I took my 145.022-76 to the watchmaker for service. He suggested to replace the Delrin brake with metal one because 'it is plastic'. Should I do this? Thanks, Frank

 

My understanding is the delrin is the better material for that part. But a 76 would have been metal from the factory.

I'm not sure if it would affect value in anyway.

(Edit)

2019 I was so young and stupid...

 

According to this, -76 is Delrin. http://chronomaddox.com/omega/articles/delrin.html

I don't worry about value. Only after 40 years whether the 'plastic' can last another 40.

 

Learn something new everyday, I thought the Delrin came a little later then 76

 

That's a good idea; I have not thought of it. Thanks!

 

74 ( I think) I read it here a while back. Search "Delrin "

 

Sound reasoning for sure...

 

Some plastics are more durable, showing less wear over time, than some metals. Just something to consider.

 

I think I will just replace it with another Delrin and forget about it for the next 40 years.

 

But !! When you guys or one of your niblings find this watch in an other 40 years? He or she says that must be a Franken?
A metal brake where there should be a Delrin ??

 

Omega swapped from the metal brake to delrin purely for cost saving reasons.
There was never a problem with wear on the metal brake simply because all the brake does is to hold the chrono seconds hand in place when the chrono function is stopped. No movement, no straining to hold back moving parts. Without the brake the hand would simply flop about disconnected from the drive train.
The only reason I can think why your watchmaker wants to change to the metal brake is to add a nice bit of extra profit to his bill.

 

The Delrin brake is correct for a 76 so I would leave it as it is. An incorrect part in the movement will call into question the authenticity of the rest of the watch.

 

From our bible MWO (note the photo):

 

My -74 has a steel brake, serial number 31312813

 

The reasoning given in MWO may be the "official" word from Omega, but in reality the teeth of the chronograph seconds recording wheel don't really wear from the brake in my experience.

 

Is it safe to say that a 74 should not have a Delrin brake. 32M serial - is it possibility or an outright no?

 

Absolutely fine, as far as I'm aware. Early -74s had metal brakes, later ones had Delrin. The excerpt from MWO above gives an indication of the transition point.

 

I thought this was helpful = http://chronomaddox.com/omega/articles/delrin.html
Also how does the move to Delrin fit in with the changes in Movement ref - 861, 1861, 1861a or are Omega happy to hot swop?
As an aside I prefer the 69 Amen brake :0)

 

Same part they are interchangeable. The change happened in the early 70’s. Watches with display backs normally have the metal brake in the later 861/1861.