AS 554 barrel arbor screw.

[Fixingtime]

I haven’t broke the barrel arbor screw  yet but it’s really tight. Put some 3 and 1 oil on it and letting it sit for awhile. Hoping it will seep in and loosen it up. I’ve run into a few left handed barrel arbor screws and wondered if any one knows if the AS 554 has a left or right handed screw. Unfortunately I usually find out it’s left handed when the screw head twists off.  Hoping to avoid it this time. 

[Fixingtime]

Oops , sorry should have introduced myself first. From British Columbia,  started around a year ago repairing watches. Really jumped in the deep end with this one , also think I’m addicted to eBay. Great place to find parts tho. 

[Fixingtime]

Ok , the 3 and 1 worked. It’s a regular screw ,right hand thread. 

[Nucejoe]

  I see balance is already removed, so next time, giving the watch a 10 hrs soak in Coca Cola, loosens every screw. Works  far better than any oil.

 Oil on ratchet screw will at best loosens it, but wont get to barrel arbour, Coca Cola soaks, however, soaks  the thread of barrel arbour as well , when you drop the whole movement( less balance& fork) in Coca Cola thus , less force is required to loosen the screw than takes to break it. 

Loosening without breaking, thats an advantage .

 

Welcome to the WRT forum. 

Edited February 27 by Nucejoe
Furthure expalanation

[mikepilk]

Almost all the left hand threaded barrel arbors I've come across have been on AS movements.

The problem is when it hasn't been dismantled for years, and you cannot tell if it's stuck or reverse threaded.

I'm always careful when dismantling an AS - I try to turn it the 'normal way' to unscrew just a TINY amount. If it's a clockwise thread it will loosen, but if it's reverse threaded it will break the stiction with no damage done.