There’s Always Something

[chris mabbott]

There’s always something isn’t there!!

Ok, to make a short story long…

About 2 yrs ago I acquired a Hamilton/Ball that had been in a house fire! Not directly mind you, but it had been exposed to enough heat to cause a mess, ie the oil, grease, and whatever else, oh yes, one of those sticky dial feet things (Murphy’s law) had melted or vaporized inside the movement !
I knew it would be a mess but I took it from the lady anyway who assured me that it had been inside a safe, in a steel cash box. I think this was true as I could tell that it had not been in contact with flame, the damage was heat related and not at high temps, a challenge?
When I opened it up, you could see the effects, slight discoloration of the plates and the melted lube, everywhere.

I remembered this watch just recently, I’d put it away because initially I had been a little daunted at facing the task.

The first thing that struck me as I pulled off the lid and the Psss of two year old air was released from the container, was the amount of parts!!
It was like two movements had been disassembled..
So I hastily searched for the photos I hoped I took at that time… Alas, I had only taken a couple as I’d only began keeping detailed visual records about 2 yrs ago! Doh

Right, I dig in my heels and begin the cleaning, sanding, re polishing process. Well, I spent 12 hrs yesterday and another 5 so far today, polishing every part, even the tiny jewel setting screw heads. I’m about 35% through it. 🙄

I hasn’t been without issues, I’ve made my usual booboo which I seem to make twice every year, I broke the long pivot from the 4th wheel !!! Frigging PERFECT 👿
That’s twice this month!!
The other thing is that a couple of the itsy bitsy teeny weeny screws that hold the jewel settings in place are stripped (weren’t me). So now I need a 0. 00037mm tap 😆
Where in the name of the ancient gods of Rome can I get one of them thar deals :

The other thing… The nicely designed bridge for the pallet, has a gold plate that holds the cap jewel in place. The tiny screw was so tight that the head stripped off. So two options….
1. Drill it out! Ohhh shudder, those never work out well.

2. Leave it and force oil in through the jewel hole.

Funny thing is, the MS and HS have not been effected! Odd, the MS is alloy and the HS is still nice and blue, not distorted, lots of spring, and the collet is good.. Although some lube kinda baked on the balance wheel arms!

From the lube related damage, it looks like the watch was sitting on its side, not laying flat… Thank you CSI Vegas.

I don’t think anyone messed with this item before me, well I’m sure of it.
Also, the shellac was melted from the roller jewel, but the pallet stones are fine?
The dial and hands are good as is the case and its previous plastic crystal, which I tossed simply because I hate plastic crystals, was un effected .

The winding stem seems to have suffered the most as its lube had fused to itself, it was black.
So an odd thing and a bit of a mystery. I half expected to find all the steel parts useless, but they appear to be ok, at least while I was cleaning and burnishing them. I figured they would snap. Only the long pivot broke and that was my own dumb fault..

So any suggestions on how to re thread a hole that you can’t see ?? Other than forcing a larger screw inside, which isn’t an option here. Besides, I really just want the worlds smallest tap….. look mom, cUte 😆

.

[jim1228]

Ok Chris,
Lets see pics
Jim

[bernie weishapl]

Pic’s Chris as I am having a time trying to picture your problem. I think I know but well getting old.

[david pierce]

Chris,
Is the problem a broken screw in a hole that you need to remove?
david

[chris mabbott]

Here ya go gents…

the problem is, the tiny screws that hold the jewel setting in place do not tighten, like the threads are stripped internally. The screws are good, I tried a couple of new ones, same. I also tried to close the top of the hole earlier, but these are so tiny, it’s hard to get in.

