Check List For For Watch Repair

[Karimn51]

I would like to share a check list made up by a master watchmaker. I take no credit for it, only think it would be helpful for us hobbyists. Here it is!

CHECK LIST

I decided to write up what is called a 16 point check that is meant to be a guide to steps required to service a watch this is slightly bias towards a wrist watch but very relevant to pocket watches also: This is a guide and not the definitive answer after going through it a few times add you own additional tests and observations. This is of course for a basic time only non-automatic or any with additional features, I also leave out things like demagnetizing, actual cleaning procedures, a good chunk of common sense needs to be applied also as I say its meant as a good starting point to a correct disciplined procedure,

This is version 1 may add or edit/delete later.

Check number 1

a Check the winding to see if the mainspring is broken.

b Check to see if the setting bridge or sleeve is broken by pulling the stem out and testing the proper snap of stem. A broken setting bridge/sleeve is easily detected

c. The balance wheel should be oscillated to see that it is true and the balance pivots should be checked by looking through the upper jewel to see that there is not a flash on the pivot.

d. The hairspring should be checked to see that it is not damaged.

e Check setting of hands

f. The watch should be looked over in every respect, paying particular attention to any rust spots that may appear on any part of the movement. When rust is evident around the stem or setting mechanism, it is most important to remove the dial and hands in order to check this mechanism to see if the rust is very extensive.

Check Number 2

a. Examine each part as it is being removed from the movement.

b. Check for rust on every part.

c. Check every pivot to see that it is not damaged or bent.

d. Check the jewels in the watch, to see that there are no cracked jewels.

e. Check pallet stones to see that they are not chipped or damaged.

f. When removing barrel cap, make sure that it snaps off only after sufficient pressure has been applied to it.

g. In the examination of each part, a close check is not made at this time as many of the parts will not be clean enough for that purpose. a much closer check will be made on the parts as each part is handled in the assembly of the watch

Check Number 3

a. Upon completion of cleaning and parts removed from the basket into the assembly tray, each part should be checked over with the use of a watchmaker’s loupe special attention should be paid to the jewels, because if there is gum oil still remaining on the jewels, the cleaning job was not done satisfactory . It is also worthwhile at this time to examine the pivots. If the jewels are clean, and the pinion leaves are clean, it is almost certain that the cleaning operation was performed effectively.

Check Number 4

a. Examine the condition of the mainspring.

b. Check the width, strength and length of the mainspring.

c.. If correct, replace mainspring using correct mainspring winding tool, not by hand

d. Check the lubrication of the mainspring if required

e. Check the fit of the mainspring around barrel arbor.

f. check the mainspring end for proper shape to catch in barrel.

g. Check the snap of the cap on barrel and replace in correct position

h. Check the end shake and side shake of barrel arbor is it also sometime recommended to do this without mainspring fitted to test for free run and end shake

i. Check the cleanliness of the barrel and barrel teeth.

j. Check the oiling of the barrel arbor after the cap is on.

k. Check the condition of the barrel teeth to see if they are bent or worn.

Check Number 5

a. Jewel holes must be cleaned with peg wood if necessary.

b. Jewels must be checked for chips or cracks.

c. Check the train wheel pivots for rust, polish, cuts and straightness.

d. Check the pinions for rust’, pits and polish.

e. Check the pivots for pitting check that clean pith wood is being used.

f. Check plates for tarnish, fingerprints, and polish jewel settings.

g. Assemble time train and check end shake and side shake.

h. Check wheels for trueness arid upright.

i. Lift each wheel with tweezers to check for end shake and to see if each wheel is free enough to fall back to its original position.

j. Spin train to see that is spins freely, in dial up, dial down and a vertical position.

Check Number 6

a. Replace barrel and barrel bridge and check the oiling of the barrel arbor upper and lower bearing.

b. Check oiling of crown wheel.

c. Replace ratchet wheel.

