Omega 344 Part Identification

[Paul Raposo]

I'm hoping to get the correct name for this Omega caliber 344 part. It's part of the bumper autowind and I want to call it a ratchet but I'm not sure that's what it is. It also appears to be missing a spring from the underside. Can I buy the spring or would I need to source a complete new part?

 

[Skutt50]

Without the wheel, it is called "Pawl-bearing Yoke with stud and spring" and has omega number 330-1407

I don't know about the spring.......

Edit: Looked around with Google and it looks like a simple spring one could make by shaping a piece of raw spring material. My only concern is how it is attached. I can't realy tell from the pictures I found.....

 

[Paul Raposo]

Thank you for the ID and part number Skutt50, very much appreciate it.

The spring end goes on the post on the underside and there's a groove in the click that the other end sits inside.

Unfortunately I don't have any wire thin enough to do the job.

Here's a couple of pictures showing the spring.

 

[Chris Radek]

 

[Al J]

All these parts are long discontinued. The last watch I had in that needed these parts, I had to cannibalize my own bumper for them...

Donor watch is likely the best bet.

 

[roughbarked]

I've got one of those somewhere. Trying to think. Sure it is still in the packet. Probably got a couple of old ones but they were probably worn out or I wouldn't have got them in bits.

 

[Paul Raposo]

Thanks for those pics Chris, very helpful. Clearly at one point the spring was available on it's own.

Thanks for your reply, Al. I was worried that would be the case but tried to stay optimistic. I'll give Perrin's a call on Monday but I'm sure it will be emotionally futile.

There's always ebay but with the post the way it is right now it will be a while before I get the part.

 

[Paul Raposo]

I've got one of those somewhere. Trying to think. Sure it is still in the packet. Probably got a couple of old ones but they were probably worn out or I wouldn't have got them in bits.

The funny thing is I had a partial 344 movement but gave it to a friend a long while ago so he could finish his uncle's watch for his anniversary. I emailed him this morning but he has since passed on the reminder of the movement to another collector.

 

[Skutt50]

Unfortunately I don't have any wire thin enough to do the job.

I found a couple of old assortments with a number of different raw spring material (each some 5cm long) available on a local auction site. They come in very handy at times! Since you don't have this you could look for another spring from a spare part movement and re-shape. At least you would get it running again and can replace the spring at a later date, should you find the proper piece.

 

[Chris Radek]

Would a piece of stout hairspring work?

 

[roughbarked]

Well there you go. I have a packet full and unopened of the spring in question.

.. and I really haven't been able to look hard because I am neck deep in boxes and boxes of all this stuff at the moment. Don't even know who Martha is or whether she is even related to Arthur.



I am sure given time to look, I'll also find one or three of the transmission wheels.

 

[Skutt50]

Would a piece of stout hairspring work?

I was thinking more in the terms of a click spring.

 

[roughbarked]

Well there you go. I have a packet full and unopened of the spring in question.

.. and I really haven't been able to look hard because I am neck deep in boxes and boxes of all this stuff at the moment. Don't even know who Martha is or whether she is even related to Arthur.

View attachment 593867

I am sure given time to look, I'll also find one or three of the transmission wheels.

I haven't counted them. I had a quick look found one box that might have Omega bits and there it was. There could be ten or a dozen of them in that packet.

 

[Paul Raposo]

Would a piece of stout hairspring work?

The hole in the post that holds the spring is narrow so I think a length of hairspring would work and still have room for a taper pin. I don't have a spring I can sacrifice to try it though.

I haven't counted them. I had a quick look found one box that might have Omega bits and there it was. There could be ten or a dozen of them in that packet.

Do the springs come with taper pins or just the springs alone?

 

[roughbarked]

The hole in the post that holds the spring is narrow so I think a length of hairspring would work and still have room for a taper pin. I don't have a spring I can sacrifice to try it though.



Do the springs come with taper pins or just the springs alone?

The springs in the packet are all pinned to a stud.

View attachment 594132

 

[Paul Raposo]

The springs in the packet are all pinned to a stud.

Thanks for the update roughbarked. This makes sense since trying to pin that spring to the stud would be all kinds of infuriating.

 

[roughbarked]

Thanks for the update roughbarked. This makes sense since trying to pin that spring to the stud would be all kinds of infuriating.

Well yes. I have to admit that hand filing the tapered pins would be the extra layers of infuriating.