Watch stops exactly at 38 seconds KXA Ditis

[jeffc83]

Okay, this one has me completely baffled.  I recently serviced a 17 Jewel Swiss Movement marked with a KXA stamp. (company name is Ditis, last serviced in 1953)  Here is the real mystery:  The second hand will stop at EXACTLY 38 seconds and I have checked, rechecked and triple checked the hands to ensure they are not touching anything.  Why is this a mystery?  It only happens sporadically and I have checked it on the timegrapher in all positions with no issues.  What the heck could this be?  Off the top, I was thinking of one of the train wheels and/or pivots so I dissembled it and rechecked all of the parts.  Again, what the heck could it be?  None of the pivots look worn or bent and all the teeth are present on every wheel/gear.  As we speak, I cannot get it to stop again but the second I wear it, the gremlin will come out to get me again, lol.  Thanks in advance for any advice, this has been driving me crazy!

I'm starting to think a piece of dust is floating in there since I am having a difficult time duplicating the issue...having said that, I have cleaned this movement twice now so it just can't be the problem, can it?

Edited March 25, 2016 by jeffc83

[Vich]

Have you checked the movement under magnification whilst the second hand has stopped in place at the 38 second mark.  Especially the meshing of teeth on the train to see everything is aligning correctly.  I once had a problem as two teeth were probably knacked by some guys tweezers, mostly it never affected it only occasionally.

Cheers,

Vic

[petevig]

Question.  If you remove the second hand and re-install 180 degrees (or any other degree difference) from it's previous location, does it still stop at the 38 second mark?  If so, then the relationship would seem to be between the hand and the dial/crystal.  If not, it could be the outside hub for second hand is rubbing against the cannon pin inside diameter (due to bent spindle), or as described by Vich, related to an area where the teeth of two gears mesh every one full rotation.  Just a thought.

[jeffc83]

Thanks guys, I never did get it and the issue came back to the point of every "x" rotations, which makes no sense. (no pattern to it)  Put aside and will look at it again next weekend. (working on a Helbros now anyway, lol)  Really appreciate the suggestions, it really is a mystery...

[pgw152]

I have the "same" (maybe) problem on a Hilfiger Quartz Analogue watch,

The second hand stops every 15 seconds i.e. in the exact same four positions in a 60 second cycle (i.e. at the 13 second mark, then the 28 second mark, the 43 second mark and the 58 second mark). To restart the second hand, I push it gently.

I guess it is some cog/teeth problem (I have the watch face out of the case and the hands don't clash with anything) as if I don't push gently and move it on by 2 or 3 seconds before the ticks start then it will tick on for only 12 or 13 seconds before coming to a rest. It is usually a motionless rest, although sometimes oscillating.

Could it be anything else apart from the cogs/gears driving the hands? (or an impediment thereof)