Jump to content

Phantom Problem With Watch...

DJW

By DJW
in Watch Repairs Help & Advice

 Share

Recommended Posts

DJW Super WRT Addict

DJW

Posted
Posted

I built a custom ordered wristwatch using a Hamilton 921 movement for a customer and shipped it off a couple of weeks ago.

 

A few days after it was delivered the customer emailed me saying the watch was running poorly and that the hands were not moving.

 

Of course I'm thinking "I" did something wrong building it! I asked more questions and was told it only runs dial down and does not run dial up. So I asked if he had dropped it and was told that it has had this problem since he received it.

 

Thinking it was damaged in shipping and now has a broken balance staff, I had him ship it back to me and I received it yesterday. I opened the box, gave it a wind and off it went! It runs in every position! I put it on my analyzer and the only noticeable difference in running is when running dial up the amplitude(280) is about 20 degrees lower that dial down(300). I checked the hole jewels for excessive oil, cleaned them and re-oiled and tested again. Still the same, but both positions run accurately. Probably a pivot friction issue, but nothing to seemingly cause it NOT to run....

 

I don't doubt that he had a problem with the watch, but I hesitate to send it back without exhausting all possible causes.

 

Any ideas on what else I should be checking, or how I should be inspecting it?

Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mark Distinguished Member

Mark

Posted
Posted

Do you have a watch winder? If so - it is useful to put the watch on there (even though it is not an automatic).

 

My watch winder, an Elma Cyclomat for up to 12 watches, is getting on a bit and has developed a certain amount of jerkiness (not smooth running) and I like that because it is a form of stress test on the watch. I put most of my completed watches on wether they are automatic or not and this can exasperate problems which cannot be detected when testing on the bench.

 

 

 

Just a thought for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DJW Super WRT Addict

DJW

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Do you have a watch winder? If so - it is useful to put the watch on there (even though it is not an automatic).

 

My watch winder, an Elma Cyclomat for up to 12 watches, is getting on a bit and has developed a certain amount of jerkiness (not smooth running) and I like that because it is a form of stress test on the watch. I put most of my completed watches on wether they are automatic or not and this can exasperate problems which cannot be detected when testing on the bench.

 

 

 

Just a thought for you.

I know,  I do really need to get a winder to check in more real world conditions.

 

But, He did say though, it was as simple as setting the watch on a table, dial down, and it would run. When he turned the watch over to dial up and set it on the table, it would stop.

 

The first thing that popped into my mind was, Did he actually wind the watch when he received it? I did ask him to wind it fully. He said he did and the problem did not go away.

 

I may wear it around the house today just to keep a closer eye on it (with my Test Drive leather strap of course!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mark Distinguished Member

Mark

Posted
Posted

The only thing that comes to mind would be how secure the movement is in the case. But then that would not make sense as it is not something you could easily miss.

 

It is a mystery! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DJW Super WRT Addict

DJW

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I found the issue! I removed the balance to once again inspect it and the hole jewels. I again removed the cap jewels to pegwood the holes just in case I had missed something that was causing the balance to bind. after reassembling the movement, the balance would stop in the dial up position! What the @*%# ! I looked at everything to see what was touching to make it stop.....it was the center wheel! I checked for end shake and it was not excessive. I checked the balance cock and it had been indented on the bottom to raise it up a bit, presumably to give more clearance. Also the lower balance jewel did look a little high in the hole. I also looked at the pallet and noticed it was hitting low on the roller jewel.

 

Seems previously there was a repair was done to either the balance staff or lower hole jewel that cause the balance assembly to sit higher than normal. Instead of fixing the issue, the balance cock was indented in the bottom to raise it up, thus giving clearance to run.

 

I flattened the indentations, which lowered the cock. But, now the balance had no end shake. I pressed the lower jewel a tiny bit further down in the plate and Viola' ! it has acceptable clearance to run without touching.

 

I'm still not sure why It wasn't stopping when I first received it, but I'm sure that this was the cause of the original problem...

 

I feel better now!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • HectorLooi
      Greetings from India.

      By HectorLooi · Posted

      I've bought brands like Citizen, Seiko, Titoni, Tissot, Roamer. Strange thing is many of them were using ST96 movements. I'm not sure if the ST96 is original to that model or whether it was a replacement movement.  All the watches with nice looking dials were obviously refurbished, after-market dials. And all of them had over-polished watchcases. Some of them had non-original hairsprings, rejewelled pallet forks, watch crystals that don't fit and glued in with a generous amount of glue. One of them was totally not working because the pallet jewel was loose to the point that it almost fell off. But the sellers were very nice. The seller of the non-working watch gave me a complete refund. Some of them gave partial refunds. I would say don't by luxury watches on the internet, regardless of the country the seller is from. Don't believe the "serviced by master watchmaker" statement. Have realistic expectations. ( Do expect the occasional complete junk.) Do expect to do a complete overhaul and major repairs. Otherwise, watches from Mumbai are great. For clocks.... I'm not so sure.
    • WpgRob
      Regulating an F6922 without a timegrapher

      By WpgRob · Posted

      In 2020,I picked up an Orient Mako II online. It ran at +15 seconds per day and after 3 years of resets more than weekly, it was time to crack the seal and take a shot at regulating it. Not having a timegrapher, I used a spreadsheet to track the time, referenced the Canadian NRC website, wore the watch between adjustments, and used the back end of some tweezers to lightly tap the regulator daily until it ran to within one second per day.   Two months later, it’s still running to within 1 second per day when measured over a week or longer, while daily variations are up to 9 seconds per day. For my purposes, its overall stability is surprisingly good. Is this method of adjustment “better” than adjusting to 5 positions using a timegrapher, since during the adjustment period the watch is already in the environment in which it’ll be used? Rob in Winnipeg 
    • xdandeman
      Introduction: Bob Smith USN (ss) and dadd'y Elgin

      By xdandeman · Posted

      Nice file  Just got old pocket watch in and tools,  can I get it back together or should I give up.  we'll see  thanks for the info
    • Roll1ex
      Greetings from India.

      By Roll1ex · Posted

      @HectorLooi Yes, I would say that Mumbai has the highest liquidity in terms used watches. How was your experience with these used watches and what watch brands did you buy used? I have always found the vintage luxury watch segment in India a bit shady. Quite a few are genuine watches with genuine matching parts but just not from the same one.
    • Marc
      Seiko 6309a diver crown replacement

      By Marc · Posted

      Interesting interpretation of "traditional". I would say that Loctite is definitely the up-to-date and appropriate stuff to use, however, it is a relatively modern solution. Before the advent of such esoteric solutions I believe that the "traditional" thread locker of choice may well have been a sugar solution. Once applied the water would evaporate and the sugar would crystalise, locking the threads tight.
×
×
  • Create New...