Post by ianmedium on Dec 9, 2014 15:05:16 GMT -6
Just thought I would post a few photos of what is needed to be done to remove a Hamilton Electric movement from its monocoque case.
As I have mentioned previously to change the battery or regulate the movement one has to lift the movement out of the case from the front this requires removing the split stem crown and crystal first.
For the DIY'er or thrifty who do not want to go to the expense of a watchmaker doing the battery change locally when they heard what watch it was they wanted $40 plus the cost of battery and tax to do the job.
I am not knocking that. These folks are pro's and it takes a bit longer and is more complex and requires special tools all of which cost them money.
I can't think for a minute they make a lot on doing a battery change in one of these things!
Plus, if your careful and methodical it is fun to do at home with minimum outlay on tools which once acquired can be used over and over again.
I think I paid a total of thirty bucks for my simple set of tools, needle nose tweezers, crystal puller and a few watchmakers screw drivers.
There is an argument to be had on getting the very best tools and I think if my abilities were greater and I did more than simple regulation or battery replacement I would invest more but truth be told as long as they are not the super super cheap tools they get the job done so don't think you have to spend a fortune to dabble!
Anyway. With this watch first the crown must come off. After much reading a reliable method that works is to use your needle nose tweezers.
Slip the tines either side of the crown stem in its setting position.
Being careful and slow and making sure you have a clear area with not nooks or crannies that the crown could get lost in and pointing down on a soft cloth with absorbs the crown when it comes off lessening the chance of it pinging off into eternity gently push the tines down. As the crown meets the resistance of the widening tines it simply pushes off. I find this a really easy way to go about the job!
Safely put the crown to one side and with your crystal grabber remove the crystal. Once off ( I leave the crystal in the grabber as it makes life so much easier when it comes to replacing it!) with the Hamilton there is a protective and decorative ring around the dial. Gently tip the watch over and that ring drops off and is put to one side.
Now the slightly fiddle bit which is removing the movement and dial.
This is a little fiddle as the remaining part of the crown stem fits into a tube in the case so a gently turning over of the watch onto a soft micro fiber cloth the movement will come out a little and then turning it back over and then with the tweezers gently pulling at the movement ( there are little slots in the side of the movement to get some purchase) one can lift the movement and dial out. Don't pull the movement out by the dial as you don't want to damage that!
I don't have a movement holder so used a couple of folded lint free micro fiber cloths on which to rest the movement dial side down.
I have never had any damage to the dial or hands on any watch I have done with this, just be GENTLE!
Now you can see the movement and battery to be able to regulate or change the battery.
In my case the original battery was too powerful so who ever did the job beforehand moved the regulator towards the minus to compensate!
I changed the battery to the correct one and found the watch ran a little slow so went back in and have moved the regulator one notch so now it's almost in the middle of its range and will time it over the next few days to see how it does.
I am happy if it keeps within a minute or so a day for this age of watch.
Hope that all makes sense. Putting the watch back together is simply a reversal of taking it apart and again, done gently and methodically!
When it comes to replacing the crown I just gently push it in and turn it. You will find the sweet spot then push in fully and it's home!
Here are some pictures.
Then on its way back together again!
Job done!
As I have mentioned previously to change the battery or regulate the movement one has to lift the movement out of the case from the front this requires removing the split stem crown and crystal first.
For the DIY'er or thrifty who do not want to go to the expense of a watchmaker doing the battery change locally when they heard what watch it was they wanted $40 plus the cost of battery and tax to do the job.
I am not knocking that. These folks are pro's and it takes a bit longer and is more complex and requires special tools all of which cost them money.
I can't think for a minute they make a lot on doing a battery change in one of these things!
Plus, if your careful and methodical it is fun to do at home with minimum outlay on tools which once acquired can be used over and over again.
I think I paid a total of thirty bucks for my simple set of tools, needle nose tweezers, crystal puller and a few watchmakers screw drivers.
There is an argument to be had on getting the very best tools and I think if my abilities were greater and I did more than simple regulation or battery replacement I would invest more but truth be told as long as they are not the super super cheap tools they get the job done so don't think you have to spend a fortune to dabble!
Anyway. With this watch first the crown must come off. After much reading a reliable method that works is to use your needle nose tweezers.
Slip the tines either side of the crown stem in its setting position.
Being careful and slow and making sure you have a clear area with not nooks or crannies that the crown could get lost in and pointing down on a soft cloth with absorbs the crown when it comes off lessening the chance of it pinging off into eternity gently push the tines down. As the crown meets the resistance of the widening tines it simply pushes off. I find this a really easy way to go about the job!
Safely put the crown to one side and with your crystal grabber remove the crystal. Once off ( I leave the crystal in the grabber as it makes life so much easier when it comes to replacing it!) with the Hamilton there is a protective and decorative ring around the dial. Gently tip the watch over and that ring drops off and is put to one side.
Now the slightly fiddle bit which is removing the movement and dial.
This is a little fiddle as the remaining part of the crown stem fits into a tube in the case so a gently turning over of the watch onto a soft micro fiber cloth the movement will come out a little and then turning it back over and then with the tweezers gently pulling at the movement ( there are little slots in the side of the movement to get some purchase) one can lift the movement and dial out. Don't pull the movement out by the dial as you don't want to damage that!
I don't have a movement holder so used a couple of folded lint free micro fiber cloths on which to rest the movement dial side down.
I have never had any damage to the dial or hands on any watch I have done with this, just be GENTLE!
Now you can see the movement and battery to be able to regulate or change the battery.
In my case the original battery was too powerful so who ever did the job beforehand moved the regulator towards the minus to compensate!
I changed the battery to the correct one and found the watch ran a little slow so went back in and have moved the regulator one notch so now it's almost in the middle of its range and will time it over the next few days to see how it does.
I am happy if it keeps within a minute or so a day for this age of watch.
Hope that all makes sense. Putting the watch back together is simply a reversal of taking it apart and again, done gently and methodically!
When it comes to replacing the crown I just gently push it in and turn it. You will find the sweet spot then push in fully and it's home!
Here are some pictures.
Then on its way back together again!
Job done!