Mainspring Winding

[maitai11]

Hi Fellas,

I’m ready to get my mainspring squared away – but, I cannot find information related to the direction it needs to be wound. In fact, in Bob’s video, he winds it in the opposite direction of how the spring arrived, while another watchmaker on YouTube wound it in the same direction as it came out of the package. Thank you, and please advise…See photo below.

Tim

[tukat44]

so Tim, there are a number of ways to determine winding direction, if you remember the click and which way it was released to allow another tooth when being wound, if the action on the gear (which is attached to the arbor sticking out the bottom of the barrel) is clockwise, when disassembled, you then have a spiral starting in the center and going around counterclockwise from the center arbor unwinding into the barrel itself. This translates into clockwise unwinding into the barrel when inserting it into the barrel, being careful to make sure the end catches on the proper device inside the barrel rim. You should be able to figure this out if you carefully examine it and then make sure you understand the orientation from which you are working. Can be a little complicated. If all else fails, then you could imagine yourself being the barrel- which way would you like to be wound? which way would you like your arbor to point? How will you face when making the balance beat the senses out of the lever? follow the train and keep making bad art. It should be not too difficult- Also, remember which way came out first when you took the spring out? was it release left hand, spring over the top or release the right thumb and release the spring over the top? Think back and you may be able to get it, because into the barrel will be exactly opposite of unwinding, not the same direction Tukat

[chris mabbott]

When all else fails, don’t use your head, use your mobile phone camera 😆

I mean, basically, 94% of American PW’s are wound the same way, but I still forget, for two reasons, my brain is old, and I had way too much fun when I was growing up

Snap a pic before disassembly, then just reverse it for the wind up procedure.. Piece of pie, or is that cake, see what I mean 🙄
You have now been advised..

[bernie weishapl]

When I first started I always made a sketch of what the mainspring orientation was prior to removing it. I now always make a notation if it is a clockwise or counterclockwise wind. Or sometimes just use a camera. Tukat gave you some good advice that should help you figure it out.

[tukat44]

Thank You Bernie. Thank you Chris. I am thinking USB Microscope. On the bench. Not too far from my computer thingy. They look cheap on eBay. It is on my list of things I aspire to one day own. A boat is not on that list. Tukat

[maitai11]

WoooHoooooo!

I’m not so sure I asked that question correctly.

Once we determine the direction of the tang on the arbor, then we can properly place the spring once it’s wound in the winder…If I use it the way it came in the mail, I look down at the spring, and if the end of it doesn’t catch, I flip it over. Problem solved on the spring orientation, I believe…

HOWEVER; what I am really seeking in terms of an answer deals with how to wind the spring – in the direction it arrived in (thus, just winding it into itself)

–OR–

Do I wind the spring so that it is bending (and thus, being wound) in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION of the direction it coiled when it arrived in the mail.

I understand the whole orientation thing, I believe, and “pretending I’m the arbor” is a GREAT way to make sure everything is done correctly, but again, I want to know if we are supposed to wind it IN THE SAME DIRECTION THAT IT ARRIVED IN, or in THE OPPOSIDE DIRECTION – effectively “inverting” the direction and natural curve of the coil.

I think I get the tang, direction, when way want it to unwind, etc. but I’ve seen where Bob wound it in the OPPOSITE direction of its natural coil, while another watchmaker on YouTube wound it in the SAME DIRECTION of the coil, the way it arrived.

My basis for asking this question is simple – I want to know if the spring is wound in the same direction it is coiled in when it arrives would make the spring NOT AS STRONG because I’m winding it the “natural” way – OR, if I wind it in the opposite direction – such as counter clockwise if the spring arrived going clockwise – will it be STRONGER because I’m winding the spring in the opposite way it’s used to…

I hope I was clearer in this post – I’m talking spring only, not spring in relation to the barrel, click, etc.

Now, we can honestly say this question is as clear as mud! Enjoy the response!!!

Best,

Tim

[tukat44]

The spring is sent ready to install, center arbor should fit into the center of the spring as it was shipped, if the barrel was big enough you would be able to push the spring out of the holder directly into the barrel once you had correct orientation. center coil should not be tampered with, so I would go with how the center coil is going to start the winding, otherwise you would have to distort the spring to wind it backwards. there is a section that is not hardened (tempered?) that would be easy to ruin straightaway if you do not just let it be as it is. Tukat

[chris mabbott]

Tim, How come the old, technologically retarded guy is providing the young, technologically advanced guy with technological age information? There is something wrong with this picture show, you should be finding this stuff for us so we can relax

Anyhow, watch this… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrUQtVQIgQ0

[maitai11]

Hi Joe!

Thank you, that was exactly the kind of info I needed…most notably the damage that can be done by winding that spring in the opposite direction it’s accustomed to. And by the way…I just can’t call you tukat, haha. Hope you don’t mind, but you’ll always be brother Joe to me

Chris!!!

I keep asking you because I like the sound of your “internets” voice! But really, are you showing off? A SEVENTEEN barrel winding kit??? The guy on that vid calls them “finger cots” – we all know what they’re really called!!!

Thanks for the vid

Anytime you want to know something about Hawaii, feel free to ask – you’ve got a lot in the bank, my friend!

Tim

[maitai11]

OF COURSE!!!

NOW that I’m actually READY to install this mainspring, IT TOO has broken off while I tried to install it. Things were going so well there, for just about a minute. I guess I’m going to have to look for parts that actually work, instead of this old estate stuff…

Notch number TWO in my watchmaker’s belt…

[tmac1956]

maitai11:

Welcome to my world! I can’t tell you how many times I put them in backwards before figuring out my “routine”. Basically, I look at how the spring anchors into the mainspring barrel – side hook, T slot or both – then I put the spring into the winder so that it comes out that way. This just forces me to visualize how it needs to come out in the end instead of charging ahead without thinking it through. I’ve found that most of my problems come about by flailing away at something before using the little intelligence that remains after teaching for a decade.

Thanks!
Tom

[maitai11]

Hey Tom,

Yeah, pause and think. When I was trying to force a bigger jewel into a smaller hole, it was William – a neutral party – who suggested, “Tim, are you sure you have the right jewel?”

I mean, right???

That’s one of the beauties of this forum – unbiased, objective feedback – because I can tell you one thing, I’m anything but objective in my little world, which encompasses a square of about a 4″x4″x4″ box. Love the forum!

Thanks, Tom,

Tim

[arutha]

@maitai11 wrote:

OF COURSE!!!

NOW that I’m actually READY to install this mainspring, IT TOO has broken off while I tried to install it. Things were going so well there, for just about a minute. I guess I’m going to have to look for parts that actually work, instead of this old estate stuff…

Notch number TWO in my watchmaker’s belt…

Tim, what has broken, the mainspring?
Paul.

[arutha]

OK Tim, I have just read on your other post it was the mainspring. I wouldn’t trust old stock mainsprings, the only time I would ever use one is if I could not find a new one to replace an original and this does happen now and again. You see lots of used mainsprings for watches and clocks come up on e-bay now and again but it just proves to be false economy, that and if they have been in storage a while they are already “set”.
Hope you have better luck with your third attempt
Paul.

[maitai11]

Hi Paul!

Correct, and thanks for the good info!

Update: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1396

Best,

Tim

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