kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 (edited) Hi. I've got a Breitling SOSF which I've had for a couple of years, it was one of the early "Super Reps". It's been serviced, regulated, lumed etc and it's been my daily wear for ages. The problem I have is that I went to adjust it a while ago and the entire crown and stem just pulled out. It's always been very tight to screw the crown back in but now it's just out. It's been so long since I got it that I can't even remember exactly what the movement is, but as a picture tells a thousand words, here's a picture... I've not no watchsmiths near me, is there any way I can easily put the stem back in? I'm afraid I'm a complete layman when it comes to this sort of thing but I'm willing to give it a try with instructions. I'd hate for this watch to end up just sitting in the box because of this problem, so please, can anyone help me? Thanks. Edited October 2, 2009 by kasigi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 It looks like a Selita SW200 movement. It's essentially an ETA 2824. If the keyless works aren't botched, you should just be able to reinsert it, turning slowly while pressing in the stem in a tightening (clockwise) direction. With an A7750 movement, you have to press the stem release button while you reinsert the stem, but you shouldn't have to on the SW 200. From HERE: "...quite the contrary. imho the 2824 has possibly the pickiest keyless works i have ever dealt with. anytime a movement is giving me an issue with stem re-insertion I usually try this: Try pressing down on the stem release button when re-inserting it all while giving the stem an every so gentle twist. This usually helps you realign the stem with the sliding pinion. hope that helps" ...this is not likely the proper way, as from what I understand, the Sellita does not have the stem release button pressed on re-insertion. Any watchmaker should be able to reinsert it for you...it's a Swiss movement...so no worry about them needing to be rep-friendly...just tell them you have a Sellita SW 200 that needs a stem reinsertion if you have to do it. You can go to SELLITA for technical info on the movement. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 I have tried the turning while holding in but it hasn't worked - It either just turns continually or the thread catches and it starts screwing down. In my limited knowledge from reading here over the years, the words 'keyless works' and 'stem release button' did spring to mind. I've tried to find watchmakers near me, there simply are none. The only ones are the battery changing and link changing types Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Pressing the stem release button may reset the keyless works if it was just jiggled out...otherwise, you have to dive into the thing. Where are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 I'm in Essex, on the east coast of the UK. I'm game to try the button thing, if I knew where it was! Thanks for the help with this, it's really appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dudemeister Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Looks like an ETA movement (2824-2 or 2836-2). What I found is that simply pushing the crown in doesn't work most of the time. However, if you are slowly tuning the crown clockwise while your're pushing it in, it eventually snaps in past the locking spring. So try that. Don't force it, but you still have to apply some pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 How far out is it likely to be when (if) it snaps past the locking spring? I'm guessing most of the way in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Looks like an ETA movement (2824-2 or 2836-2). Look at the SW200 stamping...it's the Sellita SW 200...which is a clone of the 2824-2...HAH HAH...a Swiss clone of the Swiss movement. Oy...will wonders never cease. When you first insert the stem, you need to turn slowly as you start pushing it in. You should feel some parts start to engage when the stem gets properly aligned with the gears of the works. When you feel contact/engaging, that's when you push in a little more and turn. If you push in and turn before the stem is engaged in the gears, you'll just reach the thread matching between crown and tube and screw the crown on...you need to engage the stem with the gears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Nearly! The minute hand just moved from 3 to 2 as I was turning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 At least you're getting it to the time setting position...play around with it for a bit...don't force anything, you might not have it in the right position quite yet. I'm no watchsmit...so hopefully some of the more experienced folks can chime in and answer this with better technological understanding than I!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Getting frustrated now, a couple of times I've had the hands winding but no matter how slowly I turn and gently I put pressure on, it just goes in past that point without locking. I've turned the hands a good few revolutions like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Can't help you beyond this...maybe somebody with watchmaking experience can chime in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Hope so, thanks for your help though - I'm sure that I'm close. I just realised this should have been in Watch Repair & Upgrade, I wonder if it can be moved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 I've now got it to the stage where I can wind the watch, but it's still not engaging. I'd drive a couple of hours tomorrow to get this fixed if I knew of a reputable person who would be prepared to work on it for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Where are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Where are you located? I'm in Essex, on the east coast of the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted October 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2009 I found a local watchmaker who's taking a look at this for me, yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.