Jump to content

AS/ST 1686 (Vulcain) Service


Recommended Posts

Hi,

I got a vintage Vulcain watch from ebay for little money. The seller stated that the movement doesn't run properly. She stops from time to time.

I already asked a few questions here about the watch:

IMG_1533.jpg

IMG_1534.jpg

 

In this thread I will show servicing the watch. Stay tuned!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I noticed that the balance worked less well after the movement was fully wound. When I looked at the mainspring barrel I first noticed considerable dirt. After a closer look I also noticed that the cover was not fully pressed in the barrel. I am not sure if this is by design but I doubt that.

IMG_1558.jpg

IMG_1560.jpg

I decided to disassemble the barrel for cleaning and inspection:

IMG_1569.jpg

It is pretty evident, that cleaning and lubricating is mandatory.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I first installed the cover stones. Actually, this was not a good idea. I found it better to do this after the wheel train has been assembled. So I removed them later for proper lubrication.

The first thing I usually to is reinstalling the setting lever with the setting lever screw. I place the setting lever on the plate and fix both parts with Rodico. Inserting the screw is pretty easy. 

IMG_1578.jpg

IMG_1579.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Next: Keyless work. Pretty straight forward. Nothing special. Besides the fact that I misplaced the yoke first. It has to fit in the groove in the plate.

This was the wrong way:

IMG_1580.jpg

Had to take it apart again and redo it. The next pictures show the final result.

IMG_1582.jpg

IMG_1583.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The rest went pretty fast and well. I didn't take a picture of each assembly step, since I documented the disassembly well.

IMG_1585.jpg

IMG_1588.jpg

IMG_1591.jpg

IMG_1593.jpg

 

The result was a success! When I got the watch, the movement stopped from time to time. At one point prior to service she did not run at all. This was what the seller described.

After cleaning and proper lubrication (I use Moebius D5, 9010, 941 (pallets), 8212 (mainspring), and 9501) the movement behaves quite well for it's age between 40 and 50 years, maybe even older.

This is what I saw on the timegrapher after minimal regulation. Note: the beat error cannot be corrected easily since the stud is fixed on this movement. I did not dare to fiddle around with the balance.

Here are the results (° = amplitude, s = accuracy, ms = bear error):

  • Dial up: +1s, 285°, 1.5ms
  • Dial down: +20s, 306°, 1.1ms
  • Crown down:+1s, 243°, 1.4ms
  • Crown right (6 up): -5s, 250°, 1.7ms

I am especially pleased by the amplitude of the fully wound movement. This tells me the lubrication went well. 

Next steps will be cleaning the watch as good as possible. I will clean the dial only very carefully, using no solvents whatsoever. I will just remove the dirt carefully with a pegwood.

Any ideas highly welcome.

Cheers Alexander

Edited by AlexanderB
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the laquer on the dial allows, you can try some demineraluzed water on a q-tip. Cousins also sell finer sticks. Unless it's corrosion from under the paint, in which case I don't think anything can be done.


Also, hands can be polished, there is some video on YouTube.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you @jdm.

I will try demineralized water, however it seems to me that corrosion comes from under the paint. I won't mess around with it too much, since I will keep it. It she already looks much better, compared to the state I got it.

I'll look for the cousins Q-Tips.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you, I enjoyed reading through this thread.

My oils arrived yesterday, now I'm just waiting on my wire baskets so I can clean the movements and I will be all ready to start practising cleaning and servicing on my practice movements. I find posts like these very useful.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all for your kind comments. I really appreciate your feedback :)

I now cased the watch, polished it a bit with Cape Cod and finished the entire job.

First I am happy to see that the power reserve is roughly 45h. I fully wound her on December, 8th at 8pm and she stopped December 10th 5pm. I consider this an excellent value for such an old watch that also shows me that I did lubricate the mainspring correctly. 

Here are a few pictures of the back side before and after and the movement after casing.

IMG_1606.jpg

Before:

IMG_1534.jpg

After polishing:

IMG_1612.jpg

The result is much more visible on the real thing than it is on the pictures. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I then attached a new leather strap. She looks quite well now from a distance. Macro pictures reveal every tiny dent. 

All in all I am absolutely happy with the result. This is less than one year after I dared disassembling a movement for the first time. The first movement was a Chinese Unitas 6497 movement. I bought this new for learning because I had a lot of material available for this one.

