Incabloc lyre spring escapee

[jonsug]

Hi everyone. I wonder if someone can help me. I am just a beginner and new to the site but reading through some of the threads have been amazed how helpful everyone is.

I have a 50's Universal Geneve wrist watch with a 263 movement which had stopped and needed a thorough clean. I have fully disassembled it but realise now I probably did not need to take off the upper (watch face side) balance pinion jewel plate with the lyre spring, just to clean the capstone and jewel!

Anyway, whilst struggling to reassemble this section, the lyre spring (pictured before escape) made a successful break for it and is lost to the world forever.  Could anyone please tell me how to find another of the right size to fit? I know Cousins sell them, but do not know how to relate their ETA sizes to UG movements. Is there a conversion list somewhere?

 Hugely grateful for any assistance.

Best regards

Jon

[Chopin]

Hello Jon. I'm sorry about your lost part as I know how that feels. I wouldn't give up looking for it though as usually they are just 1-2 feet away at most. Sometimes they get stuck on hands, fingers, clothing, etc.

If you ask me that looks like the standard incabloc that, more or less, most watches use and I wouldn't be surprised if they were mostly made in a standard size by the same manufacturer (happened often in horology).

Do you have any watches, perhaps cheap or broken down so that you can borrow the spring and check that, indeed, they are identical ? That's what I would do. Maybe a run to a local antique fair and buy a cheap broken one that has the same incabloc system.

As I have just assembled a much more complicated incabloc system today (3 star shaped) let me give you a hint. Put your movement inside a transparent plastic ziplock bag and work on it with your tweezers through the plastic, so to speak. Not only will you not lose the part but you can also use the plastic to lightly press onto the spring so that it won't jump around.

[jonsug]

Hi Chopin, thank you for such a prompt response. I have searched for hours

Yes I'll have a look to see if I can buy an old movement from somewhere and hope the spring fits. Hard to measure the actual size in absenti, but if you think they are standard then its worth a go.

Good idea about the plastic bag, will definitely try that ... if I ever find another spring!!

Thanks again

[Chopin]

I'm not sure if they are standard but I don't think they made them in many sizes to be honest. Someone else might confirm or infirm.

I don't have calipers that measure in double digits so I don't think I can help, sadly...

[oldhippy]

Use this link and with the cal number you have you should be able to find the part number you want. Parts might look the same but many won't fit.

http://www.incabloc.ch/en/pieces_rechanges.php

[jonsug]

Thank you Old Hippy, great recommendation to the Incabloc info site,

but sadly their UG page does not cover the 263 calibre movement.

[oldhippy]

3 minutes ago, jonsug said:

Thank you Old Hippy, great recommendation to the Incabloc info site,

but sadly their UG page does not cover the 263 calibre movement.

What is it that you have?

[jonsug]

7 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

What is it that you have?

Its a UG 263 1940/50

[rogart63]

There is a pdf on the web somewhere that states a lot of movements .  I shall look and see if i find it? 

[jonsug]

2 hours ago, rogart63 said:

There is a pdf on the web somewhere that states a lot of movements .  I shall look and see if i find it? 

all help would be very welcome, thank you. Although, even if I have the part no, I am not sure exactly where I would go to buy one?

[rogart63]

2 hours ago, jonsug said:

all help would be very welcome, thank you. Although, even if I have the part no, I am not sure exactly where I would go to buy one?

I think that was the pdf from ETA i was looking for . That old hippy linked to .  Haven't found anything else. 

You can by incabloc springs from cousinsuk .  Find out which size you need and buy the right size. 

this is a table of the sizes. 

[jonsug]

Thank you Rogart63, Ill get the calipers out! I guess the spring on the lower side of the pivot has a good chance of being the same size. Worth a try.