 🙂 

Anyway, I hope that some of you may be able to help me with first "project" watch, an Oris Power Reserve (with a Cal. 601 KIF movement), that I recently picked up on eBay. It was missing the crown and has a broken stem, which I knew when I purchased it. They seller didn't know if it ran because they were unable to wind it, but I decided to take a chance. 

Upon receipt of the watch, I kind of did a basic once-over; removed the movement from the case by releasing the case clamps (one of which was broken) and then gently wound it using a pin vise. To my great pleasure, the watch immediately began running and after wearing it around for a day or so, discovered that it keeps very good time.

https://i.postimg.cc/W3CJjkfx/PXL-20211222-201750702.jpg

(I already used Polywatch to polish the crystal and it *really works* - I was stunned - so much better)

The bad news, however, is that the automatic winding mechanism doesn't seem to work - it spins freely and doesn't catch/drag or otherwise make nasty sounds like a gear is stripped. The movement itself is rather clean and appears to be free of debris, but the case is otherwise rather dirty.  

https://i.postimg.cc/4NChSpc9/PXL-20211222-201916621.jpg

While trying to identify the cause of the lack of automatic winding, I turned the rotor by hand and observed the gear train. They move back and forth freely. I also removed the rotor and wound the watch with the pin wrench to observe what happened during a manual winding. There is a little metal tab that clicks during the rotation - I'm guessing it is some kind of one-way catch that doesn't allow the spring to unwind. When I did the same thing with the rotor (I put the screw back in the rotor hole and then used a screwdriver to manually turn it), I counted between 4-5 rotations before there was a "click" from that metal tab, that can be seen at roughly the 5:00 position in the below image, ~3mm from the rotor pivot (right off the end of the screwdriver). 

https://i.postimg.cc/3r0v1tkh/PXL-20211222-202034312.jpg

I also removed the bridge/piece that contains these gears (which caused the power reserve hand to pop off) and the below bridge/piece that contains the rotor pivot to inspect them and see if any gear looked stripped. It all seem to be fine and functioning. Put it back together and miraculously didn't lose and of the comically small pieces and it still runs, albeit, I didn't fix the automatic function. 

(I removed this large bridge piece)

https://i.postimg.cc/x8mNd1w8/PXL-20211222-202029285.jpg

So aside from some advice on the automatic winding function, could you fellas (and/or ladies) help me understand how/where I can buy a replacement stem and crown? Also, where/how do I find a replacement case clamp? I, at least, have the screw for it. 

https://i.postimg.cc/284BR3dX/PXL-20211222-202052368.jpg

Thanks all, really appreciate your assistance,

S/F,

-Matt 

PXL_20211222_202052368.jpg

PXL_20211222_202034312.jpg

PXL_20211222_202029285.jpg

PXL_20211222_201916621.jpg

PXL_20211222_201750702.jpg

Edited by MayerMR
Posted
26 minutes ago, MayerMR said:

more a complete lack of knowledge

Welcome here. To get knowledge and learn proper watchmaking the best way is to enroll in the training by our Host Mark Lovick, at watchfix.com

 

26 minutes ago, MayerMR said:

how/where I can buy a replacement stem and crown? Also, where/how do I find a replacement case clamp? 

In general, have a read of our pinned topic below. Cousins UK has the stem, and some crown. But even a generic crown will work. Case calms are sold as generic parts.

 

 

 

Posted
3 minutes ago, jdm said:

Welcome here. To get knowledge and learn proper watchmaking the best way is to enroll in the training by our Host Mark Lovick, at watchfix.com

jdm, firstly, thank you for your prompt response. It's greatly appreciated. I will certainly enroll in that training - sounds like a fun time!

3 minutes ago, jdm said:

 

In general, have a read of our pinned topic below. Cousins UK has the stem, and some crown. But even a generic crown will work. Case calms are sold as generic parts.

I will most certainly read the pinned topic and report back if I'm still confused! Thank you for the lead on the source for parts!

3 minutes ago, jdm said:

 

 

 

 

Posted

Hi @MayerMR

Here in the UK a great supplier (and resource information provider) is Cousins UK as already mentioned by JDM

For instance here is a parts download for your Oris: https://www.cousinsuk.com/PDF/categories/2430_Oris 601,605.pdf plus they supply many spare parts for your watch too (https://www.cousinsuk.com/category/filter/oris-watch-movement-parts).

You don't say where you're based but some simple detective work indicates you're in the US ... in which case esslinger.com or julesborel.com might be more appropriate. Other US members might be able to suggest other suppliers. And there is our great friend ebay ... always worth a look for those hard to find parts (or even a donor movement/watch).

I might be missing something but your description of click and rotor operation sound quite normal. If you imagine what happens when you wind a watch manually then you're putting power into the mainspring and, yes, there is the 'click' mechanism as a standard part of watch's makeup. All the auto mechanism is there to do is emulate that manual winding but necessary gearing means it takes several rotations of a rotor before any next 'click'. 

Come back where you need additional advice or help.

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