Hi all,

Just trying to get an old watch running again. The 30t2 balance wheel is shot and I have a 266 and a 268 movement to use as donors. I want to know if this balance wheels are interchangeable before taking them to my watchmaker.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge,

P

 

I can't answer your question (lack of information provided) but what I can tell you is that not all 30T2's were the same with regards to the balance, and certainly not all 260 series are the same. When Omega made changes to the numbering system, other changes were made also.

If you can post photos of the watch that needs the balance, and photos of the donor watches, might be possible to tell you more.

What is wrong with the existing balance?

Cheers, Al

 

Thanks for your replies,

@Archer, I dont have pics of the watch rightnow as it is in the watchmaker, but its 2384 US Army just like this one

https://omegaforums.net/threads/ome...case-back-military-watch-2384-30t2-1945.9683/

With the permission of the OP Ill attach an image of the movement



I can see the balance wheel has counter weights so probably these balance wheels I have wont work.



The watchmaker serviced the watch but it stops in certain positions, he said it was the balance wheel, and not repairable. I will ask exactly what was wrong next time we speak.

Edited to add pics of donor movements

 

Well two issues certainly, with the donors being smooth balances and the original an adjustable mass balance, and also the original is not a shock protected balance, so has no Incabloc that the donors have. So the balance staff is specific to Incabloc or not. So the donor balances will not work.

Your watchmaker should be well aware of this, so hopefully they are not asking you to figure out if these work or not.

It takes quite a lot to make a balance unusable, so if they are able to identify what part of the balance assembly is the problem, that would help. Staffs can be replaced, the balance can be trued if it's wobbly, so would need to know the specific issues to say for sure you need a new one, or if your watchmaker is looking for a quick fix.

Cheers, Al

 

266/268 balance swill not work in your watch. there are plenty of early watches on ebay; find a donor watch in bad optical condition there. much easier money wise. kind regards. achim

 

Al, don't mess with him - we all know you can just take those pesky screws out of the old, drill & tap the donor balance wheel and install the screws, and voila!

 

I should have made the visual comparison before posting, I didn’t have the watch at hand but Ive learned a lot.

@watchyouwant that is what I will doing. At least now I know it must be a non incabloc 30t2 I can get a donor watch for less than the price of a new balance ($180+) and hope for the balance wheel to be OK

Al, if I remember correctly the balance has a hairspring that seems to have been handmade. Or heavily manipulated.

Thanks all

 

Can't hairsprings be made?

 

Yep, they sure can. Probably the easiest part of watchmaking.

 

Will look into the exact issue tomorrow and update, I really trust this guy as he has solved a couple of basketcases for me. Good nighty

 

I made half a dozen before my first coffee was done this morning. Easy peasy!

 

You guys are using the [sarcasm] wrong font. [/sarcasm]

 

According to the watchmaker the balance has an incorrect staff and a messes up hairspring. We dont have replacements parts were I live, but if it makes economical sense to rebuild it I might be able to ship out.

The other option is wait for the donor watch, which do appear occasionally.

Thanks all,

P