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Posted

Hi all!

I'm stripping down an old Gothic and the ratchet wheel is stuck. I cannot get it off! Any ideas? This is the second one tonight? A Marvin I bought for .99 cents did the same thing earlier so I set it aside to work on the Gothic it is having the same issue. I've dropped some WD-40 in it to try and loosen it but no avail!

Any direction would be great.

Thanks,

Gary

Posted

My first thought as well - that the screw is a left-hand thread. If it is, trying to unscrew it in the normal way only tightens it further and may well break it. Have a go at turning the ratchet wheel screw gently but firmly clockwise and see what happens.

Posted

I've tried both ways. They are not budging.

And on another question. The wheel below fell out of the Marvin. For the life of me I cannot figure out where it goes? LOL

Posted

Is the small wheel an intermediate wheel? Should be on the top plate engaging the minute wheel(?). I need to see the other side to properly identify it though.  Were you able to remove the tension on the main spring before attempting those screws? Just a thought.

 

Bob

Posted

I can't see well in the picture but between the minute wheel and the castle wheel there is a "pivot" sticking out of the plate. I believe that's where the little wheel goes so it can engage and transmit the movement to the minute wheel from the castle wheel. (it seems to be smooth, that little wheel, therefore not the clutch wheel, otherwise, it might as well be what Geo said).

 

Hope this helps.

 

Bob

Posted

Almost always they are left had threads if you have been forcing it the incorrect way it will be tight. A modicum of heat directly to the screw sometimes helps but be careful or the watch will finish up as a scrapper.

Posted

Hi Gary,

 

To clarify,

 

Ratchet wheel = the wheel on the barrel , screws are usually normal threaded (direction-wise).

 

Crown wheel = the wheel which transmits the winding action of the stem to the ratchet wheel, this is where you usually find the left hand threads. 

 

If you can't get the crown wheel off then live with it. You can clean the hell out of it and oil it as installed. You will probably have access from the rear of the bridge to oil the backside of the crown wheel.

 

Anil

Posted

Update on the ratchet wheel. Finally made it home. Last night try as I might it would not budge in either direction. I soaked in a drop of WD40. I had given up earlier so I left it in, cleaned it and dropped oil in the barrel. Tonight I tried again and low and behold it gave on the second try? It is indeed left handed screw. I know most crown wheels are but wasn't sure about this one.

Still one outstanding issue that wheel doesn't go there near the click mechanism. That wheel is in place and the other one is still on my desk. Lol I disassemled the movement again and don't see a place for it to go?

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