Jump to content

Help With A Loose Vintage Minute Hand.

chrisbuxton27
 Share

Recommended Posts

chrisbuxton27 Watch Enthusiast

chrisbuxton27

Posted
Posted

Can anyone advise me on how to reduce the hole size of a vintage minute hand. The hand is flatl and through age and wear is loose on the minute wheel arbor. I have a comprehensive staking set but don't know which to use.. Thanks

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

I've just received my staking set (this morning, still in the box, waiting for me at home) and I would like to know how to do that too!!! Thank you in advance.

chrisbuxton27 Watch Enthusiast

chrisbuxton27

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Never had a problem with the hour and seconds hands, I just use the same technique as for tightening a cannon pinion. Just drop it down a broach good side up and give the shaft a little squeeze with blunt nail clippers.

bobm12 Distinguished Member

bobm12

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the tip, may I ask what broaches you find more useful. I'm about to order some but I'm not sure where to start.

clockboy Distinguished Member

clockboy

Posted
Posted

A controlled nip is required. For this reason I put them in a lathe collet and GENTLY tighten. It is really,really easy to go to far. You can use a broach but I recommend you put the broach in a vice so you have total control. 

chrisbuxton27 Watch Enthusiast

chrisbuxton27

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Clockboy the type of minute hand I mean has no stem just a flat hand with a hole to push onto the minute wheel. So there is nothing to place in the lathe collet. I'm thinking a stake of some shape to to close the gap slightly but not sure which would do it. Maybe a stake used for setting jewel stones would do it but that's something I've not tried either.

clockboy Distinguished Member

clockboy

Posted
Posted

Ok sorry did not read the post correctly. However I recommend to get hold of the Cousins catalogue and browse it.

There are lots of hands available , different styles etc.  You will need to know length,width hole size etc. Too small is Ok because you can broach the hole out to fit but to big I really don,t know a way around it. Using a staking set punch might be to much for a delicate hand. The cleaver boys (not me) would make another arbour with a fatter shaft or thin the minute arbour and put a sleeve on. But you need a watchmakers lathe and lots of skill which I do not possess.

Geo Distinguished Member

Geo

Posted
Posted

Clockboy the type of minute hand I mean has no stem just a flat hand with a hole to push onto the minute wheel.

A very gentle tap with a round nose stake should do the trick.

  • Like 2
Charlie WRT Addict

Charlie

Posted
Posted

On a proper staking set you will find several hole reducing punches. The five blued punches with round polished ends are the ones I use to re-size hands. Smaller seconds hands as found on sub-seconds dials with tiny tubes I do with my set of pin vises. There are also other ways to accomplish this task, but I find these punches work well for me. I will post a photo shortly.

  • Like 1
Charlie WRT Addict

Charlie

Posted
Posted

Geo got it right, a light tap on the mandrel with the handle removed from the jeweling tool, using one of the above punches or similar will do it.

  • Like 2
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Neverenoughwatches
      Diy rotary cleaning machine

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      To add to this unusual cleaning idea, there is another type of device whereby the internal spinning parts that move through the fluid are not physically connected to the motor.  The internal whisk is propelled via a magnetic connection, so no damaged gaskets due to solvent contamination. 
    • Neverenoughwatches
      Tissot case back removal

      By Neverenoughwatches · Posted

      This is a method that Jon uses, and has posted a video of performing it somewhere .
    • Mercurial
      Etachron regulation system

      By Mercurial · Posted

      Did you watch the whole video? Once Alex has set the stud, he first corrects the best error, then checks that the hairspring coils are breathing concentrically, then turns the stud to centre the hairspring between the open regulator pins.  He then checks that the regulator can traverse the terminal curve without disturbing the hairspring. A correction is needed, which he performs.  He then reinstalls the balance and re-centres the hairspring between the regulator pins, and verifies that the regulator traverses the terminal curve without disturbing the hairspring.  Finally, he demonstrates how to close the gap between pins.  He then recaps the whole process, fleshing out more detail. If you follow this process, you have correctly set up the regulator pins, and are ready to set the rate of the watch.  If you are interested in learning more about the effects of the regulator pin spacing on positional rates etc, you can read any literature regarding regulator pins. The etachron system makes adjusting beat, centering the hairspring between the regulator pins and adjusting the gap between the pins very convenient, but the same rules that apply to old style regulator pins apply to the etachron system.  This video explains the basics :    I hope that helps, Mark
    • Klassiker
      Etachron regulation system

      By Klassiker · Posted

      Some photos of the angles you are talking about, and the changes you are seeing to coil spacing etc. would be really useful. Part of your problem could be that you are closing the pins too far and pinching the hairspring. Adjusting the pin separation should not affect amplitude. Nor should it change the coil separation.
    • VWatchie
      Rolex cal. 3135 issues

      By VWatchie · Posted

      Did you try it on a Rolex ref. 16600 specifically? Congrats on the nice condition of the movement in your watch. Even so, remember to check the rotor play or those marks around the main plate may start to build up.
×
×
  • Create New...