RWG Technical Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I shake my head at some of the stuff that passes for servicing or acceptable workmanship. Check out the grease used here, what was this person thinking?? As I tore down the movement, the lack of correct servicing was even more noticeable, some of the problems include: - great wheel pivot completely dry - autowinder pivot dry and starting to wear out, no oil anywhere - both balance cap jewels completely dry, yet there were some pivots in the movement that were oiled and still fluid, balance caps are the last to dry out, because they are sealed, seems as if the last servicing didn't include the cap jewels - pallet pivot oiled - a BIG no-no - mainspring was not touched in a long long time...have a look... So, 30 minutes later in a nice ultrasonic bath...we get some good results... And to those who continue to say "Never get your movement serviced, it's a waste of time and money, send it in when it quits working..." all I have to say is please send in a big bag of money with your movement, your going to need it to replace all the worn out damaged parts when it grinds to a halt... that is if the parts are even available. Luckily this one was caught just in time... Thanks for looking, RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilts Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Even I know that is a pile of We're lucky to have guys like ZZ look after our beloved pieces properly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P8B Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Even I know that is a pile of We're lucky to have guys like ZZ look after our beloved pieces properly! I agree!! Ive just got in to this wonderful hobby of ours but after reading this I want to get even my brand new reps serviced.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonSlayer Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Since reading posts by The Zigmeister and others, and learning more about watch movements in general, I now believe servicing the most liked reps is a must. A lot of us assume that the movements coming out of the factories are clean/serviced. It seems more logical to me to pay $80 for a service and ensure that the watch runs for another 5 years, than to "run it to the ground" or getting it serviced when the watch starts behaving erratically. You end up paying more in the when you do this... makes no sense.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff g Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I learned this lesson about servicing a long time ago. If the rep I buy is worth the money, like a 450.00 PPN, then spending a little more for proper service of rep movement only makes sense. We in this community are indeed lucky to have a man like Mr. Z to help insure a long life for our favorite watches, thats for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I sense that someone reading this is familiar with this particular watch... RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Wow, nice photos RG! What a mess. Let's hope this one polishes up just right. Got vintage/ivory lume photos? I suppose the right thing to do is to NOT tell where it was last serviced! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Doesn't really matter where it was done last, the pictures tell the story. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Wow...at least you have enough grease you can slap on a wheelbarrel axle to stop the squeak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbieG Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Another day saved by The Zigmeister, the great white hope of the frozen North. The Baron of Bergeon. The Matriarch of Mainsprings. The Lord of Lubrication. The Earl of Ebauches. The Prince of Perlage Pallet Pinions - if you will... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Wow...at least you have enough grease you can slap on a wheelbarrel axle to stop the squeak. The funny thing is that I have never seen that type of grease anywhere, it's not a watch grease to my knowledge...I have no idea where it came from, but I can guess @ RobbieG RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The funny thing is that I have never seen that type of grease anywhere, it's not a watch grease to my knowledge...I have no idea where it came from, but I can guess Maybe it's rancid whale blubber? Big applause for that SPECTACULAR lume job!!!! Lordy, you do good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chubbchubb Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 ... well, if it works on my V8, it will work on this little engine.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Thank you very much Zig. Im fairly new to this hobby. I did not realize how important servicing a watch was, until now. I am a car person. I can relate the maintance aspect of watches to cars. The same thing, I am sure. I call it preventative maintance. Pay me a little now or pay me a lot more later. Sound advice,thanks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 You got that right, Maxman... they say in the auto biz "oil is cheaper than metal." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxman Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 You got that right, Maxman... they say in the auto biz "oil is cheaper than metal." Yes sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadtorrent Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The funny thing is that I have never seen that type of grease anywhere, it's not a watch grease to my knowledge...I have no idea where it came from, but I can guess ...likely from the Exxon Valdez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmurphy926 Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Great post Zig. We can never be reminded enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 ZZ: "I sense that someone reading this is familiar with this particular watch..." It wasn't me! ZZ: "I shake my head at some of the stuff that passes for servicing or acceptable workmanship. Yeah, this one deserves a trophy. It looks like the barrel arbor hole may be worn out of round going by the scuff marks at the outer edge of the plate. This gives the same symptoms as a weak MS or dirty movement...low reserve etc. It may run just fine though. You can check it out after cleaning etc by smearing a thin film of grease (grease again !!) on one little spot at the outer edge of the barrel and see if it smears all over the worn spot on the plate (then clean it off). One fix is to lightly peen the plate next to the worn area with a three corner punch etc to tighten the hole. It is quick and dirty, but it works. The "official rolex fix" is a new main plate for about half a million dollars (plus tax). Last resort when they are past peening: You might install a bushing or thin hole jewel here but I never had to try it (rolex uses a bushing at this location on the 3035 etc, Eta uses a jewel in the 2824 etc). You can order Seitz jewels and bushings by size and type from supply houses or you might be able to make a bushing out of a clock bushing. If I ever had to install a bushing or jewel: A...Mount the main plate in a miniature milling machine or high precision drill press using the barrel bridge to find the exact center of the hole in the plate by chucking a tapered punch etc in the mill to center the hole. You probably need to mount the barrel bridge and use it to go by if the hole is real bad out of round...most of the time the plate hole should be OK to go by. B...Remove the barrel bridge. C...Very carefully ream the hole within a gnat's eyelash of accepting the bushing or jewel with the reamer mounted in the chuck (feeding it with the index but turning it by hand). gnat's eyelash = about half a hair. D...Remove the plate from the mill and finish to size with a smoothing broach (easy to do...more or less). E...Press the bushing or jewel in the plate with a jewel tool or precision staking tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shundi Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Wow...looks like someone combined Vaseline and WD40! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmayfair Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The Zigmeister, was that an ETA or did someone really treat a gen Rollie calibre like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dluddy Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I assume a gen RG? Pretty amazing what passes for a service these days. Who did it "Jiffy Lube" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Ziggy, was that an ETA or did someone really treat a gen Rollie calibre like that? This is a genuine 1680 and a genuine 1570 rolex movement. So yes, whoever did the last servicing did the work you see here, pretty sad if you ask me. The good news is that the movement is now serviced correctly and will not suffer any more damage. RG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 The good news is that the movement is now serviced correctly and will not suffer any more damage. The king's a beggar, now the play is done: All is well ended, if this suit be won, That you express content; which we will pay, With strife to please you, day exceeding day: Ours be your patience then, and yours our parts; Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts. -Wm. Shakespeare ca. 1608 <===note the year Thanks Ziggy for all your hard work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I sense that someone reading this is familiar with this particular watch... I suppose the right thing to do is to NOT tell where it was last serviced! I have to disagree with both of you. Unless you (Ziggy) are happy to receive the benefits of previously bad work (which I doubt is the case with you), I think it would be a good idea to 'out' repeat offenders of bad work. After all, this is the best way to help the next guy avoid ending up with the same issues. The funny thing is that I have never seen that type of grease anywhere, it's not a watch grease to my knowledge...I have no idea where it came from, but I can guess It looks like brake grease to me. Specifically, Castrol brake grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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