Locating proper sleeve wrence for pocket watch

[jonalocrov]

I have an old Elgin pocket watch and the stem pops out of the winding position on its own.

I want to buy a sleeve wrench that will fit this watch but there are so many to choose from. How can I select the proper set of sleeve wrenches that are likely to fit this watch?

Watch: 1935 Elgin Grade 315, Model 3, Size 12s (from serial number 35491021)

Case: Keystone J.Boss 10k Gold Filled Case (35053)

Furthermore, if adjusting the sleeve doesn't fix the problem and the sleeve is actually damaged, how can I locate a replacement sleeve, or sleeve/stem combination?

Thanks for any help.

[mbwatch]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Be sure to drop an introduction post into the "Introduce Yourself Here" section.

I would think that buying any sleeve wrench with at least 6, preferably 10 bits on it will have something suitable for your Keystone 12s case. Look for something like this and it is very likely to fill your needs for between $25 and $30.

In addition to being out of adjustment, it is possible the sleeve is broken or also possible that the stem's detent which locks it still in the sleeve is worn out and the stem needs replacing. Unfortunately, it is really difficult to measure and buy the right sleeve for a case or to find a suitable stem. Otto Frei lists a lot of options, with a chart of sizes and case manufacturers. Keystone was a huge company and they seem to be represented. https://www.ofrei.com/page441.html

If you can find a big assortment of sleeves on ebay (assuming your sleeve is the problem) on, you will be able to pay way less and have many to try out until one fits correctly. Otherwise, it is an expensive part and hard to find one that really fits as needed. This requires luck though because the assortments don't come up all that frequently.

Buying a similar Keystone case for parts is also an option.

Since your stem is popping out of winding on its own, I would think that a worn or broken sleeve is the likeliest problem. At a minimum you'll need a sleeve wrench to verify that. If it were just incorrectly adjusted, its behavior would probably be either sticking in winding when the crown is pulled, or never going into winding when the crown is pushed in. If the crown pops between positions and doesn't feel like it's always sitting on the edge of one position or the other, I would look at a sleeve or stem problem.

There are a couple of other forum members who know a lot about American pocket watches, and will turn up sooner or later with more advice.

If you take the movement out of the case and pull the crown in and out, do you get a nice positive click between wind and set positions? If it is too easy to pull or doesn't really stay in position, then a sleeve problem. But if the action does feel fine without the movement installed, maybe an adjustment problem.