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Cannot Remove Ratchet Wheel Screw

DouglasSkinner
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DouglasSkinner WRT Addict

DouglasSkinner

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I have a pocket watch which I disassembled except I cannot loosen the screw that holds the ratchet wheel in place.  I tried a dab of WD-40 and let it soak for a few hours but no joy.  So what is a good strategy to remove one?  I've encountered this problem before in old watches.

 

Needless to say, this makes it very difficult to work with the mainspring.  In fact, I'm not sure I will be able to replace it once I take it out because the arbor will still be in the barrel.

Blacklab Distinguished Member

Blacklab

Posted
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Avoid the WD40 - only good for tractors. Try heating a little with a fine tip soldering iron, put a dab of watch oil on while still warm & hopefully this will creep into the threads.

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MrBeat WRT Addict

MrBeat

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Ive had this problem myself 100's of times with pocket watches so i feel your pain :(

 

My favoured method which by no means is the only one just the one that works for me.....

 

Soak parts in clock oil/penetrant or similar and leave in tub in warm area ( such as clothing closet next to boiler or warm radiator ), i leave them for a few days allowing metal to expand and let in oils ( the thinner the oil the better ).

 

I then clean off with soapy "WARM"( to keep metal expanded ) water before firstly trying to slightly tighten screw then untighten. The reason i try to tighten slightly first is that this usually ( 7/10 ) breaks the seal and allows it to be unscrewed.

 

You may find sometimes that short quick knocking/tapping the screw head with a small watchmakers hammer ( the small ones NOT claw hammer type lol ) against a hard surface or metal block for example can help break the thread rust as the vibrations pass through the screw and cause it to come loose. Worth noting not to smack it to death just moderate tapping to send vibrations through screw.

 

 

There are other methods im sure but this has worked for me on so many Omega pocket watches with rusted rachet screws. But this is only my method so approach it with caution :)

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DouglasSkinner WRT Addict

DouglasSkinner

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Thanks, will try the soldiering iron approach.  I thought of the possibility that it might be reverse threaded but didn't have any luck there either.

DouglasSkinner WRT Addict

DouglasSkinner

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Yes, after swearing it wasn't reverse threaded I applied a hot soldiering iron, tapped the screw lightly against a hard surface and tried loosening it assuming it was reverse threaded and, voila!, it came off.  But at the beginning it did try to unscrew it assuming it was a reverse thread before and it didn't want to budge.

 

Thanks for the help!

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