automatico Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 I see many posts about doa replicas in need of simple repairs. You can save a lot of $$ by learning the basics... I would advise anyone who plans to keep their replicas or tends to accumulate a collection to learn how to: 1...remove the movement from the case 2...remove the hands and dial...without damage! 3...reinstall the dial, hands, and movement...without damage! 4...learn to install stems, crowns, crystals, gaskets etc The reasons for numbers 1 through 3 are so you can exchange complete movements or take the bare movement to a repair shop. Many repair guys will clean and oil an Eta 28xxx out of the watch without a dial for $50 or $75 but will not touch one in a replica. They might ask $150 or more to c/o the exact same movement in a name brand watch...Bulova, Mido etc. As for Asian '21 jewelers'...they are really not worth paying to have one repaired but they are fairly easy to take apart and clean and oil. They are cheap enough that if you screw something up, keep it for parts and wait until another one needs working on. If you learn how to work on '21 jewelers' you can easily move on to Etas etc. The 21's are very good to learn about cleaning and oiling balance jewels and handling cap jewels, shock springs etc. Besides...watch repair is a good rainy day hobby and if you master 21's and 28xxx Etas, you will always have something to do and maybe make a little $$. To get started: Rodico! hand pullers hand setters case wrenches set of screwdrivers bottle of Jack Daniels headband magnifier or loupe small and mid size pin wrenches book on basic watch repair that includes automatics and calendars cheapo non magnetic 3C tweezers and cheapo general purpose tweezers light watch oil, heavy watch oil, watch grease, silicon grease for gaskets etc (long time forum member 'Offshore' has most of this stuff) ps: I can understand if anyone does not know what Rodico is but they better know what Jack Daniels is. It's made a few miles down the road from here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woof* Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Great! I have most of this stuff, but what are pin wrenches? Also, that is a great idea to take the movements out to take to a watchmaker for service! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted March 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 "I have most of this stuff, but what are pin wrenches?" Aka 'pin vice' etc...a small pencil shaped tool with a screw down collet to grip small round objects such as stems etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woof* Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Ahh thanks automatico! I've got those too...now if I can learn not press too hard on that tiny button...screwing up the keyless! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Fantastic advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman_Fred Posted March 16, 2011 Report Share Posted March 16, 2011 Nice one automatico ! I have the Jack Daniels - what more do I need !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sul Posted March 17, 2011 Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) Yes it is nice recommendation Better is start with simple 6497 movement. I started with this movement a few time ago ( I was get tire to pay local watchmaker constantly eventually )and no problem at all. Movement swap, higher CP, hand set install etc. It is not a problem. Of course always is risk of damage watch hand`s. You can protect dial and hand set with thin film or paper but after taking off hand`s, specially second hand, hand will be crooked sometimes. Damaged during take from CP...And sometimes restoring them is not possible or result will not be as good as you like. You have always be prepared that you need some spare parts and you can spoil something. But I would not touch 7750 type movement`s or copy Venus movement by myself. Too complicated for me, ok probably I can take movement out, there is a lot on material tutorial`s etc . Unfortunately main problem for me is, I don`t know how to take off 7750 chrono pushers... , not a single learning video on tutorial does not show what I shall do with chrono pushers.... how pushers are connected with movement? Do I have to take off some fasteners between chrono pushers and movement before I take off 7750 movement? I don´t know unfortunately... And full service is also not so good idea make is by yourself. These is lot of skills needed. All gears are very very tiny, you need to know what type of oil where to use , you need Ultrasonic Cleaner `s etc . I will pay for watchmaker better:) Edited March 17, 2011 by sul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted March 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 "...now if I can learn not press too hard on that tiny button...screwing up the keyless!" Find a screwdriver that is a good fit in the 'keyhole' slot of Eta 28xx and it will not go in far enough to unseat the setting parts. 'Twenty ones' are not too bad but they are more of a hassle to work on because I'm used to Etas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Can someone give a firm answer about tearing out a broken A21j DGx813 and dropping in a *real* Miyota movement? They are $40! These A21j movements are clones of the Japanese 8205 and 8215 movements ... are they drop-in replacements? That would be awesome. Citizen (miyota) automatic movements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkay Posted March 18, 2011 Report Share Posted March 18, 2011 Ok ... upon further research I find that the Japanese movements are dimensionally identical to the a21j clones but the Miyota movements do not hack, and are 21.6k beats. So yes, they are a direct replacement but it isn't high beat. Miyota/Citizen/DG a21j WIKIPEDIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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