How To Service a Watch Mainspring By Hand

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5 жыл бұрын

In this video I show how I service a watch mainspring by hand. I use a Seiko barrel as an example and take you though each step from opening the lid to the barrel, safely removing the main spring. We examine the barrel arbour under the microscope to see how that works. I then show how I clean the spring, how I would oil the spring too. I finish off with greasing the barrel wall and then the technique I use to wind the mainspring safely back into the barrel , fit the arbour and then close the lid.
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Пікірлер: 374

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

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@wassiahmad786 Жыл бұрын

Yes helped me too much

@timcarpenter9835 2 ай бұрын

Wouldn't it be easier to use an actual mainspring winder?and maybe even finger cots?

@jsuth5692 3 жыл бұрын

I want to say thank you. Just finished taking apart and redoing my first movement. AS 1187. Did lots of reading and watched lots of videos. My biggest trepidation was the balance and the mainspring. I almost didn’t do the mainspring at all. I was just going clean it in the barrel as best as I could and then put it back in. Watched this video and it gave me the confidence to give it a go. I wasn’t going to spend the money on winders to service a $15 watch. Not sure I would like it enough to do a second watch. Did it just like the video and, amazingly, it went perfectly and wasn’t nearly has hard as I thought it would be. Watch is from the 60’s and keeping time very well after two days. There will definitely be a second watch. Thanks again for posting these videos.

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic. This is the reason I made the video. It splits opinion as hand winding is not the correct way. From a hobbyists standpoint I think its fine it gets your watch working and more into the hobby. The further down the rabbit hole you fall eventually a winding set would be purchased but only when you can justify it to yourself.

@cgnicolis 2 жыл бұрын

AS 1187 was my first non-pocket watch movement too...

@dutchbird100 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Mike! I serviced several of my watched but never dared to open the barrel. I gained confidence now and will give it a go soon!

@vincenzodigrande2070 3 жыл бұрын

After popping the lid, I use my plastic tweezers to stick one end under the barrel, the other under the lid, that way you keep the spring safely in place. I keep the tweezers in place, and centered and then remove one end of the spring at the center, and then when the barrel is turned the spring comes out really gradually. The tweezers in this position ensure the spring will never pop out when opening the lid and the removal is also really safe and controllable that way. So I don't just use the tweezer tips, but basically clamp the whole barrel between the wider part of the tweezers. Your method letting go half a coil at a time with your fingers doesn't look like a very good idea to me, especially for novice watchmakers.

@tonyfoster8058 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent lesson on main springs and a pleasure to watch.

@atharvapurohit3821 2 жыл бұрын

How lovely. Loved the video. Comprehensive and I love the tidbits you gave us from your experience. Helps us not make the same mistakes. From one watch lover to another, thank you!

@JustWatches1 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video!! I just hand serviced a mainspring on a 1960s Elgin following your guidance. It was scary and I thought I was going to break it or ruin it the whole time, but everything worked out and the watch is running great!

@WatchmakerErik Жыл бұрын

Mike, I'm a big fan of the channel and I recently attempted one of my first full rebuilds. I had taken the barrel apart to clean the main spring and I was without a winder. I was able to safely and properly wind the main spring back into its barrel thanks to these instructions. Thank you so much!

@tawkinright3961 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the detailed instruction. I've been having a heck of a time with mainsprings for the newbie watch servicer.

@ValentechTime 3 жыл бұрын

This is one of the great videos! It just came to my way exactly when I needed to learn on how to do this job. Thank you!

@panther105 2 жыл бұрын

You are so humble about your experience and skill, but as a new enthusiast and neophyte watch repair hobbyist, it's really rewarding to watch someone who actually knows what he is doing. Been making the rounds of different watch repair channels and, lordy, some of them are absolute watch butchers.

@MyRetroWatches 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I am just a hobbyist and will never pretend to be anything else. So you see in my videos all my mistakes but also that as a hobby this is achievable for anyone.

