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JamesTYO
·I’m not a watchmaker of course, but like a car, certain symptoms can be a tell-tale.
Please correct me and/or enhance this list of watch hunting trouble signs as needed:
Winding smoothly and it builds tension but then slips (like a spring unwinding -which it literally is) is the mainspring is shot- easy in some watches (just replace the mainspring) where you can get into the barrel- death to some obsolete brands where the barrel was sealed (hello zodiac)- whole new barrel or parts watch needed.
Winding and it skips every few revolutions but you feel it skip and catch, most likely worn pinion (broken tooth). Part may be available on eBay if you hunt for that specific part- or parts watch needed and possibly same problem on that watch (again- hello zodiac).
Hour and minute hands don’t move but watch is running and second hand goes around (you can hear it running fine), you can set them but still not moving on their own- canon pinion is loose- may be a simple crimp fix or may need a whole new canon pinion- either way, hands and dial need to come off and lots of disassembly.
Manual winding runs for a few seconds and stops- resistance in the train, possibly gummed up oil/dirt and needs full service (they should all have a full service anyway)- it takes very little resistance to stop a watch.
Watch won’t set but will run, crown doesn’t do anything but wind it- something out of whack in keyless works- dial has to come off again.
Feels like gravel when you wind it- gears with missing teeth- stop now!
Running very fast (like 15 minutes in an hour) hairspring is kinked or hung up (this can be a simple as it just needs to come out and go back in to undo the hang-up or it could be actually kinked which is throwing off the beat- that’s microscope work and skilled hand to fix that!)
I'll add a couple... (obviously not a watchmaker but these are things I have come across, almost all of course result in a service being needed unless you have a very friendly/willing watchmaker).
Watch runs fine in one position (face up or face down) but in the opposite position stops dead - Likely a bent or damaged balance staff. Can happen on even watches with shock resistance.
Non quick-set dates sticks or slows down where it is time to change the date or changes irregularly - cannon pinion.
Manual wind - winds up OK but never reaches a full wind; mainspring damaged somewhere but not yet catastrophically.
Dial/loose moves- broken/bent dial foot.
Automatic ticks OK when shaken and time sets - but hands don't move anywhere - likely the mainspring.
