Russian Watch with Liquefied Gasket

[buzzardking]

I have a Russian wristwatch with what I assume is a vintage electric movement (transition between mechanical and quartz). It’s attractive and it runs, and I want to keep it that way.
HOWEVER –

The old gasket has turned to sticky nasty goo, and the goo is holding the movement in the case around the inside of the dial. I don’t want to ruin the movement or get the dial face dirty trying to get the assembly out of the case, but it’s stuck in there tight. And I have no idea how to clean it once I have it apart. As a test I’ve tried letting the back parts sit in soap before washing them off. And when that didn’t budge the tar, I tried GooGone – also to no avail. 

Anybody with experience here, please help. Thanks!

• This topic was modified 2 years ago by Tamas Richard.

[randy]

There is no “magic” fix here that I know of.
Do you have some Rodico ? The “silly putty” for watchmakers ?

I’m thinking that you are going to have to scrap off as mush of the old gasket as you can, then try to remove the movement.
If you can safely get the movement out, it will give you more options for getting the remaining debris off.

I would try shaping a scraper using a piece of hard plastic or a very small flat blade screwdriver if you have nothing else, capturing as much as you can using the Rodico to lift it off as you go.

Once you have enough to get the movement out,..you’ll be able to scrape off the remaining material.
The challenge is to not get bits and pieces of the gunk into the movement and case.

Best of luck

Randy

[buzzardking]

Thanks, Randy, all good advice.

Reporting back. Here’s what worked: Hand sanitizer.

Decided to give it a try since none of the other conventional cleaners were touching it. Best thing ever – it dissolved the black goop immediately and it wiped away easily with bud swabs and Scott tissue. It works really well removing Sharpie marker and tape goo, guess gasket removal goes on the list, too.

[randy]

Well I’ll have to add that to my list of cleaning solvents !!!

Glad to hear that something worked…

Randy

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