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Posted

I've got another newbie question here.  While oiling the balance end stones on a Seagull 36, one of the incabloc springs popped out.  I have been having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to put it back so I can lock the end stone into place.  I hadn't disassembled the balance, so the regulator was in place.  Since the spring came out with the regulator in place, I am hoping that I can put it back without a total disassembly of the balance.  Does anyone have a tip for putting the spring back into this movement's shock system?

Posted (edited)

This is a very common problem faced by newbies. The Chinese shock springs tend to unhinge very easily. This is because the hinge bar is shorter than the distance between the anchor points. 

If you slide one side of the hinge bar into place first, then rotate the other side in, it will go in with some persuasion. ( Like putting a AA battery into it's holder.)

But you'll need a broad tipped tweezer to hold both tines of the shock spring securely to accomplish this. An eyebrow tweezer works great for this job.

Edited by HectorLooi
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Posted

Likely have to pop out the setting.. I've just had to do the same in an Omega.  Not as bad as it sounds, for what its worth.  Or maybe youll have more luck, and be able to sneak it back in!

Posted

Hectorlooi, you are spot on.  The wide tweezers were essential, but with a bit of pressure the spring snapped back into place.  Many thanks.

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