I AM CONCEDING DEFEAT!

[Tudor]

As some of you know, I have hit a wall (hard) with a broken incabloc spring on an Omega 565. I have managed to remove the rest of the broken spring, pressed the setting out enough to expose the slot, and broken two new springs (and lost one) trying to get one in. This is the upper, in the main plate, so I can't do ANYTHING else with this movement until I get this sorted out.

Honestly, I'd rather manipulate a hairspring than deal with this. 

I purchased a smaller set of tweezers, dressed a larger set of tweezers (to hold both sides of the "lyre" at the same time) and VASTLY expanded my repertoire of colorful metaphors. I don't have the ability to be at the bench for hours (which is what this takes to get in the "zone") so it is aggravating me, which of course, does not help the situation at all!

I purchased a complete upper setting for the 550 but either I was sent the wrong one, or the 550 is not compatible with the 565, and I don't have enough information to confirm either way. (so that was $25 wasted).

Anyway, if anyone out there is in the states (due to the shipping nightmare these days), and willing to help me out, I'll pack a beer in the box with the plate and parts. Just install the spring and stones (I think the stones will be needed to keep the spring tension), and I can press it back in to the proper depth. My staking set is all set up with the jeweling attachment and depth setting so I can re-set it (I'll have to check end shake after, but it should be close)

Thanks for looking, and happy holidays!

[SparkyLB]

I won't claim to have enough experience to fix this, but I've been in a similar situation.  You mentioned lyre, so my situation was a bit different, I was dealing with a novodiac spring.  My main issue was twofold.  I had the devil's time getting the fitting to accept the endstone, then also had to broaden my bad words depository getting the spring seated, then twisted home. 

I bought a set of silicone tipped tools from Cousins (call them coaxers), and that helped stone placement.  These were miniature dental-tool looking affairs with the tiniest spot of silicone on the tips.  Very grippy, and as precision as the user.  I made on the lathe, a 1.2 mm diameter "drinking straw" from pegwood, and that allowed me to turn the spring into its slots. 

Don't admit defeat--you'll get there.  What doesn't kill you increases your level of rage.   

Edited December 30, 2020 by SparkyLB

[Tudor]

Oh, I would GLADLY do a Novodiac in place of this. Yes, the spring comes completely free, but it is something I can manage, and the setting does not have to be moved from the plate/cock to deal with a broken one.

You made the right tool; the "correct" one is nearly the same as you made, but with three microscopic bumps to help turn the spring (and made of Nylon presumably). Add a drop of rodico to your wooden tube, and the whole process gets even easier.

 

[mikepilk]

I've been there -seems impossible to get the little devils in. Don't despair, with practice, what once seemed impossible becomes routine. (I still hate those small 2-prong Seiko diashocks though !)

I wouldn't use tweezers to start with - too easy to apply a bit too much force and they ping off.

Use softer tools.  When I was struggling, I put some Rodico just behind where the spring goes, then place the spring, vertically against the Rodico. Use a couple of bits of sharpened pegwood to slide the spring down in to position - one to press down, and one to adjust the angle.  With the spring against the Rodico, it can't ping off. It may take a bit of fiddling to get the angles right, but you will get there!  As soon as you feel irritated, step away. That's when you screw-up (hairsprings, ah!).

Fortunately I now have a stereo microscope, which makes it much much easier. 

Good luck - the 565 is a lovely movement, I have a 1969 Seamaster with the 565

[KarlvonKoln]

Oh those little incabloc springs make me swear in German.  I can get them in most of the time now, but it's never fun.

[SparkyLB]

Thanks, Tudor. That’s an idea I wouldn’t have thought of—Rodico on the tool. That’ll bring down the worry at least 35-50%.

[Tudor]

I'll give it another go I guess. I have a microscope but it's not really ideal- the working distance is too close, so no room to get tools in. I may invest in a video system, which allows more room to work. BUT I can inspect and see that the slot is fully exposed.

I just want to complete the service and get this damn thing going. It is quite possible it was never serviced, but I can't know for sure.

Actually, what is the best method for getting the spring into the slot? I was thinking it could lie flat on the plate and slide across into the setting, but the lyre is wider than the "feet" (for lack of the correct term). So now, I have it upright, trying to slide the "feet" into the slot. Maybe that's not the best way to do it...

Edited December 30, 2020 by Tudor

[Nucejoe]

You are probably making this unneccessarily difficult trying to do it as the final assembly when every part is to get installed clean held and handled with tweezers.

I take the balance even regulator arm off the cock and dont care if touch or get the parts dirty,   instal the setting anyway you feel to have more control, then rinse again, let dry and lube.

Must say I think automatic oilers are a must have, you can oil assembled end stones with them. 

[Tudor]

I'm not worried about the cleaning- I can re-clean easily enough (and will need to since the main plate is open to the air while the tiny bits are under cover).

And I still need to disassemble to clean the old oil out of the shock assemblies, even if I had an auto-oiler. But, I have seriously considered the auto oiler in the past...

[mikepilk]

20 hours ago, Tudor said:

 

Actually, what is the best method for getting the spring into the slot? I was thinking it could lie flat on the plate and slide across into the setting, but the lyre is wider than the "feet" (for lack of the correct term). So now, I have it upright, trying to slide the "feet" into the slot. Maybe that's not the best way to do it...

The easiest way is as I describe above, with Rodico

Edited December 31, 2020 by mikepilk