Just wanted to share my new arrival! While browsing eBay last week, this watch popped up with pretty terrible photos. It was listed as non-working for parts or repair. I decided to take a chance on it since the dial and case seemed to look great even through the blurriness. I was hoping that all the watch needed was a new battery on arrival since the seller was not a watch-related business:



The watch just arrived today: the case, dial, hands are stunning condition and almost appear to be unworn. I opened up the caseback and saw that the battery was installed loosely. I popped in a brand new Renata....and bam, it doesn't work .



The caliber 1220 was first introduced in 1973 and designed by Max Hetzel, designer of the Accutron. It has an asymmetric tuning fork that resonates at 720 Hz instead of the more normal 300 Hz and a micromotor. The micromotor consists of an oil filled sealed box where a wheel mounted on four rubies. When the fork vibrates, this wheel bounces off two opposite ruby springs.

For the time being, I will admire this watch for what it is while looking for someone to perform a service and get it running. If anyone here has some Megasonics, I would love to see them!

 

Watch looks like it is in first-rate condition. Nice score. Good luck getting it running.

 

Shame it’s not running, I found decent shape omega tuning fork at a local pawn shop last year, came close to buying it but was worried about finding someone to fix it, only ran after giving it a solid whack on the side. Once it started it would run till you tried to adjust the time. I’m hoping to come across a working one some day.

 

Should have adjusted the time first, and then given it a solid whack on the side

That's a really nice Megasonic, I'm sure one you get somebody to repair it you'll have still picked up an amazing deal. If that was a good price I'd have gone with the old "shoot first, ask questions later".

 

Well done. A great case & dial is often worth the risk. Good luck.

 

Nice time piece. Is it humming or not moving at all? I have two working movements and some parts left.

 

You can't get these "officially" (Omega or STS) serviced anymore but some experts like Ludmil in Bulgaria could possibly help, that or swapping the movement of course but they're rather expensive!
When I saw the title I thought it might be the rare Megasonic Lobster that popped up in my eBay searches recently.

 

The official name for that is "percussive maintenance" by the way.

 

Hahah, I expect to see that show up on a few eBay listings in the future. ‘Watch runs great, keeps good time, requires some light percussively maintenance once a month (unless the month has 31 days)’

 

Probably something relatively simple to get her running again. You’d be surprised how little has to go wrong. Of course I have no idea what that would be.

 

Haha, this is actually the first thing I tried when putting in the new battery but my results weren't as good as @perks713 !

That is what I am hoping. The gasket was completely disintegrated and had left black residue on the caseback and inside the movement. I have a feeling the coil might have some gunk on it as well.

Unfortunately it is not humming or moving. The hands do move freely when using the crown and the date advances properly. I'm hoping it is just a matter of cleaning and servicing the movement, but I might be PMing you regarding those movements/parts if it's something more serious

That's exactly what I did! Now I'm here asking the questions lol

 

Well the fact that the date wheel advances properly is a plus, as these plastic date wheels often need to be replaced due to the aged brittle plastic

 

Don't hesitate to call on @JackDaniels83 if you need to should the service not be enough. He was great to me a few months back on a part for an old Connie Hummer. Generous, fast and courteous. The kind of thing this forum does when it is at it's best.

 

Looks great condition wise. Hope you get it sorted. Cool watch!

 

Just sent the watch over to Budget Accutron Service in Michigan! Hoping it is just a matter of cleaning and servicing but will keep everyone posted either way.

Has anyone had experience with that repair shop?

 

Good luck but it sounds more serious than that if you hear no humming or see the "mouse" moving, hopefully they can provide parts if need be. Keep us posted !

 

a.k.a. The "Fonzarelli Fix." Ayyyyy.

 

Wanted to update this thread since I just got the watch back from service. First and foremost, HUGE thank you to @JackDaniels83 who was instrumental in getting this watch back up and running.

The repair was quite extensive and necessitated replacement of the Micromotor Tuning Fork (seen in the photos above). The watch is now running within COSC Specs as it should.

It has the smoothest sweep of the second hand that I have seen. I have attached a video below. If you turn up your volume at the end, you will hear the hum, which I think is actually more audible than f300s I have owned in the past.

 

Glad to hear that. Nice watch, by the way.

 

I've not heard a Megasonic 720Hz before, no surpises but the sound is very different to an f300.