Fixing Helicopter Issue Sellita SW200-1
If you own a watch with a Sellita SW200, then you know of the weird helicopter issue that happens when the winding rotor gets gunky and starts engaging with the crown when you manually wind the watch. The watch makes all kinds of grinding noises a and feels like the watch is coming apart.
What a great opportunity to put my newly learned skills to the test. I said my prayers and removed the watch caseback. The rotor is held in place by two screws which were not difficult to remove. Then I flipped the rotor over and remove the one screw holding the winding gear bridge in place. Removed the four gears and scrubbed them in naphtha bath then dried and ran then in the ultrasonic in a jar with IPA solution. Ran the ultrasonic with hot water and placed the jar with the IPA inside and scrubbed for 10 minutes. Air dried the parts on a coffee filter and pump air blower. All the pivot points got a dab of HP1300 and reassembled everything.
It is winding beautifully, better than when bought the watch. I am guessing since the watch dates back to the pre-invicta purchase of 2016, (guessing by the old logo on the dial and crown) and sat at the store (Costco) for years, the lubricants are drying up. I am sure I will soon need to open the watch again and do a full service, but this first experience gave me a lot of satisfaction to be able to fix my watch and gain an even closer understanding of the workings and operation. Anyone else like to tinker with their watches?
Recent watch enthusiast. Looking for community, knowledge, and advice
I'm experiencing this with my 3 years old Oris now. Wasn't sure what caused it, but it gets worse in winter. Now I know! I guess it needs a service then...
I'm experiencing this with my 3 years old Oris now. Wasn't sure what caused it, but it gets worse in winter. Now I know! I guess it needs a service then...
Might just be the winding mechanism pawl wheels getting gunky. If you don’t have the tools take it in to get a full service. But the process of cleaning and relubricating the winding mechanism was not too complicated, just take your time and don’t force anything into place.
I find it very interesting that your example timepiece is a Glycine Combat Sub. I have had two helicopter rotor issues. One was a new Marathon that was sent back for warranty service and the other a three year old Combat Sub. Both SW200-1 movements, and unfortunately wound 40 times before I put on either one of them. I have since learned to wind any Sellita or 2824 type movement until the seconds hand starts to move then stop winding. I then set the time and date if available and strap it on and let inertia do the rest. I did the same take-down on the Sub you did above minus the cleaning part. I wanted to inspect the gears and the teeth on the ratchet wheel. They were all good, so that wasn't the problem. I manually worked the pawl wheels - they were spotless and dry as a bone, but I didn't have the lube on hand so I hit them with the air puffer a couple times and reassembled the watch. I don't know how long it will last but the problem has remedied itself! Rare is the occasion that I tinker for fun and actually FIX something instead of breaking it even more 🙂 Cheers Miguel! Really appreciate your post.
Just sharing some of what I have learned while in this watchmaking hobby.
Returned same glycine to cosco.Didn’t know about this issue until today.It shook violently when setting time,never thought a watch could shake that hard.
Returned same glycine to cosco.Didn’t know about this issue until today.It shook violently when setting time,never thought a watch could shake that hard.
Yeah, long time in storage gummed up the automatic module. This procedure would have fixed that, but when we buy something “new” we are expecting for the item to work flawlessly. Be aware, this is a known issue with both ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200. The lesson, we need to wear our watches.
Yeah, long time in storage gummed up the automatic module. This procedure would have fixed that, but when we buy something “new” we are expecting for the item to work flawlessly. Be aware, this is a known issue with both ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200. The lesson, we need to wear our watches.
Understood,never had issues with eta’s.In my case I’d wear glycine weekly,and a little over a year of ownership it started to fail.I have a few sellitas.Had a different sellita movement fail with in a week.Crown fell off,luckily it happend at home.Was cheaper to repair then send back to Switzerland.From now on I’ll avoid sellitas.Excellent reminder,we must wear watches,or at least put them in a winder,so they do not gum up as you just stated.