@nicodezwart 5 жыл бұрын

Spring cleaning in January ! Enjoyed watching that. 👍

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

nico de zwart haha great comment . Thanks

@captainhaddock2137 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for that Mike, I've just started working on what looks like a m24 movement, i found out the hard way the mainspring barrel has no lid, your method of getting the spring back in is a lot easier than the method ive been trying.

@TommyBoy7Heads 4 жыл бұрын

I did my first complete tear down/servicing of a movement (Seiko 6106-7107) and wanted to say thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge. Your videos helped a lot.

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for saying so, Always good to get feedback from viewers . If my videos have helped then I have achieved my goal.

@elmagnoon2 2 жыл бұрын

Love your content. You inspired me to open up and replace the main spring on a pocket watch that has been sitting in my drawer for very long.

@mortarsquad12 3 жыл бұрын

Perfect, I just fixed a watch and this was the last step. Thank you!

@ecch113 5 жыл бұрын

Great half hour demonstration! Thanks Michael!

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Eric Cheung thanks Eric

@GenWivern2 5 жыл бұрын

Bravo, Mike. You have a marked talent for for explaining these things, and I have an awful lot to learn before my watch repairer retires. Very much appreciated.

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

GenWivern2 thank you for such praise. I often think I am taking to myself which even our car looks at me a bit weird! If you have the desire to attempt some repairs then please do so. It’s got to be worth a try if your interested. Watchmakers are worth their weight in gold . Fortunately there is still a demand and I believe younger people still want to learn the trade. For me this is just a hobby that I have considerable amount still to learn.

@teresapittman3712 3 жыл бұрын

Lol.ditto

@MikeBarnesOo 5 жыл бұрын

Great video MB! Really good level of detail.

@spudeleven5124 2 жыл бұрын

Your method for winding the spring back in the barrel worked like a champ. I was able to get it on the first try :-)

@paulwilson3434 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Mike really knows his watches

@philipbrailey 2 жыл бұрын

This is a great video, thank you. It’s answered a lot of questions for me, not for the lacking of trying

@reflactor 2 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU for this video. I was pulling my hair out trying to get the main spring back in the barrel. Admittedly, I never thought of starting from the outside in. Watched your video and, suddenly, it's all re-installed.

@U_Colfett87 Жыл бұрын

this is completely helpful, thank you!!

@rafaelalves3642 5 жыл бұрын

Excelent as always. I have took apart some mechanicals watches before, but never open the MS barrrel. Might try one now.

@vincenzodigrande2070 3 жыл бұрын

The pin vice, and taking a photo before hand are certainly very good tips! Under a microscope though, since the diameters on the arbor, where it protrudes through the lid and barrel are usually not the same, and seeing the hook on the barrel, I know already which way around the spring needs to be wound. There is always something that can lead you back to the direction, if it won't be the diameters, it'll be the teeth height on the barrel, and inner thread on the arbor, combined with the hook on the arbor that give it away.

@jafrim21 4 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and helpful , thank you very much !

@walther9161 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome vid. Can’t wait to try it!

@benhunt6516 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for making and sharing this vid. I’m gradually learning the ropes but had found the mainspring quite intimidating. You’ve given me some confidence and good tips here

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@zs1dfr 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much. In this one video, you answered a whole heap of questions none of the professionals bother to discuss when they're demonstrating a service! I had also not seen a manual replacement/rewind of the spring inside the barrel. Everyone else shows off their swanky spring-winding device... Well done!! And your pin vice wouldn't grasp the arbor, because you were undoing it, instead of tightening it up, it seemed to me :-)

@scottieh83 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this video. I'm learning how to service a watch for the first time and I was told that winding in by hand was a big no, but I can't afford to buy the expensive winders. This makes me feel a lot better about servicing the mainspring!

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

This is why I made the video. I too could not justify the cost although I now have a set of winders. Ironically I’ve scrapped more springs in the winder than I ever did hand winding.

@linhhuynh1344 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your time sir, it's lovely for me to learn new skills.