[david pierce]

Chris,
If you have a tap or can get a tap for that screw, you can make a small bushing on your lathe with the correct thread. The OD of the bushing should be turned down to fit the available space in the plate and have enough wall thickness to hold the screw securely. Then drill and ream the hole in the watch plate to the proper size to accept the od of the bushing. The bushing can be held in with a small amount of Loctite.
david

[chris mabbott]

Thanks David, any idea where I can acquire a tap that small, it’s about 0.05mm, maybe smaller 😯

[david pierce]

Chris,
A screwplate and tap set can be purchased from Ebay for about $10.00 dollars. Also cousins UK should carry watch size taps and screw plates.
david

[tmac1956]

@Chris Mabbott wrote:

snip…

I hasn’t been without issues, I’ve made my usual booboo which I seem to make twice every year, I broke the long pivot from the 4th wheel !!! Frigging PERFECT 👿
That’s twice this month!! snip…

Chris:

Don’t fell bad brother. I replaced the balance staff on an ELGIN 16S and, after reassembling the watch, I was fiddling with the banking pin adjustments and accidentally got the balance wheel in a pinch then… POPPPPPPP! Now I have to do it all over again.

I don’t feel so bad now. Well actually, I do – but after hearing that I’m not the only, this ameliorates my suffering – if ever so slightly.

Later my friend!
Tom

[chris mabbott]

😆 😆 Tom my American bro,

NEVER EVER think that you’re alone 😆 Anyone that says they don’t make boo boos are not being entirely honest, I dare say..

I’m PO’d at myself because I knew better and still did it, but the main reason is that I’m going to have a helluva time finding replacement parts, if at all. So my stooopidity may have caused me to make a perfectly repairable watch, un-runnable if that’s a word 😆

Best case scenario… I’ll have to practice re-pivoting, which I don’t like to do because really, it’s a patch, a band aid. It’s like electrical taping a plastic bag on a leaky radiator hose. That’s just me being anal retentive though 🙄

[david pierce]

Chris,
It can be repaired. This is a case where an amateur watchmaker has an advantage. An amateur is not dealing with the time-money constraints that a professional has to deal with in order to survive. This is one of the reasons I do not wish to become a professional watchmaker. I learned this about myself when I was taking the Time Zone watch repair courses. Another student wrote in about a hairspring problem and the “professional” advice was to replace the entire balance cock assembly. This was perfect advice from a seasoned professional watchmaker with many years of repair tricks that could minimize time and maximize profits, to a student wanting to become one. It was also a direction that I decided I did not want to go. It also explained why every time throughout my life when I would look at a watch repair shop, the watchmaker lathe was always covered with a layer of dust and had a rotted out leather belt on it. You have the equipment and knowledge to repair this. Do a couple of practice runs on some scrap metal pieces to make sure that you have the correct procedure. Once you have it down, go for it.
david

[david pierce]

Chris,
Another way to go on this would be to make a new screw with a larger diameter shaft but the same size head. This would be a little easier than making a threaded plug. To thread the new screw you will still need a screw plate and matching tap. These are not very expensive and can be purchased from Ebay.
david

[tmac1956]

Chris:

Remember a while back when I put the screws on that Hamilton 12s timing regulator in backwards, and didn’t realize it until I had already re-tapped the holes from the top and put in bigger screws? (well, I do) Anyway, while I screwed up the original design… it’s still working just fine. Luckily, I bought several huge lots of watch screws so I had two bigger screws on hand and didn’t need to make those – I just had to re-tap the holes.

Live and learn I suppose.

Later,
Tom

[chris mabbott]

Thanks David, once again, for your sound advice and yes, I 150% agree with your statement, very true buddy, very true. In fact I’ve just had an experience similar to the one you mention, about the dusty lathe, except this was NO lathe at all, in fact, only a set of screwdrivers and a battery tester could be seen in the “watch repair shop” where I took a chain to be re-soldered, in fact it wasn’t even re-soldered, they used a crimp type ring, really, I could have done that 👿

Tom, yes, that’s what I need, that tiny tap, where did you get it?

[tmac1956]

Chris:

You can get these on eBay. Clearly, some are better than others.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Boxed-Quality-Screw-Plate-with-14-Taps-Dies-Watchmakers-Clockmakers-Jewellers-/321217589291?pt=UK_Jewellery_Watches_WatchAccessories_SpareParts_SM&hash=item4aca0f702b

Later,
Tom

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