Slava 2414 date detent nightmare

[HectorLooi]

If anyone recognizes this part, then you understand the nightmare which is the Slava 2414. The date detent lever and spring are first installed to the underside of the date cover plate, then the plate is flipped over and screwed down to the mainplate.

Sounds simple enough, right. But the slightest shake or bump could launch the lever and spring into orbit. I've watched several videos on YouTube and it looks like it's the only way to do it. You can't screw in the cover plate halfway and slip the spring in, like some of the early Seikos. I've done several using this method and have never enjoyed the experience. 

Then it hit me.... Why don't I just glue the blasted spring to the plate. So I used a hard setting UV glue and glued the short tail of the spring to the plate. And viola! Problem solved.

[Simeon]

Genius idea - I would use something like GS Hypocement which can be easily removed with cleaning solvents at some future point.

I have a couple of Slava movements on my list for service (2414 and 2427 automatic) - This will be invaluable.

[VWatchie]

On 5/18/2024 at 11:32 PM, HectorLooi said:

Then it hit me.... Why don't I just glue the blasted spring to the plate. So I used a hard setting UV glue and glued the short tail of the spring to the plate. And viola! Problem solved.

Traditionally, we would, of course, never use glue in a watch movement. In this case, however, I would possibly be willing to make an exception unless there's some other option. Have you tried to analyse why the spring and lever ping? There are a lot of things we could glue in a watch movement and many unfortunately do, but generally speaking, it is a very bad practice.

Perhaps the problem is that the spring isn't stiff enough to hold the weight of the detent lever when the plate is flipped over. Could the spring be made stiffer, perhaps by just bending it a bit?

Do you lubricate the contact point between the lever and the spring before flipping the plate? That could make things very volatile.

[AndyGSi]

In the past with movements like this I've used a thin piece of plastic to hold it in place

[nevenbekriev]

Guys, the spring gets in place after assembling of the whole thing - thru the big hole in the plate

Edited August 3, 2024 by nevenbekriev

[HectorLooi]

1 hour ago, nevenbekriev said:

Guys, the spring gets in place after assembling of the whole thing - thru the big hole in the plate

That's what my mentor told me but I tried it and the spring just kept pinging off. 

Anyway, I just love UV glue. It's fantastic for fixing hairsprings to the stud and pallet jewels to the fork. It's also good for fixing loose dial indices too.

I'm looking for new uses for UV glue everyday. 

[AndyGSi]

1 hour ago, nevenbekriev said:

Guys, the spring gets in place after assembling of the whole thing - thru the big hole in the plate

Do you mean through this hole?

[nevenbekriev]

 

34 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

Do you mean through this hole?

Yes, it is like window rather...

[VWatchie]

On 8/4/2024 at 1:55 AM, HectorLooi said:

Anyway, I just love UV glue. It's fantastic for fixing hairsprings to the stud and pallet jewels to the fork. It's also good for fixing loose dial indices too.

Had this been posted in the "Safe Zone For Learner Watch Repairers", I would have said that using any type and any amount of glue in a watch movement is frowned upon by any serious watch repairer and that it's just meant as a joke. Anyway, since we're not in the "Safe Zone For Learner Watch Repairers", I won't.

Edited August 5, 2024 by VWatchie