@alexs3812 Жыл бұрын

It's always exciting to watch you My Seiko watch has now also stopped and I'll dare to disassemble it and try to repair it Thanks for your informative videos

@decyntion 7 ай бұрын

Happened upon this video and will check out the series. I bought a beautiful Seiko ring watch, and my novice gut tells me that it is overwound, which started me on the hunt to see if I can fix it. Can't afford to go to a jeweler. I have a lot of timepieces that I can practice on before trying to fix my new ring watch. I've been passively collecting the timepieces of ancestors and junk shops, because of my fascination with these things. I also sew and have several machines that I've "repaired" myself. I believe I saw something familiar to the hook/bobbin mechanism in the watch interior... I'll have to really set up a a clean space, should I move forward with my endeavor to fix a watch. Thank you for this wonderful video!

@joefagan9335 4 жыл бұрын

You are a treasure! Thank you so much.

@williamhudson6719 4 жыл бұрын

Great talent to have in an emergency. You know, misplaced winder and customer on the way! My first attempt was very successful, but taught me to never misplace my winder gain. Thanks for the video...

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

William Hudson thanks. If I have helped you no matter how bad practice hand winding is then I am pleased. Ironically I have scrapped more springs in a winder than I have by hand winding .

@user-tc3qd2pk6x Жыл бұрын

Loved this video, it was extremely helpful, thanks!

@MyRetroWatches Жыл бұрын

Your welcome

@a.aguilar 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this master class. I haven't dare to open a barrel and taking out the MS yet, but I know it's very important to service it when restoring a watch. Only a few days ago I show a video of someone using tweezers to hold the MS in place while taking it out, and it look like a good idea.

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Agustin Aguilar thank you for commenting. I am intrigued why you would use tweezers to take it out, sounds harder. My thoughts are removal without any tools is best with hands after all you will clean and then oil it so your finger prints will not effect removal in the slightest .

@a.aguilar 5 жыл бұрын

@@MyRetroWatches I really don't think the tweezers technique is better than using the fingers. I've been looking for the video I commented (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rMCipauY1J-3fYk.html) and I found another video from the same guy in wich the MS jumped when it was only 50% unwound, so when I got in the feel of it I'd try with my fingers.

@tristandejong122 2 жыл бұрын

Very handy Video mate! Thanks a lot I just reassembled my first pocket watch mainspring 👍🏼

@arbiterofreason2068 4 жыл бұрын

nice juicy in depth video, just what I wanted!

@alfreducu1 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome vid! Thanks for sharing

@TomTom-up1kz 5 жыл бұрын

Very good work keep moving 👍👏👏👏👏

@LostInLeiden 4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant video, thanks Mike. When I took a watchmaking course for three years we had access to spring winders in the lab but now my course has finished I can't afford those to use at home (hobbying) and didn't have the confidence to do it by hand until I watched your video. Just wound my first by hand successfully and ironically enough I found it much much easier by hand than with mainspring winders

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

I have a wonder set but it’s only right handed (I think) as I do mostly seiko some like the 7### series are left handed and you need another winder for that at £70 a go.., I find hand winding fairly easy but it really is frowned upon so this video split opinion like hot knife through butter.

@machinistmikethetinkerer4827 4 жыл бұрын

@@MyRetroWatches well tell them if they want to donate to my spring winder gofundme page (sarcasm)I'd be more than happy to accept. far be it from me to turn down a free meal! that'll be $1,140 dollars please.

@richedwards9646 Жыл бұрын

That's a brilliant helpful video Thank you so much !

@MyRetroWatches Жыл бұрын

Your welcome

@johnrogers2253 3 жыл бұрын

Nice job, thanks an explanation of the bridle would help me... and how it sits against the barrel , every one develops their own way and become comfortable with it.. yours is as good as and near as.. good point with the pin vice that would have saved me a pain in a Jaeger Le Coultre.. today... I am from Cotswolds and get homesick at times... take care.. John.

@Nachtgedicht 5 жыл бұрын

I'm impressed that everything went without any incidents. Great joy to watch it!

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@bezalelex31 4 жыл бұрын

Hence the reason as to why the arbor is always removed before removing the ms.

