Seiko 5606a Automatic Winding Mechanism

[jyard]

Hi all,

This is my first attempt at dismantling and reassembling a watch, so please bear with me. So far so good though, with only one screw pinging off into the ether.

However, I am having some issue with the first reverser idler. Prior to putting this in, everything is running well and the watch can be manually wound as usual but, when I put it in it can still be manually wound but it feels odd, like it's being restricted somehow, also the manual wind is turning the reverser idler, which I am not sure it should do? The reverse idler when turned is winding the watch as it should do.

I have stripped back a couple of times now, followed the technical sheet and ensured everything is meshed together but it still doesn't feel right.

Any suggestions?

[JohnR725]

On 7/10/2022 at 5:57 AM, jyard said:

This is my first attempt at dismantling and reassembling a watch,

interesting choice for your first watch? What was the condition of the watch like before you disassemble and did you do any cleaning of the watch

On 7/10/2022 at 5:57 AM, jyard said:

reverser idler

then always nice if you would include pictures because not everyone will be familiar with every single watch. usually Seiko's are pretty easy because they use the magic lever they don't typically have a reverse wheel. At least not the newer ones typically.

then for everyone not familiar I have attached an image snipped out of the technical documentation

are you sure the problem was with the reverse idler? Typically with automatic watches other than modern Seiko is that magic levers there is a wheel or wheels that allow the automatic way to turn in either direction but only wind in one direction. Usually lubrication of those is extremely critical. Sometimes require special lubrication otherwise the experiences you're having maybe what you're seeing. In other words if that wheel is not functioning correctly then you'll have a problem but that is only a speculation.

 

[jyard]

On 7/11/2022 at 9:28 PM, JohnR725 said:

interesting choice for your first watch? What was the condition of the watch like before you disassemble and did you do any cleaning of the watch

Yes, probably jumped into the deep end a bit there and a pocket watch would have been better. Condition was very dirty case and slightly dirty movement. I cleaned everything in lighter fluid in an ultrasonic cleaner and oiled according to the technical sheet with Moebius 9010 and Moebius 9104.

On 7/11/2022 at 9:28 PM, JohnR725 said:

are you sure the problem was with the reverse idler?

Frankly, no. To be clear, everything is technically "working" as it should. It is just that when it is all put together the manual wind doesn't feel right. Now I think about it and looking at that diagram, I may need to pull the differential wheel out, give it another clean and oil it again. Everything else in that part of the movement looks fine, its all meshed properly, no broken teeth etc.

[JohnR725]

found two separate YouTube videos on servicing the watch. The second video seems more impressive than the first video. While the problems with YouTube videos are often times a 10 the make things look a lot easier than they are. The second video the person seems to grasp some of the known problems of this watch don't know if he covers the problem that you're having

On 7/11/2022 at 1:28 PM, JohnR725 said:

What was the condition of the watch like before you disassemble and did you do any cleaning of the watch

one of the reasons I have the condition of the watch before it was serviced was to determine whether you had a problem before or the problem came after?

4 hours ago, jyard said:

It is just that when it is all put together the manual wind doesn't feel right.

then often times especially with the keyless works things may not feel quite right after not lubricated right that has a problem was Seiko watches in that trying to figure out what their lubrication's are equal to. Like for instance the s4 oil found at the third link below the indication is it's really a grease. So you're using of the heavy oil is recommended with the Swiss companies and personally prefer to see a grease here like what Seiko is doing. But no idea whether that's your problem or not it's probably just the reverse or wheel is I would call it. Typically these have very exacting requirements for lubrication and each brand or company is different on how they expect this to be done

then I have a different PDF from Seiko on lubricating this watch

 

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/CA-pdrMNRd4

https://youtu.be/6wq92zMYmSg

 

https://www.esslinger.com/watchmakers-seiko-s-4-watch-grease/

 

 

Seiko-Oil-5606A.PDF