Dirty Mainspring (not for the faint hearted)

[clockboy]

Had a lot of hassle removing a clock mainspring barrel lid. This is why. Some never service the mainspring until muggins here does a proper service.

[rogart63]

Looks like some seiko mainspring barrels

[frenchie]

chocolate as a lubricant?

[clockboy]

After some research this clock is over 70 years old. It is a Westminster chime made by Mauthe who stopped making clocks in 1948.  A mornings work as  all three mainsprings were in the same condition. 

[oldhippy]

Time to get your hands dirty. I found petrol and a good stiff brush was best for these dirty blighters. What will you use?

[clockboy]

I gave them a good soaking in white sprit. Then cleaned & lubed with clock barrel grease. 

[Lenj]

Looks like a sticky job you had there, white spirt best for the job, especially indoors lol..

 

[clockboy]

Bad news my repair did not work while pinning the dial the bezel to the case the hinge has come adrift. I will have to come up with a different method.

[oldhippy]

56 minutes ago, clockboy said:

Bad news my repair did not work while pinning the dial the bezel to the case the hinge has come adrift. I will have to come up with a different method.

How about leaving more solder on the repair. The more you remove the weaker it will become.

[clockboy]

12 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

How about leaving more solder on the repair. The more you remove the weaker it will become.

The problem I have the solder will not attach to the dial. I am considering tapping the hinge and then attaching it with with micro screws. I will investigate when time (family commitments). I do have a new bezel & dial complete that fits but the dial is white. If I run out of ideas I will offer this option to the customer. I have spent a lot of time on this job already and I have a couple of watches on my bench waiting for a service. 

[Lenj]

Shame about the hinge coming apart. Did it come apart clean with the epoxy resin? two part should have done the job on it's own problably did not stick to the solder??

[clockboy]

16 minutes ago, Lenj said:

Shame about the hinge coming apart. Did it come apart clean with the epoxy resin? two part should have done the job on it's own probably did not stick to the solder??

It came clean away looking at it closely it appears that when the bezel it is opened it has levering action. So I will have to investigate more closely. I have ordered some super strength epoxy glue that is sold as liquid metal. However it may just need the dial lifting away from the case a tiny amount but still not sure. The biggest problem I now have is time as I have a lot of family issues at present and I also have few horological jobs pending. 

[Lenj]

Yep the levering did not help, also need to try and get a good key, take of the solder??