@TWS001 5 жыл бұрын

very helpful for future watches as I damaged one of my previous one, keep it up

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

STLND_Thomas_ thank you.

@nennguyen5581 2 жыл бұрын

thank you very much . I hope you make more videos that teach useful things for ưatches ❤️

@russellmaharlika7556 3 жыл бұрын

Mate I really really need this, I'm servicing a watch for the first time and didn't realize that a mainspring winder is super expensive and getting a new mainspring is also quite expensive, more than I thought, and I got no more budget to get any of these. So thank you so so much

@DrCrabfingers 3 жыл бұрын

Ditto. I could have bought a new watch for the money I've spent on tools and oil...the oils are crazy money. But I find it very therapeutic...very calming...and hugely satisfying.

@Mad-Coo Жыл бұрын

Brilliant thanks. Much appreciated.

@NW-lj6oo Жыл бұрын

I restored a Cupillard 233-60 powered watch, branded Lejo, that I bought at a French jumble sale. The mainspring looked ok but I decided to buy a new one to be on the safe side. Not a good idea, as after installing it and trying to get the arbor in, the spring hit just under my eye at about 200 mph. This video saved the day and I managed to get the watch working successfully after manually installing the spring. You are a genius Mike.

@MyRetroWatches Жыл бұрын

No genius but happy the video helped you as thats why I produce them.

@tigerteff015 4 ай бұрын

For the hobbyist with limited funds to buy a set of winders this is ideal.

@bmassche 5 жыл бұрын

Just what I was looking for! Just dismantled a seiko 7009 mainspring but needed help to figure out which way to wind it back in... invaluable video. Thanks

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Blair Robert I am happy this helped you. Good luck with the rewind!

@AndreKowalczyk 4 жыл бұрын

@@MyRetroWatches If not sure which way to wind it back, just look at the arbor hook. The hook will be "pulling" the mainspring during wind up.

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Andre Kowalczyk very good point thanks

@rileybeaupre8262 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. Nervous to try it myself but feel much more confident with your help. Great video. Thank you!

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

You can do it!

@bingogarvin2924 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your time ⌚

@drkujavec 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. I was trying to do it today with success, but I found quite hard to reassembly at first, with the double coil.

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Daniel Ruiz Kujavec thanks and glad this video helped you. The start is the hardest. With practice it does get a bit easier.

@indianajones7470 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for a very interesting and informative tutorial

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

+Indiana Jones Thank you.

@honorharrington4546 4 жыл бұрын

Brings back memories of servicing clocks. Just scaled down and not as strong. Also gets almost no oil compared to clocks which get 4 to 8 drops depending on size. Barrels are usually brass not steel and get inspected for ridges in the cover or back of the barrel that may cause the spring to unwind less than smoothly. All just a matter of scale, you get fiddly and I had to use more force. :)

@lobdsk 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome teacher

@paulwilson3434 3 жыл бұрын

Exceptional explanations. Ta ta. My friend

@24hourgmtchannel64 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing how to do this manually. Many armature hobbyist watch makers like myself that like to do our own service cannot justify the Bergeon ETA winder set.

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Your welcome. Glad you found it of use. This is why I made the video so people who cannot justify the price for a winder set can still attempt a MS service.

@machinistmikethetinkerer4827 4 жыл бұрын

here here to that. hrumpf hrumpf!

@Supercruze 5 жыл бұрын

Mike - Thanks for the how to vid. I have found success with reinstalling the barrel arbor with the cap off. Take a pair of small jewelers plyers and carefully turn the arbor in the center of the mainspring in the direction to wind the spring until you can see or hear the hook in the arbor catch the spring detent. You can see the spring wanting to wind up in the center thus confirming the arbor is properly set and engaged in the center of the spring. Then proceed to reinstall the cap. I use Moebius 8217 Natural Grease as a breaking grease on the out barrel wall in 3 places and then use 8141natural oil to oil the mainspring. I use a smear of D5 on the barrel arbor openings top and bottom to lubricate the center arbor bearing. I was lucky enough to score a set of vintage K&D variable spring winders and these make winding and loading the spring in the barrel much easier than by hand.

