Jump to content

Recycling And Thinking Outside Of The Box


Recommended Posts

I have been working on a valjoux 7740 chronograph and found quite a few problems with it. Already we are over budget on parts, but that's how it goes sometimes. The barrel was very worn and all the teeth were worn to around half length on another wheel. But now the watch is running fine I just have the Flyback lever to deal with.

 

It is common for flyback levers to break where it is bent down 90ºs in order to engage the reset pusher but unfortunately the flyback lever for the 7740 is obsolete, can't find one on ebay so I thought it would be fun to see what I can do with the broken one.

 

Not sure how this will pan out as I have not finished it yet but in theory this should work. Whenever I think outside the box like this I always try to think of non-destructive ways to execute the job so that it can be reversed easily if required. In this case, I am not modifying the watch movement in any way - just the broken flyback lever - this way, if a flyback lever is ever found in the future then it can be fitted with no problem and my modification discarded.

 

As for recycling - I decided to use an old watch back for the material, because - why not?

 

 

This is where the flyback lever goes...

 

post-1-0-39188200-1436864807_thumb.jpg

 

I softened the original flyback lever and drilled a hole - I am going to rivet an angled piece in order to engage the lever with the pusher.

 

post-1-0-44282800-1436864840_thumb.jpg

 

So I cut a piece out of a watch back :)

 

post-1-0-32975200-1436864912_thumb.jpg

 

Bent it about 90ºs and drilled a hole in it for the rivet.

 

post-1-0-89676900-1436864966_thumb.jpg

 

Turned a rivet on the lathe...

 

post-1-0-58035200-1436865016_thumb.jpg

 

And tried it all for size...

 

post-1-0-81923100-1436865075_thumb.jpg

 

So I now have to re-harden and temper the lever, then rivet the material to it, clean it all up, and give it a test.

 

This may not pan out - but it's fun thinking outside of the box. I will update the thread to let you know wether it worked or not.

 

 

What about you - any "out of the box" repair stories to share?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now this is interesting... your "thinking out of the box" is what I like the most about watch repairing: sometimes parts are just nowhere to be found, and that's the only way you can make an old timepiece come back to life...  :thumbsu:

 

Will keep an eye on this thread to see the outcome, which I already know will be successfull.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well - it turned out OK.

 

Initially my rivet was fouling the screw and the hammer but a bit of whittling sorted it out.

 

Riveted in place...

 

post-1-0-70043800-1436870344_thumb.jpg

 

 

Just a bit of cleanup and it will be fine - functionally it works perfectly.

 

post-1-0-24448900-1436870345_thumb.jpg

 

post-1-0-76653100-1436870345_thumb.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I read that same article last night  H.  I think epilame is too much headache for me, sources aren't always accurate, some conflicting. Such is the GRAVITY of this situation, Is it ok if i just STICK  to a thixotropic oil 🤣
    • Not sure I follow along. As I stated in one of my previous posts, the epilame will remain intact between rubbing parts as long as the surface is lubricated by oil or grease. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but note how the epilame-treated surface is illustrated in @Waggy's post. It looks like the oil is exposed to a binder (epilame!) so that it can't move sideways.
    • The epilame under the oil will also be removed  Unless the oil makes a barrier between the epilame and the escape teeth 😅 I think i need two strong coffees now 🤣
    • If we use the rub-off epilame method of pallet stones (run dry for a few minutes before applying the epilame) where will the oil go/be transported when it is pushed away from the impulse surface by the escape wheel teeth? Onto the epilame-treated sections of the pallet! Once the oil has been applied/transported to the epilame-treated sections of the pallet where will it then go? Nowhere as the oil will remain on the epilame. So, perhaps the run-dry method defeats its intended purpose leaving the pallet impulse surfaces dry!? If, on the other hand, we do not remove the epilame from the pallet stones where the escape wheel teeth come in contact with them I'd expect more oil to remain where we want it and need it. Yes, I agree, that is the question, and my gut feeling tells me that is exactly the case. Epilame was created to have an adhesive trait and the oleophobic property is just a side effect.  
    • Might that be the viscous nature of oil resisting gravity H  ,  we have been comparing water and hydrophobic surfaces which are similar in principle but water is much less viscous than oil. I guess what we trying to discover is if epilame also has an adhesive trait as well as being oleophobic. Plus the oil dropet has very little mass for gravity to work on, like watching tiny water beads that can grip onto vertical glass until they are connected together to increase their mass then run down. Gravity isn't the only factor at play when oil is placed on pallet stones. The oil receives a lot of bashing that may push it out of position ? Thinking about it if the oil stays in position for 10 minutes enough time for the escape wheel to scrape off the epilame , then  a walled in lubrication has been achieved,  the epilame is no longer beneath the oil ( possibly mixed into the oil )
×
×
  • Create New...