Cheers Alexander

IMG_1617.jpg

IMG_1619-2.jpg

IMG_1628.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Similar Content

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Ive never used epilame H only information i have read and mentally stored about it mostly from Nicklesilver here and elsewhere ( the fork horns thing ), maybe the residue powder that is removed has some grinding effect ? So probably a good idea to limit its application areas to only the absolute necessary. Yes as far as i know epilame rubs off relatively easy, the technique of running the watch to make a groove through it first in the pallet stones where the lubrication is then placed. This i understand creates the barrier for the lube to sit up to. If i can find a good balance of pros and cons of its use then thats one process i can avoid by using a thixotropic lube on the stones. The epilame i would say allows for a more fluid lubrication to be used that would increase amplitude on low beat movements. The stearic acid powder is extremely cheap, the problem is the fuming process to coat parts, is not selective , the whole part has to treated in this method. If epilame residue can cause wear then thats not good, if I remember the conclusion was not proved entirely just a general assumption between watchmakers. The thread is out there somewhere, the same discussion is also old on a facebook group. Ive never used epilame H only information i have read and mentally stored about it mostly from Nicklesilver here and elsewhere ( the fork horns thing ), maybe the residue powder that is removed has some grinding effect ? So probably a good idea to limit its application areas to only the absolute necessary. Yes as far as i know epilame rubs off relatively easy, the technique of running the watch to make a groove through it first in the pallet stones where the lubrication is then placed. This i understand creates the barrier for the lube to sit up to. If i can find a good balance of pros and cons of its use then thats one process i can avoid by using a thixotropic lube on the stones. The epilame i would say allows for a more fluid lubrication to be used that would increase amplitude on low beat movements. The stearic acid powder is extremely cheap, the problem is the fuming process to coat parts, is not selective , the whole part has to treated in this method. If epilame residue can cause wear then thats not good, if I remember the conclusion was not proved entirely just a general assumption between watchmakers. The thread is out there somewhere, the same discussion is also old on a facebook group. If its a potential problem for amateurs to use then i would prefer not to take the risk .
    • Following on from my question about identifying screws in the AS2063 movement that basically fell out of the case in bits, I’m pleased to report that I’ve got it all back together, and the movement is running pretty well.    But… There’s something wrong with the keyless works and hand setting. It’s fine in winding and quickset date position - these work - but in hand setting position winding the crown turns the whole gear train.  I don’t really understand how it’s meant to work. It doesn’t have a traditional friction fit cannon pinion.  The second wheel is unusual with a pair of smaller pinions on it, which seem to interact with the barrel and the motion works.    Could this be the problem? I must admit I just cleaned it and popped it in place when reassembling the gear train. I’ve lubricated the pivots but didn’t do anything to the extra bits on the second wheel.    Does this make sense and is anyone able to figure out what I’m doing wrong? Thanks in advance, as always.    ETA - the parts list calls it the Great Wheel, not second wheel. 
    • You're thinking metal to jewel in general I guess. Maybe it would be a good idea to peg the pallet staff jewel hole on the main plate after the epilame treatment. I think that could work as it is my impression that the epilame doesn't sit very hard, but I could be wrong about that so feel free to educate me. I didn't remember that 9501 was thixotropic (thanks for the link). That would mean it's even runnier during impact (lower viscosity) so perhaps it's time I get some fresh grease as mine seems a bit too runny. What I have seen is a whitish surface after washing but it goes away if I scrub the surface with a brush in a degreaser (Horosolv). I don't think it embeds itself in the metal but sticks very hard to the metal. I don't worry too much about the cleaning solution. I just want perfectly clean parts and my solution can be replaced for little money (ELMA RED 1:9). Anyway, I quite often need "to strip back and rebuild" and scrubbing parts by hand isn't exactly the most stimulating part of a service. Just got confirmation that Moebius 9501 has a lower viscosity (68 cSt at 20° C) than 9504 (305 cSt at 20°). The viscosity of Molykote DX is 285-315 cSt at -25° to +125° C. I was surprised to see that the viscosity of Moebius 9010 (thin oil!) is higher (150 cSt at 20°) than my 9501 grease!
    • I’ve had a couple movements where it is clear the previous watchmaker was diligent with lubrication but the old epilam had turned to a fine white powder covering the pallet fork and keyless parts, which can’t be good for parts. I’m spare with epi since I don’t know how long it takes to degrade to that state…
    • I have read some suggestions that it can cause wear , particularly on the fork horns of a fully treated pallet fork. I've had half a kilo of steriac acid powder on a shelf for almost a year now, might have a little play today with a heater and a jar.  I think its because it gets into their cleaning solutions Mike. Theirs or anyone else's that services the watch next time, or if they need to strip back and rebuild. Could preclean but thats all time for a pro. I thought the idea was for the epilame to create a barrier, a wall between the lubrication and anything else, so the lube cant spread.
×
×
  • Create New...