Lubrication of winding pinion teeth and clutch (sliding pinion) teeth - yes or no?

[Barnaby]

This is a question about the lubrication of 2 particular sites- whether to or not. It is NOT a question about which lubricant to use.

The sites are:

 

1. the  spikey teeth of the clutch (not the flat teeth that engage with the winding pinion)

2. the teeth of the winding pinion

 

In the image I've drawn green arrows to show where I mean.

ETA and Seiko tech manuals indicate that you should lubricate these 2 sites.

I have serviced hundreds of movements and never lubricated either of them.

Mark does not lubricate either (according to his videos of ETA 2824 service and AS 1900 service)

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

[praezis]

I didn't lubricate them, too. But considering the less perfect meshing of those teeth and axes at right angles, it might be a good idea.

Frank

[nickelsilver]

We were taught in school to lubricate the clutch teeth, the angled "Breguet teeth", but not the others. I imagine that oiling the teeth on the winding pinion wouldn't be an issue, but oiling the teeth of the sliding pinion that engage the setting wheels would spread oil all the way to the canon pinion. But if the tech guide says do it, do it.

[JohnR725]

7 hours ago, nickelsilver said:

spread oil all the way to the canon pinion. But if the tech guide says do it, do it.

thinking about spreading the oil maybe were supposed to use something to prevent that? I went quickly looked at Rolex, eta and omega snipped out the relevant images. You can see some do some don't . Typically on any of the newer ETA stuff you'll see that weird little symbol indicating surface treating.  omega now recommends that almost everything in the watches surface treat. I think is only a couple of things don't surface treat.

[Paul80]

Being new to watches but an old engineer by trade I follow the old rule of all metal to metal moving surfaces need lubrication, if it spins use oil, if it rubs or slides use grease, so I grease all the above parts, I use the dark blue Mobeus one (can't remember the number and not at my bench).

 

Paul

[JohnR725]

37 minutes ago, Paul80 said:

Being new to watches but an old engineer by trade I follow the old rule of all metal to metal moving surfaces need lubrication,

what about gears? We have a gear train in the watch that's metal on metal should the gears be lubricated?

[oldhippy]

1 hour ago, JohnR725 said:

what about gears? We have a gear train in the watch that's metal on metal should the gears be lubricated?

Yes they should, depending on what type of movement will depend on what type of oil, you don't use the same watch oil for the train as you use on the escapement. 

This will help you.

https://www.leosics.co.uk/moebius-application-chart.html