Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hi Everyone, looking for some help with oversized stems. I have an AS1123 movement and the stem keeps pulling out. I believe that is due to wear in the mainplate as the stem can wiggle around. I have bought a selection of 'oversized' stems but wondered how I can bring the stem hub diameter down to suit as it is unlikely that it will fit without some adjustment. I have no access to a lathe and was going to mount the stem in a Dremel type tool and use some kind of abrasive or file. Has anyone done this or have any thoughts?

IMG_20240414_173103900.jpg

IMG_20240414_172951155_HDR.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, but first what is the reason why the stem You have 'keeps pulling out'? Is it wear of the setting lever, the retaining screw/hole, the hole in the plate for the stem? Is there a danger that if You reduce the 'hub' diameter, the new stem will start pulling out too? Yes, the hub diameter can be reduced not using lathe, just pin vice and good hand grinding tool needed, but some dexterity and skill needed too for good result.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, nevenbekriev said:

OK, but first what is the reason why the stem You have 'keeps pulling out'? Is it wear of the setting lever, the retaining screw/hole, the hole in the plate for the stem? Is there a danger that if You reduce the 'hub' diameter, the new stem will start pulling out too? Yes, the hub diameter can be reduced not using lathe, just pin vice and good hand grinding tool needed, but some dexterity and skill needed too for good result.

It's the hole in the mainplate that has become too big due to wear. I will try with some fine abrasive paper wrapped around a small file. I will start with 3000 grit and see what effect that has.

28 minutes ago, steve1811uk said:

It's the hole in the mainplate that has become too big due to wear. I will try with some fine abrasive paper wrapped around a small file. I will start with 3000 grit and see what effect that has.

Or I could try with a homemade burnisher. Anyway, I will post the result here soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

sometimes the barrel bridge is rubbed too, causing more movement, I assume as said above the setting lever is like new? you can get a small chuck to hold it in your Dremel like you said fine abrasive/grit, might be difficult to keep even, good luck anyway......

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the replies. I did the job today and found that the oversized stem fitted just perfectly into the worn mainplate without any adjustment. Original stem diameter was 1.24mm and the oversized was 1.40mm. I did have to make an adjustment to the setting lever though. The small pip that engages with the groove in the stem hub was slightly to wide. I made that a bit smaller with a fine file. Don't ask me why that was too big, it just was. All working very well now. No wobble and not pulling out. New crown fitted as good measure.

IMG_20240418_145530804.jpg

IMG_20240418_120711924.jpg

  • Like 4
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

    • Just got these good quality diamond files from the bay for Just a fiver, we all love a bargain dont we. Brand names are J.K.Smit  and Triefus, two old diamond tool makers so not cheap crap.
    • Its a touch under ive just remeasured it and added a wrist shot. Unbelievably it was £13  plus 3 postage. You dont find watches that nice for that money every day of the week. Maybe removing the epilame in the oil region improves the purpose of it. We may know very soon as i emailed Episurf 4 hours ago to ask that exact question. 🤞they are happy to provide an answer for us. How do you fancy trying a stearic acid vapour treatment experiment  H .  Shall i have a go this afternoon ?
    • That's the size of my grandfather's Ernest Borel watch. Definitely not a lady's watch! 👍
    • Thanks H It does have a big crown for the watch , it could be considered a ladies watch these days i guess, it measures 33mm case 36mm with that large crown 18mm lug space. A tad small for a guy of today, but still very wearable. The photo was deceptive so here it is adorning my 7 1/4 " wrist. It need some love to make it run better. The hair coils are touching so running a bit fast at the moment,  not caused by magnetism, and maybe just a clean and a service. The dtal is in fantastic shape.
    • That's one beautiful timepiece! Love the big crown in proportion to the case. Perhaps a ladies' watch, but I don't think so. I have a "modern Ingersoll" watch, but it has nothing to do with the original brand (Miyota 9015 movement). Interesting synonym for synthetic oils! 😆 There is, of course, a limit to how large a volume of oil epilame can bind and hold in place. If the oleophobic effect is too strong then it can become a problem. I'm not sure where I heard or read it, but as I understand it, the active ingredient in a bottle of epilame is extremely small and more than 99% of the contents of the bottle is just a transfer agent. If the active ingredient becomes too concentrated, which it can become over time, or if the product is of poor quality, the oleophobic effect is amplified. This in turn causes the applied oil to look like a gummed-up ball on the surface of the treated part. If that happens, we know that the active ingredient has become too concentrated. What we want is for the oil to bind but not to the point where it is formed into an excessively round ball on the surface. The highlighted text in the patent that you refer to describes well the problem that can arise with too high a concentration of the active ingredient. However, I would be extremely surprised if the entire amount of oil leaves the treated surface as water on wax would. At present, I am convinced that the analogy between wax and water on the one hand and epilame and oil on the other is incorrect. Epilame is described as binding and that is also my absolute experience. Epilame probably has some repelling effect but that is not its main purpose and that is not how epilame is designed and works. The method of abrading the epilame treatment from the section of the pallet stones coming in contact with the escape wheel teeth seems after even more research to be well established, but if it actually works, if so how and why is beyond what I can currently understand. Perhaps it is just to do and trust that it is based on well-established experience. I am, after all, inclined to think so.
×
×
  • Create New...