Girocap spring

[StuartBaker104]

I have a Universal Geneve 215 movement in a Polerouter watch. The escape wheel has shock protected cap jewels known as Girocap (occasionally misspelt Gyrocap), made by Porte Echappement SA.

One of the shock springs is broken in half and whilst I have the watch running and the jewel seems to stay in place I can see this being a risk. I have tried in vain to work out where to buy these but don't see them listed anywhere. I have seen various movements and parts on ebay with them, but rarely see UG 215 parts and if so they are usually the wrong side of the pond and expensive.

Does anyone know if these were all one size or if they are as varied as incablocs? If all one size I could buy a cheap scrap movement.

Thanks

S

[clockboy]

 A picture of the spring is required. Hopefully it is not a custom made spring.

[rogart63]

Seen that on other UG movements also. Can't find a good picture right now but i now how it looks. 

Seen this btw? http://www.polerouter.de/frameset-movements.htm

Edited June 6, 2017 by rogart63

[vinn3]

• thanks,  really  great reference!

[StuartBaker104]

 

Seen that on other UG movements also. Can't find a good picture right now but i now how it looks. 

Seen this btw? http://www.polerouter.de/frameset-movements.htm

Yes, I've spent quite a bit of time looking at that, and som while back I asked the site owner if he could send me a better copy of the oiling chart, but never got a reply.

The Girocap was used on the Omega 540 balance and there's a description in here

http://watchguy.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Omega-540.pdf

There's a good picture her and also a useful reference for identifying shock spring types

https://watch-wiki.org/index.php?title=Kategorie:Picture_gallery_archive_shock_absorber

I also found this on eBay, so definitely not a one off

[rogart63]

Seen them in other movements. Did a little search and found them in Certina and Tissot movement. Also in some AS and an MST 469 . Maybe they could be found on cousinsuk under the movement? Omega had a complete one but at £60 it wasn't cheap? 

[StuartBaker104]

Well Rogart, I came back to this after a few other distractions and your inspiration led me to track down a Roamer mst 466 which was only £6 incuding postage. I couldn’t find out if there were multiple sizes of Girocap, but I figured I had little to lose here so went ahead and bought it.

Sadly, whilst I have answered a question, it’s not the answer I wanted. So I now know that Girocaps came in more than one size and the springs aren’t interchangeable.

Roamer 466 will doubtless be back on the bay soon! Will have to look for a movement of a similar size to the Universal 215 with a Girocap and then find a cheap one of those to buy. Have not found Girocap parts anywhere else 

[Wildboar]

I have the same problem on a caliber 69 microtor, someone has replaced the top girocap with a jewel and Incabloc spring. Did you ever find a suitable donor movement or straight up replacement?

cheers

[StuartBaker104]

No I didn’t. There’s a cal 215 on ebay right now which looks like its had a fight with a steamroller, but I can’t tell if the one spring left on it is any good.

The spring on mine is in 2 pieces but it does stay in place.

[Wildboar]

I saw that movement, I think it’s more likely a disgruntled watchmaker with a hammer! Not sure it’s even worth the postage, except for the unobtanium spring that is....