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1969 Omega Speedmaster stopping

C
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Hi Guys
I had some repairs done to my chronograph just recent. When I got the watch back, it now just stops in between winds. This can happen 30 mins after a wind, or 4 hours. Any advise. The power reserve was down a little before the repair, but the watch kept time perfectly for up to 40 hours.

thanks

con
 
B
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mmm who serviced your watch? I just got my 321 back from a very frequently recommended watchmaker and it's got a similar issue. In my case it's the chrono that stops after a short time. I'll give the guy a chance to resolve it first. Maybe we should share details in a pm?
 
S
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I'd be very interested to hear any thoughts you might have, bikeman and cstoitsis - I had my 1973 Speedmaster serviced by an approved shop about ten years ago and it's never been the same since. I subsequently sent it to the UK Omega service centre three times to try and rectify it and each time they returned it claiming the could not reproduce the fault so couldn't do anything about it. After consigning it to the back of the drawer for a while, I recently wore it again and it seemed to work fine... after three weeks of continuous use without issue, it decided to stop again and now I can barely keep it going for a few hours.
 
B
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My issue was a simple mechanical problem. The hands are slightly misaligned and so the chrono second hand hits the hour hand during specific periods of the day. I decided to live with the issue since the guy who serviced it wasn't going to refund postage to recitify his mistake and I was nervous about trusting such a valuable watch to the post again. This wasn't the only issue, the watch now keeps poor time. As I said before the guy was recommended frequently in this and other forums but my experience was pretty poor. I wont use him again.

As for your watch it sounds to me like the power cant overcome the friction of the movement so weak spring or a lack of lubrication or dirt in the mechanism. Sounds like Omega tested it but didnt do a strip/clean. If it's been 10 years since a service it probably needs doing.
 
S
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Thanks bikeman - I'll check the alignment of the hands next time it stops. It's currently 20 mins slow... so it has stopped recently - but I do notice that it often seems to stop permanently after I take it off at night - so I'm thinking that maybe the action of my moving hand kicks it on again and may also answer why Omega can't reproduce it since I'd assume they put it on one of those automatic wrist devices.
Ironically, it was never serviced for the first forty years and kept perfect time - the problems only began after its first service, which is why I'm more inclined to think it's the alignment rather than a lube / dirt issue.
 
S
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Nope - stopped with no alignment at all - minute hand at 1, hour at 5, second at 58... back to the drawing board.
 
ChrisN
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S Stefanovic68
Nope - stopped with no alignment at all - minute hand at 1, hour at 5, second at 58... back to the drawing board.
Seconds hand at 58. Is that the chrono seconds hand? Or, is this without the chronograph running?

Cheers, Chris
 
S
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ChrisN ChrisN
Seconds hand at 58. Is that the chrono seconds hand? Or, is this without the chronograph running?

Cheers, Chris
Chrono second hand, I guess - not really up with horological terminology - the main second hand if it was a 'normal' watch (not the smaller real-time seconds hand). As you may be able to tell, I rarely use it to actually gauge speed.
 
ChrisN
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This is when the minute counter is trying to advance to the next minute and there is more drag in the movement. Try running without the chronograph and see how that works out. It will need to be seen by a watchmaker anyway but, if it works without the chronograph running (the long seconds hand) then it indicates a possible adjustment issue. It may just be that the balance amplitude is low, though, so a full service is needed. You'll need to get it to a watchmaker but it should be resolvable.

Cheers, Chris
 
S
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ChrisN ChrisN
This is when the minute counter is trying to advance to the next minute and there is more drag in the movement. Try running without the chronograph and see how that works out. It will need to be seen by a watchmaker anyway but, if it works without the chronograph running (the long seconds hand) then it indicates a possible adjustment issue. It may just be that the balance amplitude is low, though, so a full service is needed. You'll need to get it to a watchmaker but it should be resolvable.

Cheers, Chris
Thanks ChrisN - I've now reset time and stopped the chronograph. I'll report back. I also love how I got more help from you guys in one day than I got from Omega, well, ever. Thanks.

