Jump to content

Stetting lever of ETA 2550 broken

AlexanderB
 Share

Recommended Posts

AlexanderB WRT Addict

AlexanderB

Posted
Posted

·        Hi everyone,

I bought a couple of ETA 2550 / 2551 on ebay for little money to practice. They are small but I handle that pretty well. Actually better than expected.

When I disassembled the first 2550 I noticed that the hairspring was broken. The overall condition of the movement was poor.

I disassembled the movement and cleaned it in the Ultrasonic. I am aware that this is the second best option but I don't have a cleaning machine and the results were excellent so far.

When I started reassembling the watch I began to attach the setting lever, and the other parts of the keyless work. After I was finished I tried the mechanism and had the stem with the crown in one hand and the movement in the other. I then remembered that I noticed that the finish on one end was bad, at least this is what I though.

After thoroughly inspecting the setting lever it became evident that one of the pins broke away. The one that fits in the stem.

My questions are:

1) Can ultrasonic cleaning break parts like this?

2) It seems that the part was intact before I disassembled it. I remember that the keyless system has worked. What can break a part like this?

You can see the fracture point pretty well on the picture.

Thank you for your support

Alexander

IMG_3392.JPG

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

Hi Alexander,

IMHO: I've never had a case where the ultrasonic had broken any parts, eroded the finish yet (the baskets mainly). In my mind, that part was either already broken (maybe even glued together) or cracked which then it is understandable the ultrasonic worked its way into the already weak part. In either case, the part was already broken and not fit to be reused.

All I can say is try and source another one as a replacement and soon the movement will be ticking away...with also a new hairspring?

Best of luck,

Cheers,

Bob

  • Like 1
AlexanderB WRT Addict

AlexanderB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thank you Bob, I just wanted to make sure. I assume you also use an Ultrasonic machine for cleaning. Since I have five 2551 movements I think there will be also another one with broken parts. I may use the disassembled one for spares and move on to the next movement. I found one that is at least working when I wind it. Let's see.

Thanks again

Cheers Alexander

 

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

Exactly what I do Alexander! Yes, the unfixable one must sacrifice to make the other movements live again! :) 

It is funny but even when I use parts from the "sacrifice" I'm always looking for a way to "make it up" to it by ultimately finding the missing parts it needs! I'm currently working in a similar movement (in size) but from Orient...it is not as small after all or maybe my eyes are getting better! :)

Yes, my ultrasonic has been busy with those small parts...no part has broke, even the smaller ones come out just fine. Do you have a powerful ultrasonic? Mine is a regular jewelry one but pretty good:

GemOro Sparkle Spa Pearl Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner 2015 New and Improved Model

Cheers,

Bob

AlexanderB WRT Addict

AlexanderB

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Hi Bob,

yes, I have a quite poweful one. I only use 3min using a 1:9 cleaning solution from which smells like ammoia. Parts are really nice afterwards. But I also experienced that that it may harm the finish on older parts or parts of poor quality.

I have a set of tiny baskets. They are cheap and work perfectly. I have a sufficient amount and use one basket / cage for only one department of the tray, for instance the barrel bridge and its screws. I still tend to confuce the screws so I keep them with the assemblies where they belong.

I will now move to the next 2551 and see how it works. To get an idea of where to start I use the ETA training material which is available online (Flash only) for the 2824-2.

http://www.eta.ch/index.php?id=161&L=0

Cheers Alexander

 

 

WatchPartBaskets.JPG

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

Excellent link, Alexander, I have used it too.

I also clean 3 min in the ultrasonic but put water in it and the baskets with the parts in a beaker with the solutions (L&R in my case) and then the beakers in the water. Discoloration and such only happens on the baskets since they go repeatedly into the ultrasound. The parts come out fine...sometimes I "sound" them again when I'm not pleased with the finish and they come out still fine. Total time is about 7 to 9 min total: 3 min clean + 2 cycles of rinsing that could be 3 + 1 or 3 + 3....depending.

Cheers,

Bob

AlexanderB WRT Addict

AlexanderB

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Bob,

what I do is:

  • 3min ultrasonic with the cleaning solution, 
  • wash out with water under the faucet
  • dip every part in benzine to prevent damage from the water
  • take away the excess benzin with a rubber blower
  • place them on special drying paper.

Quite a procedure but it forces me also to look at every single part and I see damage earlier. OK, in this case not ;-)

I'm happy with the results.

Cheers Alexander

Edited by AlexanderB
  • Like 1
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • BobG
      Gruen 330 balance complete

      By BobG · Posted

      Hi All, I’m having a hard time finding a balance assembly or even a working donor movement for a Gruen 330.  Any leads appreciated.   Gruen doesn’t stamp the caliber number of the movement but lust in the case back.   
    • Neverenoughwatches
      Parts sourcing for FHF 180 movement

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      Why do you think this is Fontainemelon ?  The balance staff you will need to source separately.  But first it's important to accurately identify what you have there. Research Ebauches Sa, see who was in group, to find the brand that made this movement. 
    • donutdan
      Parts sourcing for FHF 180 movement

      By donutdan · Posted

      Hi Watchrepairtalk, I have some questions about part sourcing I was hoping someone here might be able to help with. I'm working on an FHF 180 movement with a broken balance staff, broken regulator pins, and damaged cap jewels (both top and bottom). Some Googling says that this is similar to other FHF calibers like 150s, 160s, 180s and so on but I can't figure out what the functional difference is between these movements.  Is there any reason I wouldn't be able to acquire a donor FHF 150 or similar (with no shock protection) and use parts from that or would it be smarter to source replacements individually? Also are there any sources someone could recommend to get bulk cap jewels like this? Thank you for the help!
    • Nucejoe
      Greetings from Whidbey Island.

      By Nucejoe · Posted

      Hello and welcome to the WRT forum.
    • JohnR725
      A lathe with indexing that won't break the bank?

      By JohnR725 · Posted

      interesting video nice to see the machine what it can do now I wonder what it costs and I'm sure it's not in my budget. Plus the video brought up questions but the website below answers the questions? What was bothering me was the size of his machine 4 mm because I thought it was bigger than that? But then it occurred to me that maybe they had variations it looks like four, seven and 10. With the seven and 10 being the best because way more tool positions in way more rotating tools. Although I bet you all the rotating tools are probably separate cost https://www.tornos.com/en/content/swissnano   Then as we been talking about Sherline. Just so that everyone's aware of this they have another division their industrial division where you can buy bits and pieces. I have a link below that shows that just in case you don't want to have the entire machine you just need bits and pieces. https://www.sherline.com/product-category/industrial-products-division/   Let's see what we can do with the concept I explained up above and bits and pieces. For one thing you can make a really tiny gear very tiny like perhaps you're going to make a watch. Then another version the center part is not separate it is all machined from one piece. Then fills gear cutting machines have gone through multiple of evolutions. A lot of it based on what he wanted to make like he was going to make a watch unfortunately eyesight issues have prevented that. Another reason why you should start projects like this much sooner when your eyesight is really good or perhaps start on watches first and then move the clocks then local we have from the industrial division? Looks like two separate motors and heads. Then it's hard to see but this entire thing is built on top of a much larger milling machine as a larger milling machine gave a very solid platform to build everything.   Then like everything else that had multiple generations are versions the indexing went through of course variations like above is one version and the one below was the last version. Now the version below I mentioned that previously and somewhere in the beginning to discussion and somebody else had one in their picture. As it is a really nice precision indexing. Then I wasn't sure if I had a the watch photos here is his unfinished watch. No he wasn't going to make a simple watch like none of his clocks were simply either what would be the challenge and that.    
×
×
  • Create New...