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Supercruze thanks for you advice . I have in the past for stubborn arbours used a pin vice , like I show in the video but with the lid off. I am always fearful that you could easily uncoil that spring! I really need to invest in a set of winders! You use all the correct and better oils than I . I knew the 8200 was not ideal but at the time I was actually advised to use it by a professional! Thanks for watching and supporting my channel.

@boydsargeant7496 3 жыл бұрын

Nice one Mike, well explained as usual. Ta.

@paulwilson3434 2 жыл бұрын

Watched again. Jolly good 👍🏼 Shew mate !

@MyRetroWatches 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@glenh4971 3 жыл бұрын

Thanx so much for doing this video. I have seen this done in several video's but not in this kind of detail. I have also just seen a video where a watchmaker says it is not a good idea to wind the main spring by hand. I understand that. I will be using your methods so thanx for the demonstration.

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Hand winding is not good practice and frowned upon by many. However if you don’t have a set of winders or can’t afford them then this is the only alternative in my opinion.

@GarySlegg 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, very informative

@danielbrazell7165 Жыл бұрын

First time watcher. Your narration is great. Please Keep up the good work. db

@monte4150 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Mike. Going to go after this tonight ....wish me luck lol

@antilogism Жыл бұрын

It works! I'm new to watches and read that doing by hand would cause the spring to get kinks and become conical. For fun I took a crusty Waltham 750B barrel apart and reinstalled the spring then removed and reinstalled it again. It was perfectly fine from what I could tell.

@saschasorbo8258 4 жыл бұрын

Fantastic! Thank you very very much for sharing this! Great channel! Instant subscriber. Cheers!

@davidg8711 2 жыл бұрын

Disassembling and assembling my first ever manual mechanic watch at the moment and fully intend removing main spring!!!!!! Yikes... was starting to think I would need a spring winding gadget but thanks to you I'm gonna be soon blinded by flying movement part???!!!!! Lol... No, its Truly helpful Mike and I can't wait to get cracking. Keep the videos coming and I will follow up with my medical bills! I meant to say, with telling you how I got on. GREAT VIDEO....

@MyRetroWatches 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks and good luck especially if you still have eyesight to read this!

@linklindsey5658 3 жыл бұрын

I did it!! Yeah! The seller didn't send me the Bulova Buloloy just the mainspring. So I did it like this!

@tredici72 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Mike, I might attempt doing one myself

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

V1 Aviation thank you and good luck

@TheWatchRepairersPerspective 3 жыл бұрын

Thank's for this video! I am studying this and working ON IT as we speak. I kind of placed the mainspring in the wrong direction, so it got little bit twisted/damaged so finally it broke but hey, as i say: Practise makes perfect. I love your videos! A true inspiration for all of us out there!

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your nice comment, also just subbed to your channel ! Just remember that hand winding is not good practice in this hobby and many will tell you it should not be done. That said I’ve scrapped more mainsprings in winders than I have ever done by hand.

@TheWatchRepairersPerspective 3 жыл бұрын

@@MyRetroWatches Thank you! I am honored by that! And Your videos about bulova has helped me to gain experience and to fix them. I appreciate this ! Take care 🌎☕🙃

@edawriter 2 жыл бұрын

I had the same problem. It came out great, but rewinding somehow got twisted around so that the final coil was backwards and broke after another attempt. (I realize now I wound counterclockwise! Should have been clockwise.) That's fine since it was 52 years old anyway. A NOS mainspring is in the mail. I'm going to take a closer look at the inexpensive winders. There's an affordable one now that supposedly fixes past shortcomings.

@matthew8250 4 жыл бұрын

Very Educational Video. Thank you! Now, to attempt a barrel spring cleaning myself...Wish me Luck! LOL!

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Good luck Matt. it is not easy at first the first few turns getting the bridal in is the hardest. let me know how you get on.

