Speeding Automatic Vostok 2415

[Endeavor]

Hello All;

I received a brand new Vostok Amphibian watch with an automatic 2415 movement.

Wearing the watch day & night, my initial observations were that it ran some slower during the night, some faster during the day......seems okay. Then I noticed that somewhere in the afternoon it started to run a whole lot faster. While adjusting the daily-rate, I noticed that the oscillating weight would turn only one direction. My assumption therefor was that the main-spring didn't slip when fully wound. Took yesterday the main-spring barrel and spring out (spring seemed very dry, but there was some grease on the inner barrel wall), cleaned both, lubricated the barrel-wall and spring and re-assembled the watch. Last night it ran fine, but after activity this morning it sped up again. Manually wound the watch over 200x "stokes", it doesn't lock up. Also the oscillating weight rotates fine in both directions after these 200x "strokes", so I assume the main-spring slips when fully wound.

Any idea's where to look next or plausible causes?

Hope to hear.......

Best regards: Roland.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Endeavor

[Cad101]

I would have said a hair spring problem dirt or oil but you say its brand new and only does it during daylight hours.

[Endeavor]

With "daylight hours" I was trying to say that the watch sees a whole lot more movement (at least I think so ) and the spring get fully wound. There is nothing against to give the balance/hairspring a wash......just to rule the hairspring possibility out

With "speeding up a whole lot", I would guesstimate that would be about +10 sec per hour. I can only guesstimate as on my computers the Watch-o-Scope turned out to be unreliable.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Endeavor

[frenchie]

Have you tried leaving it in different positions at night to see if you get a consistent error, regardless of the position?

[Endeavor]

@frenchie Not 100% sure what you mean with "constant error"? During the night it seems to run fine, that is to say that it hasn't lost or gained a lot. Obviously, after I've greased the main-spring the daily rate is off and I try to adjust it comparing with a known quartz-watch. Last night the watch was 5 sec behind, in about 10 hrs. It's the sudden "take-off", were I see sudden positive gains during the day which puzzles me. Have to say, that after the 200x manual winding-"strokes" this morning, the watch has behaved so far........

No visual abnormalities on the hairspring.....

Edited April 21, 2016 by Endeavor

[frenchie]

I should have been more precise in my question: 5 seconds behind in 10 hours, face up I presume?

What if you leave it face down? Or on its side? Do you get the same 5 seconds lag in 10 hours?

If one of those positions results in a completely different type of error, it'll be a good data point to have.

[Endeavor]

Yes, I see what you mean and will give it a try. As I wrote, I have the habit to wear watches during day & night, so these 5 seconds will be a mixture of all (?) positions.

My remark in my latest post; "the watch behaved well after the 200x winding "strokes"", this was while I dissembled another watch. The Vostok was running nicely 4 seconds behind. I started cooking and did some washing up, now it runs +2, so that's a 6 seconds gain in less then 2 hours........ (?).

[Endeavor]

Since my last post, the Vostok 2415 has behaved itself very well. My suspicion is that the oil on the main-spring (I oiled at two opposite spots) had to spread first through the spring before becoming fully "active". I think the daily-rate is a bit too slow, the watch is losing slightly, but that seems to be at a constant rate during day & night. Also the "losing during the night" & "gaining during the day" seems to have gone. I'll keep observing it closely, but a bone-dry main-spring of this brand new watch could well have been the culprit.......

Thanks for all the help so far

[bobm12]

Great job Endeavor!

Cheers,

Bob

[Endeavor]

Thanks Bob

When I dismantled the new Vostok to get to the main-spring, the parts didn't float in oil, far more to the contrary.....if I spotted any at all! I'm expecting another new dial soon, for which I have to take off the watch-hands......a nice opportunity to give the movement a full service.....so I'm sure all what needs oil, has oil

I still have some Rosneft special........

 

Edited April 24, 2016 by Endeavor