Rolex caliber 3035 won't start after service.

[Gaus]

Hello watchfriends, I have serviced (new mainspring) a Rolex 3035. But it won't start. If I give the balancewheel a little puf of air, it runs very nice (yesterday for 14 hours), but then it stops. this morning I gave it bit of air again, and it starts running again. When it's running the performance looks reasonable on the timegrapher (beat error 0.2 and amplitude 245, not adjusted).  On the timegrapher the amplitude goes to 245, then dops to 200 en again goes to 245. 

What could cause this problem? The escapement? Thank you all in advance for suggestions. Gr. Hans

[mikepilk]

How did you clean it? 

2 hours ago, Gaus said:

 On the timegrapher the amplitude goes to 245, then dops to 200 en again goes to 245. 

Over what time period ?

The amplitude is low for such a watch.  

[JohnR725]

one of the things that always helps us when evaluating the condition of your watch is history? In other words it was X years in the last time to service the watch and just generally serviced it or the watch was having a problem which conceivably it still having the same problem? then of course what was the condition of the watch like and I don't suppose you had it on the timing machine before you serviced it?

 

[Gaus]

Hello, the owner bought the watch in 1987. The watch wasn't service since. I disassembled the watch, cleaned the parts first bij hand and after that with the Elma cleaning machine. Then I put it together again using de different moebius oils and grease.  I had it on the timingmachine and I remember an amplitude of 158. 

[JohnR725]

5 hours ago, Gaus said:

bought the watch in 1987. The watch wasn't service since.

one of the problems with a watch like typically a Rolex is that it sealed up and the customer can't see what's going on at all. So a watch that should be serviced every around 5 to 7 years hasn't been serviced for 37 years I wonder if anything could wear out?

if you talk to people working Rolex service centers you find that as standard operating practice they replace a lot of things. Of course they have a infinite supply of things they can replace we do not. So 37 years I wonder if anything is worn out?

14 hours ago, Gaus said:

n the timegrapher the amplitude goes to 245, then dops to 200 en again goes to 245. 

What could cause this problem? The escapement?

we really need a time reference how fast does this occur or how slow? This will give us a direction of where the problem is occurring as this is not supposed to occur and more than likely it's not the escapement but it could be.

Also when it's on the timing machine do you check it in more than one position and what's it doing 24 hours later preferably more than one position?

One of the problems with 3035 Rolex watches they are older and they can have issues. Like for instance here's an interesting video the 3035 that had lots and lots and lots of issues.

https://youtu.be/6RREIP1hmJ4?si=V2JkRK9U2s8mDhWv

 

 

 

[Gaus]

Hello again, thanks for the help and advise. I found out that the problem was the endshake of the escapewheel. After I adjusted it, the watch runs very nice and at this moment for 48 hours. 

[Nucejoe]

 You have a chance to check shakes ( and other checkings ) as you are disassembling, you then have the chance to see a fault right then, investigate the cause !   fix the issue  and re-adjust. 

 When working on  a Seiko 5 , I am not risking much, if I tear the movement  over and again, same isn't true if its a Rolex, each time you put a screwdriver to a screw, your inflicting some wear to it, remove/ replacing other parts are not exempt either. 

I keep telling this to my teachers, just doesn't sink in..

Rgds

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2024 by Nucejoe
Typo

[Gaus]

Nucejoe, you're absolutely right, that was my mistake.