Exact Tool for Vostok 24xx Balance Jewel Spring

[12toneman]

These little suckers are a pain to put back with just tweezers. Could somebody point me to the exact tool for removing and replacing the Vostok 24xx balance jewel spring?

 

 

 

[anilv]

No tool that I know of.

The usual method is to get one leg under the lip, one in the gap and one on top of the lip as a starting point.

Move the leg that's in the gap along under the lip until the third leg is in the gap. The 'spring' will make the third leg stick up a bit.

The final step is to press the third leg down AND move it sideways...here's where most people start gnashing their teeth.

One trick is to turn a piece ofpegwood down so it fits the jewel cavity (inside the rim. Then you need to make a 'dish' on the end of the pegwood, this is the clearance for the cap jewel. This homebuilt tool will allow you to apply pressure on the spring and turn it at the same time. You can make another for Seiko and Novodiac shock absorbers as well.

HTH

Anil

[DouglasSkinner]

Yes, they are a pain.  I've only encountered them in Russian watches; in my case Raketa.  I'll run this by my instructor who has every tool in the watchmaker's universe!  Will let you know if I come up with anything.

[clockboy]

I made a tool using peg wood.
Drill a hole in the centre of a end of peg wood then file (I used a screw head file) three notches to accommodate the legs. Then just twist & release with no flyer.

[jdm]

3 minutes ago, clockboy said:

 I used a screw head file

What is that?

[clockboy]

Also known as a screw head slotting file.

 

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/slotting-files-screw-heads

[DouglasSkinner]

I doff my hat to clockboy for his solution!  That's what my instructor calls thinking like a watch/clockmaker.  Thanks!

[12toneman]

I had made one from peg wood (to the best of my abilities, tbh) and it worked pretty well. But I really wanted a proper dedicated tool for it. I've seen the tools for the seiko-style jewel springs-- would these work on the Vostok spring?   

DouglasSkinner, did you get a chance to ask your instructor about it? 

[DouglasSkinner]

12toneman.  Sorry!  I forgot!  But I'll make a memo to myself to ask him next week.  I like clockboy's suggestion using pegwood.  If you want something more permanent you could do the same thing using a piece of wire stock.  I'm gonna see if I can make one on the lathe and try it out.  Doug

[jdm]

40 minutes ago, 12toneman said:

 I've seen the tools for the seiko-style jewel springs

Where have you seen these?

[clockboy]

You can purchase these which I do have but I prefer the peg wood tool.

 

https://www.cousinsuk.com/product/kif-shockspring-tool?code=K0888

 

 

[jdm]

45 minutes ago, clockboy said:

You can purchase these which I do have but I prefer the peg wood tool.h
ttps://www.cousinsuk.com/product/kif-shockspring-tool?code=K0888

The Trior tools are not for the springs as the ones the OP is working on.

 

[jdm]

25 minutes ago, jdm said:

The Trior tools are not for the springs as the ones the OP is working on.

I should say, I'm not sure. I've never tried.. or trioed.