Michael Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 So I've not been real busy on shoes lately, and the mad trophy period has quietened down so I thought I would have a play with a couple of my own cheap (fake, bought in Egypt!!) watches that I had lying around. I was going to replace a screw-in crown and pendant tube on an Omega Seastar and put a new automatic movement in a Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Starting with the Rolex, I ordered a chinese automatic movement from Cousins. I removed the stem to fit the movement and when I replaced it, it wouldn't go in properly. I wasn't sure if it had come faulty or if I had damaged something when replacing the stem, so rather than send it back I decided see if I could take it apart, find out the problem and put it back together.After a few hairy moments dropping tiny screws and springs onto a floor scattered with metal filings from cutting keys, and managing to still find them ( one spring I gave up looking for, come in the next day and thought I'd have a quick look, and literally looked straight down by my feet and spotted it!!!) I found the problem ( setting lever had jumped off it's mounting) and re-assembled 90% of the movement, just need to re-fit the automatic winding bridge and movement, although there is alittle spring in that goes in that I'm not quite sure how it goes.I've looked for a diagram but can't find one anywhere but I will work it out. What a fascinating, minature world the watch movement is. I'm quite proud that I managed to do this as it was my first attempt, and I'm now quite addicted. I've stripped the Rolex right down, polished the case and bezel, polished scratches out of the acrylic glass, quite satisfying!! I'm currently waiting for the screwdown pendant tube to fit to the Omega and I'm not sure how to remove the old pendant tube yet, but will let you know how I get on. No point to this post, (unless anyone knows how the spring in the auto movement goes ), but just thought I'd share with you. If anyone has any interesting reference books or websites that would help me learn at my own pace I'd be most grateful. Mike at Vauxhall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 what's the movement number? you can use pegwood to hold down springs whilst you use your tweezers to remove them, it stops them pinging away & I can thoroughly recommend getting a stereo microscope to work under. I'm totally fixated with watches, its a gradual process of building confidence & skills & for me its quite fruitful & something I'm expanding rapidly. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted June 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 The movement was the chinese ST6DM. I didn't know there was a spring under the bridge, so when I lifted it cogs and a spring went flying! I've got a couple of eyeglasses, x15 and x20 I think, but to be honest my eyes are pretty good for the majority of the work and I only use them now and again, but I will have a look. I know what you mean about the fixation, I want to turn away shoes and keys so I can just sit for hours and take movements apart and learn. I've asked my wife for a nice watch for my 40th in October, maybe a Tssot or a Tag Heure depending on budget , but I'm scared I will want to take it apart and play with it !!!! I MUST RESIST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamparker Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 There are loads of non working watches on ebay that would give you something to practice on. Might be worth a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 not sure on the spring, haven't had one of those movements apart. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I love watches and clocks, My grandad used to repair them and I would sit and watch him for hours, He kept a small jar with a lid, full of petrol on his bench and he would place a watch movement over it so the fumes cleaned through it. One day the Budgie got out and landed on the bench, it drank from this jar and was off like a rocket around and around it flew. Under the chair up the back and did a barrel roll and after about 4 mins it fell onto the sofa, Ohhh Grandad I cried is it dead? No son just run out of petrol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted June 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Not to teach you to suck eggs but when you press the stem retaining pin in, you will notice there is a slot cut across the surrounding area to the pin, that's so you can press the pin with a wide ish screwdriver, if you poke it with a point or smaller screwdriver it knackers the keyless works. Post a photo of the movement with bridge removed and the spring and I should be able to show you where the spring goes. I believe your movement to be a 21J mov similar to the 2183/4183 series, low/high beat. Something I realised afterwards, I. Normally use a 0.80mm or 1.00mm screwdriver to press the stem retainer, but when I was doing this watch I had a pair of fine tweezers in my hand and used them to push it LAZY SCHOOLBOY ERROR I'll try and post a pic on Monday of the movement, cogs, bridge and spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted June 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Just seen a digital microscope on cousins website for £175.00 GREAT PRICE.....and very gadgety Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 I have one that runs through a laptop and you can even project it onto a screen - called a digitiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 That's the one mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 It is magic, we use it at out shows so trainers who are picking locks or dismanteling them can project onto a big screen and see rather that huddle around a table. has a goose neck head so you can move it about - very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Friend Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Optoma DC300i visualiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 i use the http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/longarm.html BM1 long arm microscope. the main reason being it has plenty of distance between the lens & the working space, so you can fit your case/watch, clamp & tools under it without knocking the lens its also a "stereo" microscope as opposed to a single lence which give a better sense of depth. the one you pictured looks to have one of these type usb microscopes attached to it :- https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ws-00 ... l&tbm=shop they are OK, I have one, but prefer the BM1 for watches. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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