d. Note: do not oil remainder of movement until after kick-back is checked or cap jewels are present oil those now

e. Wind watch slightly to check kick-back and recoil. This check should be made in dial up and dial down positions. If the watch does not have kick¬back, this indicates that the train is not as free as it should be. First, however, before checking into the train itself to determine if there is some frictional error, it would be worthwhile to examine the mainspring around the barrel arbor. Many times the loose fit of the mainspring around the arbor will prevent kick-back from occurring within the train. In such instances, the arbor is simply slipped in the mainspring instead of the train receiving the reversal torque, that normally occurs. If the barrel is found to be satisfactory, then the train. should be checked to see if the trouble can be located. first, the train should be examined carefully to see if each wheel is free, and if no trouble can be found, then it is advisable to remove the train wheels from the watch and replace each wheel in the watch individually and to check the spin of each wheel. If each wheel spins freely, this indicates that the pivots and the jewels are in good condition and that one need not look further for defects or faults in those areas. Next, place two wheels at a time in the watch and check the spin of the wheels. Thus, any error of improper depthing or a badly formed tooth on a wheel or pinion will be detected. It is simply a process of elimination in order to locate the particular trouble, and of course, proper corrective measures must be taken to correct an error when one is found.

Check Number 7

a. Oil all the train jewels in the watch, and at this point it is advisable to oil also the balance jewels.

b. Check to see that there is a ring of oil around each train pivot and that the jewels are not over-oiled or under-oiled.

c. Check the jewels that have caps to see that the globule of oil has been formed properly between the flat cap and curved hole jewel and no keyhole shape if so remove re clean jewels and check seating the re oil and repeat check for perfect ring.

Check Number 8

a. Oil stem properly.

b. Oil friction parts of setting.

c. Oil wolf teeth of clutch wheel and winding pinion.

d. Oil clutch wheel groove.

e. Oil points on setting lever that contact the setting bridge or the clutch lever.

f. Never oil dial train. Note: ‘dial train means all wheels following center wheel staff.

g. Seek expert advice on some types of intermediate wheels connecting clutch at setting positions that require oil.

Check Number 9

a. Check condition of pallet arbor pivots.

b. Check for chipped or loose stones, shellac or gummed oil on pallet stones.

c. Check guard pin for straightness and proper shape.

d. Check polish of pallet arbor, pivots and fork slot.

e. Check end shake of pallet fork.

f. Check height of pallet stones in conjunction with escape wheel teeth.

g. Check matching stones.

h Check drop lock

i. Inside and outside drop.

j. Draw.

k. Hang-up of stones on escape wheel teeth.

Check Number 10

a. Check tightness of roller jewel in roller table - uprightness of roller jewel.

b. Check the height of the balance wheel in conjunction with the fork bridge and the center wheel.

c. Check the clearances.

d. Check the height of the guard pin in relation to safety roller.

e. Check the proper length of roller jewel and fit of roller jewel to fork slot.

f. Check the guard clearance.

g. Check the corner clearance.

h. Check the jewel pin shake.

i. Check the guard test,

j. Check the corner test.

Check Number 11.

a. Check the hairspring in-the-flat.

b. Check the hairspring in-the-round.

c. Check the quadrant of the hairspring to see that it is formed properly between the regulator pins and stud

d. Check for beat of the watch by equalizing the force to receiving and discharge pallets.

e. Check for the collet wobble.

f. Check for trueness of the balance wheel, and for the flash of the balance pivots

g. Check for trueness of roller table.

Check Number 12

a. Place the watch on the timing machine and take a rate in the dial down position, then turn the movement over to dial up position and take a rate. There are three things that should be observed from the rate that was taken:

1. Dial up should indicate the same time as dial down.

2. Observe the closeness of the lines to determine if the watch is in perfect beat.

3. Observe how the watch is running in reference to the time error over a 24-hour period.

b. Adjust the mean time rate of the watch so that the dial up and dial down positions will record on time. Do not move the regulator more than one degree in adjusting the mean time rate. Any other alteration must be made by adjusting mean time screws or by adding or removing weight from the balance wheel in such a manner as not to affect poise, static or dynamic,.

c. If the rates in dial up arid dial down are found to be different from one another, then this indicates a mechanical error in the watch which must be traced out before proceeding.

d. If the watch is found to be out-of-beat, then of course, it should be put r in proper beat at this time. We might emphasize that if the watch was put in proper beat in accordance with the proper procedure at the bench, then an out-of-beat condition or minimal amount would not be indicated on the timing machine.

e. When the above conditions have been satisfied, the next step would be to take a rate in positions and errors corrected. If everything has proved to be satisfactory, the watch should be tested for isochronal test be made on the timing machine, which consists of

re-testing at different winding levels and rate in the dial up position.

