Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hello all,

I joined I think several months ago and did an intro and since then have acquired some tools and signed up for Mark Lovick's course on watchfix.com.

I've just started disassembling the ST36 movement and took the hands off successfully as well as the cannon pinion.  Well, the pinion came off with a puller but then shot off never to be found.  I didn't fully realize until then how small these parts really are.  Good thing I ordered two movements.

My question is how you put it back on.  I ordered a couple hands installation hand tools but for the pinion what's the best way to proceed?  I've seen YT videos where people use tweezers and just push and I think somebody used a pin vice hand tool.  I have also read that you have to be careful to push straight down or you could break the shaft.  Additionally I read that you may want to support the jewel at the other side of the movement or you could pop it out.

I know that you can use a staking set but that seems overkill for just that purpose.  I can see a staking set in my future but for now I'd like to proceed without it.  So much to learn...

Thanks in advance.

 

Vic

Posted

It's amazing how much bigger the parts get after you've worked with them a while. A canon pinion on an ST36 is huge in comparison to other parts I've sprung from my bench and yet miraculously found. The canon pinion in general is just a friction fit and shouldn't require all that much pressure to put back. If you're pushing hard enough to pop out the jewel, you are either pushing way too hard or the jewel wasn't set properly. In any case, a firm push with a good set of tweezers should be all it takes. If it required a special tool, you can be assured Bergeon or Horotec would already have their hands in your pocket.  😉 

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

Yes, I use a pair of thick tweezers. You don't have the same risk of damage as with say a seconds pinion or a friction fit wheel since you are usually installing on a thick post or larger hour wheel. Plus the resistance is usually only felt towards the end once you have maneuvered the pinion into place...

Edited by rehajm
Posted

tweezers typically should work fine. There is one thing you do want to pay attention to end that would be ideally the minute wheel should not be in place. Sometimes it has to be there but it would be nice if it wasn't there. The reason for this is when you're snapping it on if the minute wheel is there it's possible to bend a minute wheel teeth which I've seen on minute wheels were the teeth are bent. Or worst-case you can actually shear one of the teeth off of the pinion. Yes I did that once I wasn't really happy some always mindful of your popping it in and the minute wheel is there make sure it has some place to go and doesn't damage something.

 

  • Like 1
Posted

Hi like the rest of the guys I use tweezers, usually works ok,  A little tip is to put the watch in a large clear plastic bag when removing or fitting parts that are likely to disappear.  So get the magnet out and sweep the floor with it, failing that a pair of the wife’s tights on the end of the Vac Tube makes a good filter.   Good luck

 

Posted
19 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

tweezers typically should work fine. There is one thing you do want to pay attention to end that would be ideally the minute wheel should not be in place. Sometimes it has to be there but it would be nice if it wasn't there. The reason for this is when you're snapping it on if the minute wheel is there it's possible to bend a minute wheel teeth which I've seen on minute wheels were the teeth are bent. Or worst-case you can actually shear one of the teeth off of the pinion. Yes I did that once I wasn't really happy some always mindful of your popping it in and the minute wheel is there make sure it has some place to go and doesn't damage something.

John, good tip.  I'll add that to my checklist.  How are things in Seattle?  I grew up there and retired from Boeing and moved to Georgia.

Thanks.

19 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

 

 

18 hours ago, watchweasol said:

Hi like the rest of the guys I use tweezers, usually works ok,  A little tip is to put the watch in a large clear plastic bag when removing or fitting parts that are likely to disappear.  So get the magnet out and sweep the floor with it, failing that a pair of the wife’s tights on the end of the Vac Tube makes a good filter.   Good luck

 

Hmmm, how big a bag?  I'm trying to envision how that works, having to see through the bag and manipulate the tool.  But it sounds like a good idea.

I did the magnet thing but not the stocking idea 🙂

Posted
22 minutes ago, linux said:

John, good tip.  I'll add that to my checklist.  How are things in Seattle?  I grew up there and retired from Boeing and moved to Georgia.

Thanks.

 

Hmmm, how big a bag?  I'm trying to envision how that works, having to see through the bag and manipulate the tool.  But it sounds like a good idea.

I did the magnet thing but not the stocking idea 🙂

A ziplock bag, its clear so you will able to see what you are doing ok. A CP removal tool on the outside would also  give the cannon pinion a little membrane protection and grip. I cant say I've ever used the idea but it sounds a good solution to lost parts.

Posted
4 hours ago, linux said:

How are things in Seattle?