S
 
S
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24 hrs later and it's still running fine - I think you may have nailed it ChrisN (hope I'm not speaking too soon). I'll send a copy of your diagnosis with it for the next service (Or maybe I'll see if Omega will now fix it for free since they failed to work it out three times on the bounce). Thanks for taking the time to answer, much appreciated.

Cheers

S
 
ChrisN
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That's good news. I'd suspect the minute jumper tension spring has been badly adjusted or there is a damaged tooth on the minute runner. Regardless, you need a watchmaker as you say because it seems to have been ten years since the service.

If you don't want to use the Omega centre in UK, you could try Simon Freese. I'm not taking on further work but if you get stuck, let me know and I'll check it over. I strongly suspect it will need a full service though if it's been ten years and it would be best to go to someone who is intending to keep working.

Good luck, Chris
 
Out of TIME!
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If you follow the wheel #1710 it drives the coupling wheel 1712.
When the chronograph is engaged, the coupling yoke 1724 activates with cam 1843 allowing it to drive chronograph runner wheel 1705. If depthing or teeth mesh to tight or deep, the watch will stop. Adjusting screw 1702 is cam like this adjust the depth of 1710 drive wheel, screw head 1701 adjust the depthing into the chronograph runner wheel 1705.
When adjusted correctly, driving runner 1710 which has a finger underneath.
When it 1710 trip finger passes by minute record intermidiate wheel 1714 moving the wheel one tooth turning 1708 one tooth and held by detent 1766.
More likely a depthing problem in the coupling gear and drive gear.
My guess...
Mike
 
S
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ChrisN ChrisN
That's good news. I'd suspect the minute jumper tension spring has been badly adjusted or there is a damaged tooth on the minute runner. Regardless, you need a watchmaker as you say because it seems to have been ten years since the service.

If you don't want to use the Omega centre in UK, you could try Simon Freese. I'm not taking on further work but if you get stuck, let me know and I'll check it over. I strongly suspect it will need a full service though if it's been ten years and it would be best to go to someone who is intending to keep working.

Good luck, Chris
Thanks for the recommendation (and the generous offer) - I'm out of the country for a while but may give Simon a call when I return - I'm currently just very happy to have a watch that tells the time again.

S
 
Out of TIME!
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A note, check when you get your watches Speedmasters back from service.
With the chonograph running, push the reset button.
If adjusted correct you should not be able to push the button.
If the button pushes in the chornograh hands will fly back & keep on running.
You should get the idea.
Mike
 
S
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Out of TIME! Out of TIME!
If you follow the wheel #1710 it drives the coupling wheel 1712.
When the chronograph is engaged, the coupling yoke 1724 activates with cam 1843 allowing it to drive chronograph runner wheel 1705. If depthing or teeth mesh to tight or deep, the watch will stop. Adjusting screw 1702 is cam like this adjust the depth of 1710 drive wheel, screw head 1701 adjust the depthing into the chronograph runner wheel 1705.
When adjusted correctly, driving runner 1710 which has a finger underneath.
When it 1710 trip finger passes by minute record intermidiate wheel 1714 moving the wheel one tooth turning 1708 one tooth and held by detent 1766.
More likely a depthing problem in the coupling gear and drive gear.
My guess...
Mike
Thanks for taking the time to reply Out of TIME! - I'm sure your very detailed notes will mean something to those in the know - I'm not one of those but I'll keep a note for the next service.

Cheers

S
 
Archer
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Out of TIME! Out of TIME!
A note, check when you get your watches Speedmasters back from service.
With the chonograph running, push the reset button.
If adjusted correct you should not be able to push the button.
If the button pushes in the chornograh hands will fly back & keep on running.
You should get the idea.
Mike

Hi Mike,

Can you please explain exactly what adjustment this tests?

Cheers, Al
 
Out of TIME!
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There is a lever that should block the reset when the chonograph is running.
Think of it as you are timing something & your intention is to stop to read the elapsed time.
By mistake you push the rest instead, everthing will rest or fly-back to zero.
Should not be able to reset while chronograph is engauged.
Hope this is clear!
Mike
 
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