This is the first cannon pin change I have done so I decided to take a few pics along the way. If you enjoy tinkering with watches it is a lot of fun but there are a couple of things to watch out for in the process...OK on with the show.
Remove the crown guard and stem from the watch then remove the movement from the case. There are other tutorials that already show how to do this.
First we remove the hands from the watch:
This dial just lifted off the movement:
Remove the keyless works cover screw:
Remove the keyless cover: Be careful because the set spring underneath can fly away very easily.
CAUTION: Now remove 'set spring'. It is the U-shaped spring in the photo. See how the spring fits next to the 'clutch lever'.
Be very careful not to let the spring get away from you. The reason we remove the keyless cover and spring is to get to the minute wheel for removal and we remove the minute wheel so we do not risk damaging its teeth when we seat the new cannon pinion.
Now remove the 'hour wheel' and its foil:
Now we can remove the minute wheel:
Parts are safely stored:
Now we are ready to remove the short cannon pin:
Here is the correct tool to do it with. It is a Bergeon #2 hands and cannon pin puller. Regular pliers can be used but this is the correct tool for the job:
Place puller over pin:
...and gently squeeze the sides to lift the cannon pin off:
...cannon pin removed:
Here is a shot of the short pin next to the larger one we will put on:
Place the new pin in position:
...and firmly press downward until you hear it seat. You will know when it is seated properly, it will make a nice click. I used the end of my tweezers. A press would be ideal for this part but sometimes we must make do with what we have.
Now replace the minute wheel back on:
minute wheel in place:
Here is the short hour wheel next to the new larger hour wheel. The large hour wheel comes with cannon pin as a set.
Take the foil from the short wheel and place onto the taller wheel:
Hour wheel in place:
Now its time to put the set spring back in. Be very careful because it can get away and make sure it butts up against the clutch lever:
Set spring in position:
Replace the keyless cover and screw:
Place the dial on:
Now we put the hands back on...With the larger cannon pin the hour hand should fit fine, but the minute hand will need to be filed down in order to fit on. I invert the hand on a flat surface and file down to correct size with a jeweler's file. Take your time, file a little then test for fit. File until the correct fit is achieved:
Jeweler's file for filing down the flange on the minute hand:
Hour and second hand placed on:
Now the filed down minute hand is placed on: The minute hand could use just a little more filing down, but much improved.
Now I clean off dial smudges with some rodico putty:
Maybe still not perfect but much better:
...and just for fun we will finish with a pic of the real thing. Thanks for viewing and good luck.
Remove the crown guard and stem from the watch then remove the movement from the case. There are other tutorials that already show how to do this.
First we remove the hands from the watch:
This dial just lifted off the movement:
Remove the keyless works cover screw:
Remove the keyless cover: Be careful because the set spring underneath can fly away very easily.
CAUTION: Now remove 'set spring'. It is the U-shaped spring in the photo. See how the spring fits next to the 'clutch lever'.
Be very careful not to let the spring get away from you. The reason we remove the keyless cover and spring is to get to the minute wheel for removal and we remove the minute wheel so we do not risk damaging its teeth when we seat the new cannon pinion.
Now remove the 'hour wheel' and its foil:
Now we can remove the minute wheel:
Parts are safely stored:
Now we are ready to remove the short cannon pin:
Here is the correct tool to do it with. It is a Bergeon #2 hands and cannon pin puller. Regular pliers can be used but this is the correct tool for the job:
Place puller over pin:
...and gently squeeze the sides to lift the cannon pin off:
...cannon pin removed:
Here is a shot of the short pin next to the larger one we will put on:
Place the new pin in position:
...and firmly press downward until you hear it seat. You will know when it is seated properly, it will make a nice click. I used the end of my tweezers. A press would be ideal for this part but sometimes we must make do with what we have.
Now replace the minute wheel back on:
minute wheel in place:
Here is the short hour wheel next to the new larger hour wheel. The large hour wheel comes with cannon pin as a set.
Take the foil from the short wheel and place onto the taller wheel:
Hour wheel in place:
Now its time to put the set spring back in. Be very careful because it can get away and make sure it butts up against the clutch lever:
Set spring in position:
Replace the keyless cover and screw:
Place the dial on:
Now we put the hands back on...With the larger cannon pin the hour hand should fit fine, but the minute hand will need to be filed down in order to fit on. I invert the hand on a flat surface and file down to correct size with a jeweler's file. Take your time, file a little then test for fit. File until the correct fit is achieved:
Jeweler's file for filing down the flange on the minute hand:
Hour and second hand placed on:
Now the filed down minute hand is placed on: The minute hand could use just a little more filing down, but much improved.
Now I clean off dial smudges with some rodico putty:
Maybe still not perfect but much better:
...and just for fun we will finish with a pic of the real thing. Thanks for viewing and good luck.
