Hebdomas Pocket Watch

[Hudson777]

I am going to fix an 8 day hebdomas watch for a friend of mine. Does anyone know how to remove the mainspring/barrel from the movement? It appears it is held in by a screw at the center, but there is no spot for the screw driver, instead there are two holes and it appears some special tool is needed. Any suggestions?

 

[zruc]

Right. need a tool to use the two holes. expect screw counter-clockwise.

 

[CZHACK]

I could be wrong but given the 8 day duration spring power - extra care should be taken. Good luck. Mike

 

[Hudson777]

what type of tool has holes like that? I looked on ebay and saw some parts for sale. It appears the little ring with the two holes is attached to the barrel. So when I unscrew the area with the two holes, should I expect the whole barrel to rotate off?

 

[sderek]

I've owned a 2 of these watches. I had one that was missing the threaded piece with the 2 holes, and the barrel was a separate piece.

 

[Burkhard Rasch]

Hi Hudson!
The center piece with the two holes is a nut indeed,coming off counterclockwise.It is designed for a respective special tool that fits into the holes.As You (and I )don´t have it we have to improvize.I usualy take an old metall-workers circle,the tips tapered verry thin.The barrel has teeth and a click outside,sometimes hidden in the rim of the case.If let down completely the spring isn´t more dangerous than others in a barrel.HTH
Burkhard

 

[Hudson777]

Thanks

I took the whole thing apart. The original problem was that the mainspring seemed to be slipping as one winds it up tightly. Now when I look in the barrel, it seems like it is designed to "slip" with little notches spaced out in the barrel, and the end of the mainspring hooking to a metal strip which has a notch in the end to fit in the barrel slot. Am I missing something here? Is it supposed to slip as it gets wound up?

 

[Burkhard Rasch]

Yes,Hudson,they´re supposed to slip.Sometimes they´re advertised as "unbreakable"on the barrel.When I bought my first-in my honeymoon in Belgium-I was quiet scared when I noticed the slipping first time.My first reaction was:Ok,You´ve bought a beautifull watch and within two hours You´ve broken it :bang:But the watch didn´t stop!I was so glad when coming home I saw what had realy happened!
Burkhard

 

[Hudson777]

Two problems:

Now that I cleaned it, it seems the mainspring slips much faster once I start winding it then before the cleaning. What should I do? I doubt I'll get 8 days out of it now.

Second, before the cleaning, when I wound the watch and it was a very smooth wind.. Now it feels like a grinding from the click onto the teeth of the barrel. Are the barrel teeth supposed to be VERY lubricated with some type of grease? I put some KT-22 on it which made it a little better, but I'm not sure if I put too little in. It almost seems like I should pack the teeth with it, but I dont remember there being so much residue when I clean it.

Thanks

 

[Burkhard Rasch]

Hi Hudson,
I had the same experiance too:The spring has probably set a little ,wipe it allmost dry and be prepared to have it run 5-6 days.Otherwise You have to replace the spring.
I do remember having that problem too:There is some possibility of adjustment either on the stem side or on the barrel side(a spring,a washer or something like it,I don´t remember)I´m not a professional,and I know I tackeled quiet a bit till I had it running smothly.It´s not a question of more lubrification!
Here´s the pic of my dayly companion!
Burkhard

 

[Hudson777]

Burkhard,

Thanks. Would the washer go under the click spring, or under the barrel somehow? I don't have any pieces left over after taking this apart. I don't even think I removed the click spring when I cleaned it. After I put the grease on the teeth, it made it VERY smooth. The problem is I know it is going to gunk up. Any thoughts are appreciated.