Omega Speedsonic, ESA9210/Omega 1255 batt leak and corrosion.

[Alastair]

I recently bought a ESA 9210 powered Omega Speedsonic chronograph in a rather sad state. the Oscillator deck of this one is horribly discoloured and blackened in places, the battery strap screw is broken off on the main plate below the osc deck.

Just to see what was possible with this one, I removed the oscillator plate to see the main plate below. This had faired a little better, having gone a light rainbow colour and not heavily corroded thankfully.
I decided to check the oscillator plate, resonator, coils, index etc. The coils amazingly had continuity and of the correct resistances, resonator is clean, index is dull tarnished colour.
I gave the plate and the rest a clean--which didn't really clean it much, but built it back up with at least clean jewels and fresh 9010 for index and second..

It wouldnt run, even though the coils passed resistance checks, no oscillation, no hum very low current drain of 3uA.

Replaced the RC coil, It wouldn't run, still only 3uA.

Replaced the TR coil, now we had life, it runs, and taking 6uA, Strange, the original TR coil checks fine so does the transistor but just wont work.

I reinstalled the osc deck back to the watch, and jury-rigged a makeshift battery strap--my thinking is to assess the general operation (or not) of the rest of the movement, particularly the Chrono stages, prior to tearing into it for real. Ive read many a story of the chrono decks of these movements and would rather not have to pull that apart....

Well, The watch runs and keeps time, however on starting the chrono, will run for 5-10 seconds then stop, reset/flyback works as it should, the constant seconds display stays running when chrono stops, so looks like we got to tear into its devils-doings, the chronograph deck, with its weird vertical clutches and other oddities!....

[Geo]

Now this is a renovation I will be following!  Remember to take plenty pictures and post them for others to see.

[Alastair]

Its a renovation that I'm both dreading and looking forward to! I just need to devote a whole day for assessment and disassembly etc, and now I have a reasonable camera can do a photo-shoot of the proceedings...

The heavily stained osc plate will prob have to be replaced, I doubt those marks, corrosion and stains can be removed.

--With any luck, an osc plate from a normal Omega 1250 will be the same, as I have one here in another watch, the makers plate is sadly missing from the stained 1255 anyway, at least a nice shiny one from a 1250 is better than none, will have to see...

[rogart63]

They should be the same. Have a non working movement somewhere? No plate on this either? With a osc plate that looks okay. And the bottom plate is good also. I think?  Interested? PM. 

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Z2xlYXZlYW5kY28uY29tfHRlY2huaWNhbHxneDo3MGU1MmQyYjFiZGUwMzAy

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=Z2xlYXZlYW5kY28uY29tfHRlY2huaWNhbHxneDo2ZWE0M2ZmNWU1MGRmYzdi

Edited April 4, 2017 by rogart63

[RyMoeller]

On 4/2/2017 at 11:50 PM, Geo said:

Now this is a renovation I will be following!  Remember to take plenty pictures and post them for others to see.

Absolutely agree.  This should be an interesting service.