Citizen 8200A Balance Wheel Swinging Slowly..

[number98]

Hi mark, i have a vintage citizen that looks abit like a rolex datejust that i bought it at a flea market. Ok, so I'm trying to restore it. Relume, complete movement service overhaul, change a new crystal and waterproof. I try to handwind it but it doesnt work. So i teardown the whole movement. The movement is a bit rusty, i have remove the rust and clean the whole thing using aeroplane paraffin. So i suspect maybe the mainspring has kink or something, so i found used mainspring from my watch spart part box. And i assemble it. The balance wheel start to move. But it swinging slowly. Im not sure, maybe something wrong with the mainspring. It maybe be either magnetize or the arbor doesn't  in place. Is that true mark? Could u verify? Im sad that im dont live in the uk if not cousins do sell the mainspring with a complete barrel and it cost 5-6 quid. Thanks. If its something wrong the mainspring then tmr im gonna give them a call to the watch shop that i frequently patronized to double check whether do they sell. Thanks.

 

Ps. I check the balance stuff using my eye loupe and the top and bottom pivot looks fine.

[Mark]

You will definitely need a mainspring of the correct dimensions. The lack of amplitude is almost certainly as a result of the incorrect spring.

[number98]

Oh.. Ok thanks. So now i know its the mainspring lack of power that causes the balance wheel to move slowly. Is there any way of measuring the mainspring? And i havent actually call the watch shop to ask whether they sell the complete barrel. Im having problem with putting the arbor back using a tweezer. Cus what it does it simply fly off. Is there any tips of putting the arbor back?

[Mark]

The 8200 is not listed in my GR2 book so I can't verify if an individual mainspring will be available.

 

The only way to know is to measure the original mainspring.

 

You will need to know the length, thickness and height along with the inside diameter of the barrel. Plus its an automatic slipping mainspring as you know.

 

My advice: try to source the barrel complete locally.

 

If not then Cousins should deliver it but it may be costly on shipping. They claim to provide to customers all over the world.

[number98]

Oh ok thanks. Yeap I shall try to source locally. :) thanks.

[number98]

Hi mark haha i just call the citizen service center whether do they have stock for the mainspring at first they say no after that he check with his colleague or so and he say you come down I take out from one of the movement. Lol I ask how much does it cost and does it come with the complete barrel and he say cost 10 bucks which is roughly 5 quid and yes with complete barrel. And I told then im a watchmaker and currently servicing this movement and I change mainspring and it started to move slowly. Lol.

[Mark]

Well done. Very resourceful :D

[number98]

Haha.. Before i go to the citizen service center tmr, i just been told by my father that he has several citizen 8200a movement with spoilt hairspring. So I'm gonna take from him the movement and check whether their mainspring is ok a not before i buy from the service center.. Hopefully it works. :)

[Mark]

It seems you have nothing to worry about :)

[number98]

Haha. yeah. But is it me or so but i find that the low and mid range watch brand sell parts than the luxury range? Like i ring up the omega service center and ask them do they sell dial, case tube and etc they say no. They tell me to pass the watch to them and they sent it to switzerland. 

[Mark]

For omega you need to find out if you have a parts reseller in your area - in the uk Cousins supply Omega parts (for now).

[number98]

Sadly, in my area, doesnt have any parts reseller for omega nor other brand.. Even if have, the parts we want might not have it!

[Mark]

That's a shame :(

[number98]

Yeah..