watch runs without hands and stops with hands

[east3rn]

Hello fellow watch repairers. 

I recently serviced a vintage watch which was in quite nice running condition(rate:+10, amp:270, b/e: 0.3).

After cleaned and assembled, the movement ran with a bit lower amplitude than before(amp: 240~250) but it did not stop for hours.

I thought that amplitude will get back to normal level after a day or so and I reinstalled hands to put the movement back in to the case.

However, only after few minutes, the watch stopped. I felt that something went wrong when putting hands back in so I removed the hour and minute hands.

I was about to move on to the second hand and I noticed that second hand was ticking again.

This is my first time dealing with this kind of situation. Please I need your help.

[jdrichard]

Perhaps when you pressed in the hour hand, you somehow pressed the face closer and grounded out the hour wheel against the face. Also, you may have pressed the minute hand in such a way that it is scraping against the hour hand


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[jguitron]

I agree. Super important to check proper position of each hand as you set it and then subsequently as you set the others.

The hour hand should clear all marks and be parallel to dial then, minute hand should clear the hour hand... I tend to spin it twice to confirm and lastly the second hand. Careful how hard you press on it becase you can change the endshake of your wheel and it’s a big deal.

Put your movement on the timer before hands and then after if you have any questions... also after you case it to make sure hands don’t rub with the crystal.

Cheers!




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[east3rn]

51 minutes ago, jguitron said:

I agree. Super important to check proper position of each hand as you set it and then subsequently as you set the others.

The hour hand should clear all marks and be parallel to dial then, minute hand should clear the hour hand... I tend to spin it twice to confirm and lastly the second hand. Careful how hard you press on it becase you can change the endshake of your wheel and it’s a big deal.

Put your movement on the timer before hands and then after if you have any questions... also after you case it to make sure hands don’t rub with the crystal.

Cheers!




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1 hour ago, jdrichard said:

Perhaps when you pressed in the hour hand, you somehow pressed the face closer and grounded out the hour wheel against the face. Also, you may have pressed the minute hand in such a way that it is scraping against the hour hand


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Thank you for your advice. I think I should try putting my hands carefully.

I will come back with further question if things don't get better.

[oldhippy]

Remove movement from case and check that nothing inside is catching. Start by adding one hand at a time and check for running. If it stops, I would look under the dial to check keyless work. Then add hands one by one without the dial.