AS2066 balance staff jewel cap spring adjustment

[Dmitry]

Newby hobbyist here.

Working on AS2066 and facing an issue. The top cap jewel is held in place by some type of a washer with three teeth. I have seen AS2066 with typical incablocks, but this contraption ain't it. It rotates around, but there seems to be no way of yanking it out.

I cannot figure out how to remove or adjust this spring to keep the cap tightly pressed against the lower jewel.

Any help is appreciated.

[Neverenoughwatches]

7 hours ago, Dmitry said:

Newby hobbyist here.

Working on AS2066 and facing an issue. The top cap jewel is held in place by some type of a washer with three teeth. I have seen AS2066 with typical incablocks, but this contraption ain't it. It rotates around, but there seems to be no way of yanking it out.

I cannot figure out how to remove or adjust this spring to keep the cap tightly pressed against the lower jewel.

Any help is appreciated.

Pretty sure this is a swiss ruby neutro shock, your picture is not clear enough but there aren't many like this stupid design. Vibrax is another but the catalogue shows a steel cap. Ive stripped a similar one down which i think is from a citizen,  japan also used some neutro shock types. Clipping off the stud holder releases the regulator arm then you can get in with a sharp blade to prise the setting out of the cock. This is about as far as you can go with disassembly unless you want to risk bending up the spring prongs . Getting them pressed back down tight over the cap will be near impossible. I thought the setting had a seam at the bottom end that might press apart, so i gave it a go . It came apart but nevet to be reassembled, split in half and from inside there is no seam so everything goes in from the front. Personally i would break it down to the setting and flush it out best you can then push oil in from the underside with a whisker. Of course yours may not be identical, so post more pictures as you strip it down.

[Nucejoe]

The primary reason I unloc the setting is to check the jewels for damage.

So with the jewels in place, clean in ultrasonic machine, then if the oscilator is happy with the jewels ; ie  oscilating freely for at least 30 second with a mild blow from puffer,  call the jewels clean and undamged. 

This setting is no worse than rub-in ones, just as bad.

Good luck.

[MechanicMike]

On 3/2/2024 at 6:24 AM, Neverenoughwatches said:

Pretty sure this is a swiss ruby neutro shock, your picture is not clear enough but there aren't many like this stupid design. Vibrax is another but the catalogue shows a steel cap. Ive stripped a similar one down which i think is from a citizen,  japan also used some neutro shock types. Clipping off the stud holder releases the regulator arm then you can get in with a sharp blade to prise the setting out of the cock. This is about as far as you can go with disassembly unless you want to risk bending up the spring prongs . Getting them pressed back down tight over the cap will be near impossible. I thought the setting had a seam at the bottom end that might press apart, so i gave it a go . It came apart but nevet to be reassembled, split in half and from inside there is no seam so everything goes in from the front. Personally i would break it down to the setting and flush it out best you can then push oil in from the underside with a whisker. Of course yours may not be identical, so post more pictures as you strip it down.

Yep, that's the little beastie. And you saved me alot of trouble because I was going to try and dig in and figure it out. Nope. I'm gonna oil in situ and call it good. Many thanks again. 

On 3/2/2024 at 7:24 AM, Nucejoe said:

The primary reason I unloc the setting is to check the jewels for damage.

So with the jewels in place, clean in ultrasonic machine, then if the oscilator is happy with the jewels ; ie  oscilating freely for at least 30 second with a mild blow from puffer,  call the jewels clean and undamged. 

This setting is no worse than rub-in ones, just as bad.

Good luck.

Neverenoughwatches brought me here and I'm glad he did.

So I had sent both of them thru my ultrasonic after I had inspected them under my scope; they looked fine. After 2nd look I'll oil thru the hole jewel and call it good, and see how the balance spins. Thanks!

Not one of the Swiss's better ideas IMHO.