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[Len33]

Hi, everyone!

I'd like your opinions on the following problem:-

I have three watches (One pocket watch and two wrist watches) which have been stripped, cleaned, reassembled and lubricated.

Each of these watches are now working and all three keep fairly good time.

Now, this is the problem. When I put any of them on my timegrapher, there is just a snow storm!

It's not logic enough to assume that all three have much the same fault, except for one common denominator..........the oil.

I got this bottle of 'oil' off Ebay, some time ago. I got rid of the box that it came in, so I am not sure of what was on it. 

However, judging from the label on the bottle, I think it might well be reasonable to assume that it could well be 'Mazola.' That, at least, would explain the reason why I kept fancying fish and chips when working on these watches!

Anyway, do you think that the oil is responsible for the timeographer 'snow storm?'

Thanks.

 

Len.

 

[jdm]

Post the timegrapher picture. Pure snow goes together with extremely limited amplitude, which (at least in my mind) could be caused by thick, tacky oil.

In any case, all watches require at least two types of oil. One for fast moving pivots, and a thicker one for slow ones , keyless and calendar.

[bobm12]

It could also be excess lubrication, Len! I would take one of the watches, clean again, lube and put together (in that order) with much less oil. It is said that too much oil is worst than too little...and yes, you should use more than one oil...how did you do the pallet jewels? or did you oil the pallet pivots? You shouldn't...

I would recommend getting an oil you know is not Mazzola... at that, I would prefer Fist cold press 100% Olive Oil!

No, seriously, get a couple oils and a grease you know what they are: Hopefully one will be Moebious 9010 (double duty for pallet fork too) and some other stuff according to what you have.

Then, run the watch through the timegraph again...and if possible report back.

Cheers,

Bob

PS. Lube and Put Together are sometimes done at the time of Put Together! I don't think you could properly do Lube after Put Together but in very rare cases/sections of a movement...

[oldhippy]

First of all I would buy a good reputable watch oil you need more then 1. If you have oiled the pallets top and bottom pivots, don't do it because with the wrong oil it causes drag and you will get snow. I never oiled the pivots on jeweled pivots. Get a good oil and start again, bad oil and you will have all sorts of problems. One of which I've pointed out.