@Anita_She 3 жыл бұрын

It took me 2 seconds to open the barrel. The main spring is still in. The barrel arbor went half way out, but I put it back in. Thank you for this video. It really helped me to understand the whole process of cleaning and winding the main spring. This is my next project 😳☺️

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

thank you.

@urionandon 3 жыл бұрын

very useful, thanks a lot!

@anthonyrcarrion3879 3 жыл бұрын

Very well presentation, learned a lot. Thanks

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@davidargueta5610 4 жыл бұрын

GREAT JOB💯👍

@fernandomarques93 5 жыл бұрын

Seems easy. Thanks

@pisicainfinite824 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@alexharris8500 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent vedio for the beginners like myself.

@spidiq8 5 жыл бұрын

Great and well presented live video, I found your channel recommended and have watched with interest a couple of the digital rebuilds, (they're quite alien to me as mechanical are my area of interest as a hobbyist watchmaker and collector) I do have quartz analogue/digi combined but not had a fully digital since my schooldays In the 80's. Have subbed to hopefully learn more about those.Re the arbor, my routine is to remove it in situ by gripping with tweezers and turning opposite the direction of winding while pulling up, keep a nail on the spring while doing this, the latch will disengage and it will pull out, refit in the same manner. This removes the risk of it flying off the spring and across the bench. I wouldn't try to refit on the spring before winding in fully. Otherwise that's how I manually wind in main springs, but I am going to try 3D printing a mainspring winder.

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment and subbing to the channel. Appreciate that. I will do some more digital stuff in the future and actually have an ana digi on my to do list so will most likely film that in the coming months. I’m back into my mechanicals at the moment... I flip between the two when I get fed up with one genre I flip to the other . I’m. Soon buying a mainspring winder set so I can do what is the correct & safer method.

@khronosbest9448 3 ай бұрын

Well done 🍻

@machinistmikethetinkerer4827 4 жыл бұрын

2nd vid of yours I've watched. You've just saved me a ton of money and worry at the moment by doing this video. As a newbie old guy I've been agonizing over the prices of main spring winders both new and vintage, not to mention dealing with snipe bidders on ebay(go up against me in a real, live auction then see how far ya get with me!), wondering how I could get around this for now, wondering if it can be done by hand. great video and in language and explanations I can understand. gives me confidence too. Like- hell I can do that! great stuff and on behalf of all us new old guys, a hearty cheers to you. thank you. eventually, I'll get a decent set of winders but not any time soon! (say to myself: now if I can just figure out a way to get around getting a staking set..........)

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. glad this video was useful and for now has saved you the money. I have scrapped more mainsprings with my winders than I have using my hands..!

@machinistmikethetinkerer4827 4 жыл бұрын

@@MyRetroWatches Mike, can I ask what winders you do have and where you got them?

@scottmurphree-roberts2807 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Mike! I tried this on a scrap pocket watch spring a few months ago. Finally got up the courage to try it on a 7009 mainspring. Cleaning the barrel was like cleaning a black powder rifle - filthy! The 7009 spring was a lot tougher. It has lots more "spring" left. Here's hoping I did it right.

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Scott Murphree-Roberts superb well done. Well you know when it’s works when the watch runs well.

@scottmurphree-roberts2807 4 жыл бұрын

@@MyRetroWatches I put the whole thing together and got finished around 3 AM this morning. I didn't wind it fully, but it's still running and the time looks good. Your videos are extremely helpful. Now, if I can just figure out the trashed crystal. ;-)

@Mr986Willis Жыл бұрын

I didn't know this could be done without a winding tool that knowledge will save me some money! I'm currently attempting my first watch a Goliath pocket watch. That spring is so old it doesn't spring, it remains coiled out of the barrel so I'll be ordering a new one.

@clivewiddall3430 2 жыл бұрын

Well that’s saved me a couple of hundred quid, it can be done by hand with no I’ll effects, thanks new to your channel and it’s a lot of useful info. Got me an early Seiko auto to start on just need the right size screwdriver and permission from er indoors to by them. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@MyRetroWatches 2 жыл бұрын

well I do not recommend this long term as any professional will tell you this is a massive NO NO to hand wind. It is not easy depending on the spring you are working on. I do believe there is a Chinese winder set on AliExpress that has steel arbours and handles which do the job well enough and are around £60-70 for a set. I will pick some up at some point to review.

