Eternasonic (ESA 9162)

[bobtheterrible]

My first ESA 9162 movement.

Bought as a non-runner. It hummed but there was no movement in the hands.

Turns out there had been a battery leak (not clear from the description, grr...) which had spread to one of the modules and the index wheel.

I cleaned plate with some bi-carb and water. The module had suffered heavy pitting on its contacts so I replaced it for a spare left over from another project.

The index wheel was problematic. After cleaning and soaking in essence of renata the crystallised battery contents was still solidly attached. It was also covered in brown "gunk" which I could not identify. Assuming it was a lost cause I put it back on the module plate and ran it through the sonic cleaner for 15 secs. I checked it through the microscope and  miraculously it seemed to work!

Cleaned up the case and crystal (original) and put it on a home-made brown leather strap.

Quite pleased!

Edited December 31, 2024 by bobtheterrible

[HectorLooi]

Nice work.

I find that an acid works best for cleaning battery juice damage. The battery juice is potassium hydroxide and is very alkaline. Sodium bicarbonate is also alkaline, so there is no reaction.

I used to use vinegar for neutralizing battery juice but I found that phosphoric acid works even better. The phosphoric acid comes in the form of a rust remover bought from a hardware store. I dilute it 1:1 and brush it on with a size 00 artists brush. The acid works immediately and bubbles can be seen. It also brightens up brass and removes rust, the green corrosion crystals and stains from the plates, without any hard scrubbing. Do not leave the acid on for too long, as the brass will start turning reddish from "dezincfication". It usually takes less than a minute. I then wash the parts immediately in distilled water. 

I have managed to revive many shorted circuit boards this way. 

[bobtheterrible]

@HectorLooi I did wonder about that. The bicarb worked better than just water but was worried about putting acids on the movement parts. This is good information I will use on other projects. Thank you!

[Keith1978]

Hello, I have just purchased a new, old stock esa 9162 movement for a watch build. However this is my first watch build and I have certainly bitten off more than I can chew. I cannot seem to find a case to fit this movement. Could you tell me where I could find a suitable case please?

Kind regards

Keith

[AndyGSi]

31 minutes ago, Keith1978 said:

Hello, I have just purchased a new, old stock esa 9162 movement for a watch build. However this is my first watch build and I have certainly bitten off more than I can chew. I cannot seem to find a case to fit this movement. Could you tell me where I could find a suitable case please?

Kind regards

Keith

Welcome to the forum.

Finding a generic case for a specific movement is fraught with problems unless it's the likes of a Seiko NH35.

Your best option is to find something with a faulty 9162 and just swap it out.

[tomh207]

As Andy says there are very few cases available unless you want to build around Seiko NH3X, ETA 2824 clones or the ETA 7750 chronograph. You maybe able to do something if the measurements of the ESA 9162 is very very close in dimensions to one of the above movements then you might be able to 3d print a custom movement holder for it. The YouTube channel watch complications doe this sort of thing and has a couple of videos about the process.

 

Tom

[AndyGSi]

You may get away with a case for a Miyota 8285 (29Dia 5.67 Thick) as
being fairly close dimensionally to your ESA 9162 (29Dia 4.8 Thick).

As @tomh207 mentioned you'd need to make your own or modify and
existing movement holder and probably need a dial spacer to align the stem.