Success! Sort Of...

[Don]

I successfully (mostly) finished cleaning, oiling and reassembling my first mechanical watch yesterday. I bought a beat up old Caravelle and three movements worth of spare parts. Unfortunately, I dropped the one good balance out of four and mangled the hairspring, so I had to use a backup. The watch sets and runs, but doesn't run well. Also, I switched the dial from the original to one I liked better without thinking to check that it would fit the case - it didn't. But I got it all back together, so I'm considering this a victory.

 

Before:

 

 

During:

 

 

After:

 

 

 

If you're observant, you'll notice that the watch changed from 7 to 17 jewels somewhere in the process. You'll also notice that I had a little trouble with the concept of reverse threaded screws. :growl:

[DJW]

these are all things you have to learn...usually the hard way like I did! If you are like me and never had formal training, your mistakes are burned into your brain and you never forget what you did wrong to cause them! I'm not saying they will not happen again, but usually not for the same reason....

Hang in there! it's so gratifiing when you get through an overhaul and the watch is running beautifully!

FYI-Also, you'll notice the screws with the reverse threads have 3 lines on the screw heads, This is usually a dead giveaway that they are infact reverse threads...

[WillFly]

Learning is a series of plateaux - step by step you get better and better. Well done!

[autowind]

Watches are a whole different world,  most other things are made with parts you can see and pick up with your fingers,  not watches.  Well done,  your next one should go better.

[PhilB]

Well done - I'm on the same track but I've lost a **BLEEP** screw and I don't have any spares.

 

The reverse thread screw on the crown wheel got me too.

[WillFly]

Well done - I'm on the same track but I've lost a **BLEEP** screw and I don't have any spares.

 

The reverse thread screw on the crown wheel got me too.

That's where Marks's videos come in handy - this reverse thread is mentioned in them!

 

[PhilB]

That's where Marks's videos come in handy - this reverse thread is mentioned in them!

 

Yes, yes. But where's the fun in following the instructions? :)

[WillFly]

:D :D

[bobm12]

Nicely done, Don! Now your are really on your way! Congratulations!

[bobm12]

I forgot to ask, how did it ended up with 17 jewels?

[CKelly]

Good job. I had hairspring trouble with the first mechanical watch I did as well.

Charles K

[Don]

Thanks for all the positive comments. I really love this forum. :D

 

DJW, you're spot on about making mistakes. Each one taught me something. It took me forever to figure out why the stem couldn't be pulled to the setting mode and why the train was locked up. Turns out when you use a ratchet wheel screw on the crown wheel, it doesn't work so well. I'll forever remember the three slotted screw thing too. Most of the setbacks were very enjoyable because I felt I was gaining experience.

 

Thanks Bob. I ended mashed the different movement parts together and ended up using the trail wheel bridge from a 17 jewel version. I'm not sure if I've got all 17, but the bridge says 17 jewels.

 

I've already got my next victim, a vintage Lucerne that is currently running slow. I'm looking forward to having the time to tear it apart and apply whatever I've learned from the first watch to it. When I get more confident, I'm going to have a go at a Stowa I bought 5 years ago and have been dying to get fixed.

[bobm12]

Wow, all I can say is that I love your enthusiasm and I know you'll do a fantastic job on that Stowa!

[Don]

Thanks, I hope so.

[mlfloyd1]

The Caravelle movement cleaned up real nice.  What cleaning products and machine did you use?

[Don]

I've got a used L&R PC3 ultrasonic cleaner. I used Zenith Hi-Tech cleaning solution and Zenith Hi-Solv for the rinse. I couldn't find much info on the Zenith products as opposed to the L&R solutions, but I chose the Zenith because they are advertised as low odor. So far I'm very happy with it.

[mlfloyd1]

Are the cleaning solutions safe to use?  Flammability issues, breathing issues, etc.

[Don]

I'm a little ashamed to say that I didn't read the warnings on the container, but I assume there is some risk of ignition, especially with the rinse, since it evaporates very quickly. The smell was not bad at all for the cleaner and rinse, but I also bought some hairspring cleaner from Zenith and that stuff smells pretty potent.

[anilv]

Hi Don,

 

Re the 7 to 17 jewels things...?

 

Are you going by the sloppy stamping on the train bridge? I think that its a legit 17 jewels as the 'seventeen' would have been there from the beginning... just a bit of carelessness.

 

Anil

[Don]

Hi Anil,

 

I had parts from three movements. The one I started with was a 7 jewel version. I ended up using the main plate and train wheel bridge from one of the others that was a 17 jewel version. In the "before" picture, the train wheel bridge bearings are not jeweled.