Check Number 13

a. Check for proper lubrication of cannon pinion on center post.

b. When replacing the cannon pinion, be sure that the leaves of the cannon pinion do not come down on top of the minute wheel teeth so as to bend the teeth of the minute wheel.

c. Check tightness of. cannon pinion

d. Check to see that cannon pinion does not ride up when watch is being set. and smooth consistent operation.

Check Number 14

a Make sure that the hands are fitted securely to the parts to which they are attached

b. Make sure that the hands are adjusted so that there is equal space between the hands and the hands are set as close to the dial as possible.

c. Check to be sure that the hands are shaped to the contour of the dial.

d. Check to see that\ the hands are positioned so that they are synchronized with one another.

Check Number 15

a. If there is no case for the movement, simply disregard this check and proceed with the next check, number 16.

b. Check for proper snap/screw back of the case.

c. Check for the clearance of the hands under the crystal.

d. Check the crystal to see that it is securely fitted into the case.

e. Check to see that the crown is next to the stem and reasonably close to the case.

f. Check for tightness of movement in case.

g. Check the spring bars to see that proper spring bars are used for the particular type of case so that the band is held securely to the case.

h. Check the lug holes to see that they have not been worn badly by the spring bars to a point where the hole may break through and allow the spring bar to come out of place.

Check Number 16

a. Set the watch on time with a master clock.

b. Let the watch run for a period of 24 hours and check the error in the time repeat in several positions.

c. Allow the watch to run until it completely runs down and check the length of run. The watch should run a minimum of 30 hours, preferably 40 hours, if it is in “A.

I have no answers to any of the steps since I didn't make this up. Maybe Mark might.

[Geo]

Very comprehensive, thank you for sharing. :-)

[mwilkes]

Excellent

[frenchie]

I just printed this, thank you !!!

[PhilB]

As a newbie I have no idea what the vast majority of this means. I have saved it to Evernote for later tho. Thanks

[bobm12]

Nice and comprehensive list, thanks!

[Lourival]

Very usefull for a newbie like me!!! :goodjob:

Thanks a lot.

Regards from Brazil!

Lourival

[Geo]

Regards form Brazil!

Lourival

Welcome to the forum Lourival, we sure are a multi-national bunch on here!

[bobm12]

Ola e bem vindo to the forum Lourival!

[brunomartins]

Great check list.
I am still not sure how to properly check the condition of pivot or staff tips (how the condition should be).
Another point is the prohibitive indication to not put back the mainspring manually. Does it always require the winding tool? I mean those tools use to be way expensive, above a lot of good watches.

[Shane]

brunomartins,

Thanks for kicking this back into the conversation.  I had previously missed this.  I have saved it as a link and will print this off as a PDF and paper copy once back at work.

Thanks to Karimn51 for the effort as well.

Shane 

 

Edited August 18, 2022 by Shane

[Mark]

On 8/18/2022 at 9:43 PM, Shane said:

Thanks for kicking this back into the conversation

I have now pinned the thread

[BillM]

Thank you, I’ll be printing this. 

[rossjackson01]

On 9/1/2014 at 9:08 AM, PhilB said:

As a newbie I have no idea what the vast majority of this means. I have saved it to Evernote for later tho. Thanks

PhilB

You have a wonderful journey ahead. Come on in, the waters fine.

[RichardHarris123]

Very comprehensive and useful.  Thanks. 

[OTH]

Great stuff.

[GotTheTime]

Wow, this place is great!  
 

  Thank you so much for sharing this list, it will be very helpful to build a “service routine” like I have when I am checking a car over for maintenance at work. 
 

one quick question tho, is the last sentence of step 16 cut off?  The one about checking run time. 
 

thanks again!

Edited February 5, 2024 by GotTheTime

[Gracia]

Wow, this list is fantastic! I have a question about "checking if the pointer positions are in sync" - how do I know if they are in sync or not when the difference is not very obvious?

[rjenkinsgb]

2 hours ago, Gracia said:

I have a question about "checking if the pointer positions are in sync" - how do I know if they are in sync or not when the difference is not very obvious?

Hand positions? (No mention of pointer).

Just set it to 12:00 and see if it looks correct - if the hands line up correctly with the 12:00 index point when you examine them closely, it should be good for whoever uses it in the future.

[tomh207]

I check alignment of hands at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock just because it seems to make sense to me, ymmv.

 

Tom

[Daveuk]

Really useful thank you

[AndrewR]

What a great list. Good for you for sharing it here.

[CYCLOPS]

good lists, you will with time be able to observe/do a lot of those things mentioned quickly....