DIY Home servicing for new reps.

[Samgobigs]

If things go well, hopefully my new reps will be coming in soon. (Submariner Hulk V2s and 5711 PPF V3). Browsing through this section, I came across a well written guide to servicing, but I'm afraid I don't have a lot of heavy machinery. (https://forum.replica-watch.info/fo...ice-your-movement-tutorial-complete-breakdown) I did order a watch kit on Amazon, so hopefully can do some DIY servicing at home.

Given that most watch stores are closed (due to COVID), is there a DIY checklist for home servicing? Not necessarily something as involved as the above guide, but rather some basic items that should be done when the new rep arrives?

 

[p0pperini]

A new rep - assuming it’s working when it arrives - shouldn’t need any attention.

I think you’ll struggle to use that article as a guide to servicing your watch (regardless of the Photobucket logo slapped across every pic). Yes, it outlines the steps to servicing, but there’s nothing like enough detail.

You’d be better off watching Mark Lovick’s YouTube videos - check out the Watch Repair Channel.

Home servicing isn’t something you should consider trying out on your new reps. Get some practice in first on cheap movements.

 

[Fiddo]

A new rep - assuming it’s working when it arrives - shouldn’t need any attention.

I think you’ll struggle to use that article as a guide to servicing your watch (regardless of the Photobucket logo slapped across every pic). Yes, it outlines the steps to servicing, but there’s nothing like enough detail.

You’d be better off watching Mark Lovick’s YouTube videos - check out the Watch Repair Channel.

Home servicing isn’t something you should consider trying out on your new reps. Get some practice in first on cheap movements.

Yeah.... ^ what he said^........wear them when you get them. Watch servicing can be more frustrating than rewarding. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[chubbychaser911]

I suggest that you buy a movement separate from your watch and try servicing that first. I was surprised that I was able to completely disassemble and reassemble a 2836 clone. You could buy a 3135 clone on eBay and service that. You won't have an industrial cleaner but you could use naphtha and a fine haired bristle brush to wash the parts manually. Then you have to buy the proper lubricants and greases as well as applicators. It's a fun and fascinating hobby. But my strong suggestion is to not start your servicing attempts on a movement from a watch you want to wear right away. You will scratch, ding, and bend parts on your first attempt.

 

[DD60]

If you don't have the correct tools, and especially if you don't have a clue as to what you're doing - leave it to the pros. This applies to more than just watches.
Just enjoy it until it breaks, buy another one. Then keep the old one for parts and or learning and practicing on.

 

[KJ2020]

 

[genericvalue]

From my early tentative steps at "looking under the hood" with a view to just learning basic oiling and maintenance, I would like to qualify Fiddo's statement: "if it ain't broke"....it soon will be!!
The dark art of Watchsmithery is borne out of much skill, patience, excellent tools, hand and eye co-ordination and a shed load of specialist know how. Even understanding what lubes to use where is a fascinating learning curve in its own right....
That being said, it's definitely a skillset worth aspiring toward.

 

[genericvalue]

.

 

[mrtimeshift]

I wouldn't recommend servicing it yourself. There is a reason why Watchsmith/maker is an actual occupation. If you want to learn or experiment a little take a cheap watch.
good luck

 

[thefallacy]

Kudos for wanting to do this yourself, but you should probably attend some classes or a course! I'm thinking of doing the same at some point too

 

[Jxtanner]

As above have stated, watch tinkering requires tools/ skill. I thought I was more mechanically inclined than the average bear but I found out I was ham fisted during setting my minute and hour hands.

 

[Samgobigs]

Fair points everyone. I do think there are some very basic skills everyone should learn (sizing a bracelet, battery changing) but aside from that the tear down and cleaning of the watch should be left to professionals. I was interested in learning some skills such as disassembling a watch as it may serve as a valuable tool when it comes time to modding a watch in the future.

For now, I’ll just enjoy it out of the box.

By the way, is there a consensus on whether or not to service the rep watch when it arrives? I did read some people recommending it as the factories these watches are made in aren’t necessarily the cleanest and things like dust / dirt can get inside the watch in places you can’t see.

