Timegrapher
Put a few of my Russian watches on the timegrapher. I know they should be stripped and cleaned before adjusting😜Only set them face up. Improved the beat error and the seconds per day. Got a couple within 4 seconds.
Then looked at the Zim in the photograph. Now I'm no horologist, but this is the only watch I've looked at, that the beat error cannot be adjusted by the lever. I'm not advanced enough to unscrew the hairspring clamp and adjust it that way. 5.0ms out!!
Amplitude looked visually slow, looked at the hairspring. Thought it was a Breuget type, then realised it looked as if half the spring wasn't moving?
Took off the balance bridge, put it on my bridge support tool. The balance wheel didn't drop much when suspended by the spring. 😕 I could see it was somehow snagged, gave it a gentle tug, and it released itself. Fitted it back in the watch, twice🙄 Didn't get the impulse jewel in the pallet fork. All back in. 250 degrees of amplitude. Still poor beat error of 5ms. But, managed to improve on the seconds per day. When I first put it on the timegrapher, it was 360 seconds slow a day. Managed to get it better. But the movement is probably dirty and judging by the lack of beat error adjustment, CHEAP! Now it varies by about 10 seconds, as it just sits there on the timegrapher in the face up position.
But, I'm pleased with myself😁
Slightly eccentric, wicked sense of humour. Self confessed watch cheapskate, who tinkers with watches. Love motorbikes, to date, I've ridden about 250,000 miles, 113,000 of which are on my BMW 1150GS....
Congrats on your adjustment
I think it’s fine you did so but in no pro either 😬😂
Well done. A timegrapher is pretty handy when you have a bunch of mechanicals. Even plenty of new watches can use some fine tuning straight out of the box.
Struggling with a Raketa. Adjust the stud for the beat, and the regulator moves with it😱 Had to resort to putting some Moebius on them, in the hope that capillary action would work it's way in.
Ended up being so far out on the beat error that the timegrapher wouldn't pick it up. Took another identical movement and set the stud and lever in the same position, at least its running now.
Time to walk away for a while. Currently reading minus 128 seconds and 2.0ms. 🙄
Caseback don't just pop on, with these Raketas. I bought this, thinking I'd never use it. Held together with glue, wire and I just added the cables ties, as a belt and braces approach.
I'll live with that😁
I'll live with that😁
And probably better than when it left the factory.