Seattle used to be such a nice place but now the politicians have had their way and have destroyed the city. fortunately I'm only a couple of blocks from the northern border side barely have to drive into the city at all. Which is painfully slow by the way as they decided for safety reasons that the speed limit should be 25 almost everywhere in the city. so basically streets that used to be between 30 and 40 are now 25 and residential streets are even slower. But don't worry as all the police officers have left for variety reasons your chances of getting a speeding ticket are nonexistent.

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Posted
31 minutes ago, LittleWatchShop said:

I always put a dab of molykote grease on the post before installing.  Not sure anybody ever told me to do that, so maybe I am wrong.

I prefer 9504 for the lubrication. I was going to mention that yesterday but conveniently the tech sheet I had didn't really show a clear image of that so I just let it slide.

Then in some other discussion group there was a very heated argument between me and somebody else as to whether you do that at all. He had book evidence or at least mention the author who said you do not because you need friction. But everybody else in the group was agreeing with me that they use grease before putting the cannon pinion on.

 

  • Like 1
Posted
6 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

I always put a dab of molykote grease on the post before installing.  Not sure anybody ever told me to do that, so maybe I am wrong.

Yeah, I saw that on a video a couple days ago, thanks.

6 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

Seattle used to be such a nice place but now the politicians have had their way and have destroyed the city...

I've heard that.  I lived in Broadview at about 124th and 3rd, far enough away where there wasn't much crime but after living there for nearly 60 years the rain finally wore me down in addition to the taxes.  Summers are brutal in the south but the other 3 seasons can't be beat.

 

 

 

  • Like 2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Tool for removing or pressing the bezel? Most likely you have to remove the bezel (with a knife) before removing old crystal or inserting a new one. You can press the bezel with the crystal press if you have a suitable die with straight walls or otherwise a die that has enough clearance that it doesn't touch the crystal when pressing the bezel.
    • This will be my first crystal replacement, I have a press, but looking at the watch I wonder if I might need a bezel tool also. Any and all help appreciated. 
    • I'm not entirely sure you fully understand what he's doing in the video. For one thing he's giving examples of things like about 16 minutes he talks about opening up the regulator just a little bit. Opening up the regulator slows the watch down to compensate for that he moves the regulator fast and now it's keeping time again but the regulator pins are too far apart. I have an image down below on top of it shows the effect of regulator pins and amplitude. If the regulator pins are farther apart than the example down below then at a higher amplitude timekeeping will be much worse. Why the regulator pins are supposed to be adjusted as an average rule approximately twice the thickness of the mainspring itself. In other words if you look at the spacing it have one half of the hairspring thickness on either side of the hairspring itself. There is like he talks about the video a little bit of adjustment here and there. So in his example where he opened them up it will really dramatically screw up timekeeping based on amplitude. Then when you get to the 20 some minutes like you say he is adjusting the regulator pins closer together to get a more even timekeeping based on amplitude and amplitude changes are caused by going to various positions. Then and the other example of the image down below regulator pins too far apart and they hairspring is not centered and look what that does the timekeeping. So hairspring is supposed to be centered regulator pins are supposed to properly spaced. Then you get reasonably even timekeeping like it shows in the upper image. It's not like we're regulating out positional errors like poising errors because that's something entirely different.   In the part number above and in the video both of you left off details. I which version of either of your watches I will just make you's timing specifications for your watch down below may specify how you're supposed to do it other words you wind up the watch fully wound up you wait 10 to 60 minutes in the four positions it should be within 60 seconds. Yes it can be closer but you may not actually get zero.     Now let's compare with the 2892 and see where we might have a discrepancy. First off we have a problem of which one is a using did he use the chronometer grade 1 or the top grade or what?  None is basically just much tighter timing tolerances. So when he's using an example watch conceivably might be a chronometer grade watch then things are going to be much more  perfect than what you're going to see.       NH35_TG.pdf ETA 2892-A2 Manufacturing info.pdf
    • Note the 8992 is 850 pounds for a liter. I think this is really for industrial settings like they say, where it would be used as a final bath in a 20,000 buck cleaning machine. I use the 8981.   That is excellent- I don't often get to see a serviced watch 5 years later, but when I do I expect to see pretty much the same oiling on the balance jewels as when it went out. I think at that area, being essentially sealed, it really should remain fairly pristine for likely 10 years. It's why some makers go to the trouble to use cap jewels on the escape wheel as well- not so much for friction reduction, but to keep the oil longer where it really counts.
×
×
  • Create New...