The Followup question, if servicing is recommended, how thorough of a service is needed? A complete disassembling and cleaning may seem a bit overkill, but maybe something less involved?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tenx139]

Several weeks ago , I decided to service an A2824, I watched the video [mention]KJ2020 [/mention] about 1,000 times while I disassembled and reassembled the movement, several times before I got it perfect. I was shocked by how tiny the parts are, it’s remarkable that movements were made many years ago without the modern technology we have today. Modding watches has given me an appreciation to the cost at which the Chinese manufacture and can sell for a profit at the prices the watches sell for. My opinion is that if the watch isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Most of the watches I have are not serviced and are continually wound in auto winder and are keeping working well. That’s my two cents.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Complete]

The guy in the video makes it look easy!

 

[Dr Fun Socks]

If you have a lot of watches running similar movements (2836/2824) it can be worth it learning to service them. But you will spend probably enough to service 5 watches on the necessary oils and tools. Yours are brand new so you shouldn’t need replacement parts but it’s something to bear in mind because if you dont manage to lose at least one tiny screw or click spring on your first attempt your a better man that me. But as has been mentioned, watch the watch repair channel on you tube. 99.9% of my watch making skill has come from watching mark and here. The other 0.1% is just luck. All that said its very satisfying making a watch work again. If it worked before you take it apart your just at an advantage.

 

[genericvalue]

Several years ago, I bought a couple of those nasty Chinese Ebay movements off ebay with the 3 subdials for 24 hours, day and date - DHGate "shitters" ipff you watch a certain pontipff on utube... they were my first "replicas" so its only fitting that they are the sacrificial lambs as I progressed on my journey into the murky world of the "real" replicas but godammit can those parts fly out of your tweezers.
don't laugh but I've have just spent 4 goddam hours trying to refit the sub dial hands. Absolutely no chance in hell so far. I am practising dismantling and disassembly to learn where all the screws go.
And yes, I've already discovered the reverse thread screw on the keyless works Mark Lovick mentioned: big fat Doh moment as I over torqued my new bergeon toy screwdrivers and watched the goddam screw head fly off.
So much flying debris at the moment, I need to do this stuff in a zero gravity environment...and don't get me started on the time spent looking for these little bits of metal and trying to work out their suspected trajectories to narrow down the search area!!!

 

[BreatheNBeat92]

Im in the same boat as u OP,
I suggest buying used movement lots of the bay, practice opening and closing them maybe same one again and again.
See how the mechanism works and understand instead of just copying what to do next. Will be much easier to progress.

Invest in good Screwdriver set, tweezer set, a decent eye loupe or magnification, case opener and movement holder you could use basic ones if you dont want to go all out, some rodico, finger condoms, a good source of light, spring bar tool, oiler and oils if you wanna service them yourself and some patience. Well this is what I remember for now.

And try to get cheap 2824 or 6497 movements before you get into you new reps. Keep taking pics on every part you put and remove so you have a reference point also.

All these can be found at esslinger, cousinsuk, Julesborel etc. they are shipping even today.

Thats what I remember for now to type haha forgive my transplant medicine brain. Goodluck

 

[genericvalue]

One point on the screwdrivers : man o man do we put a value on those suckers!!! The important part is the blades so I bought super cheap drivers complete with the little coloured bits of plastic pretending to be real watchsmith ones for only a few pounds and then bought the quality Bergeon blades and grub screws off Cousins. Saved a ton of money that way but I still have professional quality tooling at the business end. Plus the Bergeons come packed as two blades in a little container. The container has coloured rings which you can slip off and fit to the tops of your fake body, looks very pretty indeed and it makes my watchsmithery a whole lot better, but I'm still ham fisted and breaking screws !!

 

[BreatheNBeat92]

One point on the screwdrivers : man o man do we put a value on those suckers!!! The important part is the blades so I bought super cheap drivers complete with the little coloured bits of plastic pretending to be real watchsmith ones for only a few pounds and then bought the quality Bergeon blades and grub screws off Cousins. Saved a ton of money that way but I still have professional quality tooling at the business end. Plus the Bergeons come packed as two blades in a little container. The container has coloured rings which you can slip off and fit to the tops of your fake body, looks very pretty indeed and it makes my watchsmithery a whole lot better, but I'm still ham fisted and breaking screws !!

Yup ive done that too. Blades are what matters the mostz i bought set of aliexpress initially then added bergeon blades from esslinger. Worked fine but i love the new ergonomic comfortable grip bergeon ones hhaha.

Tell me more about break screws


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tweetybird87]

thank you for this. I'd probably only resort to this when something has stopped working, but the guides above would be very useful when I have to.