@cicco1838 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome work cheers thank you for video..

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching.

@ianmargetts4940 5 жыл бұрын

Nice t shirt dude! Cool intro as well!

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Ian Margetts haha thanks Ian, glad you noticed the shirt ! Wore it to the watch fair on Sunday! The intro is new along with my logo now. I’m really pleased with it.

@otto16121970 4 жыл бұрын

Me: opening the barrel in 10 seconds, the rest of the day in search for the spring.

@MyRetroWatches 4 жыл бұрын

haha. you have to be careful with these !

@JasperJanssen 3 жыл бұрын

If you can’t find a mainspring that gets away, how are you planning to find the small springs when they try to escape?

@internettrihard2955 2 жыл бұрын

@@JasperJanssen try finding a lost pallet fork M8 😐

@user-ew2rq4sn2t Жыл бұрын

@@internettrihard2955 I almost lost mine and found it on the carpet

@burritolover5082 Жыл бұрын

@@internettrihard2955try finding an arbor that rolls everywhere when you breathe on it slightly

@tutugpamorkaton4756 5 жыл бұрын

wow. super patience is needed

@nicoleetoo 28 күн бұрын

Thank you so much! I have an old automatik Seiko with this problem. Let me see what happens

@vincenzodigrande2070 3 жыл бұрын

Also, breaking grease I believe is more there to protect the barrel than the spring. The barrel, usually being made of soft brass seems to me like the thing that gets the most damage from the spring slipping through.

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

You are very correct on the braking grease. Thanks for your comment.

@albertoroman1035 3 жыл бұрын

Great great job hello from Puerto Rico

@MyRetroWatches 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks and welcome

@keithmclean3627 10 ай бұрын

I guess you could test it with the ratchet wheel screw? Great content, thanks mike.

@mircea.negru-rusen 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Mike, really enjoying the series. One of the main hurdles for any budding watch tinkerers out there is servicing the MS barrel and you've done a great job of explaining it in layman's terms . Quick question: the (potential) scoring on the inside of the barrel, when does that become an issue? Looking forward to the next installment!

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your comment. Its great to know I’m getting it right. The scoring , very difficult question for me to answer however firstly looking at this barrel the damage to the lid could have possibly been caused by the old grease wearing on the lid. Seiko I believed used graphite grease which turns black and horrible , look at the 7025 barrel at the start, absolutely full of dirt and my guess is that it’s never been opened before. I would assume that tolerances on the barrel wall and lid are not critical and wear would not cause too much of an issue as the spring would just expand to take up the gap. It’s the arbour and the holes they pass through that would be effected by severe wear as the holes would go out of round and make the arbour wobble which could then cause issues with the centre wheel and ultimately stop the movement.

@IamtheWV17 5 жыл бұрын

I'm about to embark upon the service of a 1974 citizen diver... I new I'd never source a new barrel but managed to find a batch of toss away movements almost exclusively to practice this exact process! As well as perhaps find the best mainspring in the lot to use in the final service..... I'm glad I did buy them as the first one I attempted (rusted out movement so no loss) I snapped off the bridle XD

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

Hello. Thanks for your comment. I too have broken bridals when I first started doing it but you soon get the hang of it. Once the bridal is in and the spring has past it a few times it gets easy from there. Best method is still with a set of main spring wonders though . Safer and goo practice

@andreastevenson2173 5 жыл бұрын

I have been very naughty in the past and cleaned the mainspring when still in the case but open. I will now give this a go with a practice movement. Wish me luck.

@MyRetroWatches 5 жыл бұрын

I have heard of this being done but never tried. if in water solution I would not want to risk causing rust.

@efrainruiz8265 4 жыл бұрын

How did you clean it coiled inside the case? What solution did you use? Dis you re-greased it?