How to get the movement out of the case?

[Angra Mainyu]

Hello.

I have an old but perfectly working Hamilton 992 pocketwatch, housed into a badly damaged case, so I purchased in eBay a "parts watch" with a nice and lightly worn case that matches the 992 production time, thinking of use it for giving my Hammy a new home.

My problem is that I never have fiddle with watch's inner works before, and I'm not sure about the correct way of getting the movement out of the case.

The movement of these 16-size pocketwatches are hold to the case by two screws (what hopefully no poses great threat to my lacking skills), but I have no idea on how unscrew the stem and "free" the movement. :-S

If I rotate the crown counterclockwise it only makes the usual "click, click, click..." sound and nothing happens. How can I get the movement out of the case (without using the "Conan approach", that is!).

[Hartmut Richter]

First thing is that: you can't unless you have the tools for the job. Which in this case is a very small, thin screwdriver.

Right next to where the winding stem enters the movement is a small screw, smaller than the type holding the barrel train bridge to the mainplate, or the ones holding the whole movement in the case or the dial onto the movement. This small screw holds the winding stem tight so that it can be flicked to and fro but not taken out completely from the movement. First pull out the crown to the so-called first position (assuming that the time is set just like in a wristwatch, not by means of pressing a small button next to the crown), then unscrew the small screw a turn or 1 1/2 - two turns would probably be too much already! - and then remove the winding stem. After that, no problem with the rest of the movement.

Hartmut Richter

[sjmcolorado]

Hello.

I have an old but perfectly working Hamilton 992 pocketwatch, housed into a badly damaged case, so I purchased in eBay a "parts watch" with a nice and lightly worn case that matches the 992 production time, thinking of use it for giving my Hammy a new home.

My problem is that I never have fiddle with watch's inner works before, and I'm not sure about the correct way of getting the movement out of the case.

The movement of these 16-size pocketwatches are hold to the case by two screws (what hopefully no poses great threat to my lacking skills), but I have no idea on how unscrew the stem and "free" the movement. :-S

If I rotate the crown counterclockwise it only makes the usual "click, click, click..." sound and nothing happens. How can I get the movement out of the case (without using the "Conan approach", that is!).


Hello,
You have a great watch! It's a very simple proceedure to recase a 992. There a few things to keep in mind not to damage though, the porcillain dial, hands, the balance, and finger prints on the movement.
1. I would get a plastic movement holder. (plastic: will not scratch movement)
I also cut off the fingers of surgical gloves(my wife's a nurse) and use on my fingers when handling a clean or running movement. This prevents a lot of clean-up afterwards.
2. Depending on the type of case that your movement is in: lightly pull the crown as if your watch is a pendant set. You should feel and hear a slight click. This will pull the stem out of the movement, not completely, for the pupose of casing and recasing.
3.Remove front bezel and rear cover/s.
4.Gently place the watch, dial side down, on the plastic movement holder or hold the watch with the dial towards your palm. I like the movement holder way myself. Less chance of dropping and damaging...
5.With the correct size screwdriver, completely remove the 2 case screws. Be careful if you're holding it. The movement WILL fall out of the case from the dial side before you have the screws completely out.
6.If your watch is on the movement holder, gently pick up the case while making sure the movement remains on the holder.
7.Essentially, putting the movement in the case is just the reverse. Make sure the crown in the new case is pulled out before trying to put the movement in. The one "tricky" thing is to properly seat the stem into the movement as you are fitting the movement into the case. It is square and
you may have to rotate it to match up with the winding pinion.

I know this sounds like a lot, but it should only take about 5 minutes or so once you get the hang of it or you could have your local watchmaker do it. Make sure he has a steady hand and dosn't let his screwdriver slip and scratch your movement!

These are great watches. In my opinion, you get to see the full extent of it's quality if you do it yourself. I'm working on a 992 at the moment, too. As soon as I locate the parts it should be telling excellent time as well.

Good luck and post a picture or 2 when you get it done.

Cheers,
Steve

[Angra Mainyu]

Hi, Harmut & Steve, thanks to both for your kind guidance. :-!

The watch is lever-set. I'm not the brightest bulb in the box and I can miss something, but I don't see the any screw holding the stem (* see pic), so I suppose that the one in my watch is the "pull" type pointed by Steve (until now I have been hesitant to try pulling it because I was afraid of breaking it).

Well, I will wait until the watch runs out of wind before trying the recase (I suppose that I can do it now, but it makes me nervous to have the little thing "beating" while I work on it).

I will let you know how ends all. ;-)

(*) This is the stem area of the watch. To my eyes, no screw holding the stem.

[sjmcolorado]

Hi, Harmut & Steve, thanks to both for your kind guidance. :-!

The watch is lever-set. I'm not the brightest bulb in the box and I can miss something, but I don't see the any screw holding the stem (* see pic), so I suppose that the one in my watch is the "pull" type pointed by Steve (until now I have been hesitant to try pulling it because I was afraid of breaking it).

Well, I will wait until the watch runs out of wind before trying the recase (I suppose that I can do it now, but it makes me nervous to have the little thing "beating" while I work on it).

I will let you know how ends all. ;-)

(*) This is the stem area of the watch. To my eyes, no screw holding the stem.


Beautiful movement. You shouldn't have to pull very hard at all on the crown. I've seen cases where the stem dosn't pull out at all. In this case the stem itself isn't as long and you won't have to pull the stem out to get the movement out of the case. Good luck.

Cheers,
Steve

[Hartmut Richter]

(*) This is the stem area of the watch. To my eyes, no screw holding the stem.

Why not? There is a group of three screws on the left. One holds down the movement (slightly off the movement), one holds down the bridge on the main plate (the larger one of the other two) and the third probably holds down the winding stem. There is an equally sized screw the other side of the winding stem and this may well hold down the bridge too - I would have expected that one to be the same size as its partner on the other side, though. My bet is still that the small screw in the group of three is the one to try.

Hartmut Richter

[Angra Mainyu]

Why not? There is a group of three screws on the left. One holds down the movement (slightly off the movement), one holds down the bridge on the main plate (the larger one of the other two) and the third probably holds down the winding stem. There is an equally sized screw the other side of the winding stem and this may well hold down the bridge too - I would have expected that one to be the same size as its partner on the other side, though. My bet is still that the small screw in the group of three is the one to try.

Hartmut RichterThis one? It is not a bit off the crown/stem?

I would have supposed that a screw holding the stem would need to be in the movement area directly under the crown.

[sjmcolorado]

This one? It is not a bit off the crown/stem?

I would have supposed that a screw holding the stem would need to be in the movement area directly under the crown.


Hey guys,
Here's a picture of a Hamilton 4992b (military version of 992b). The screw to loosen the lever that holds the stem and crown in place is at about the 11 o'clock position from the crown wheel. It's a little smaller than the bridge screw.

Cheers,
Steve

[Ray MacDonald]

I am getting very nervous reading this thread. I hope it turns out OK in the end. It sounds to me like coaching someone in brain surgery over the Internet.:-S
We are talking about fooling around with probably the finest movement in pocket watches to say nothing of the dial and hands that might get damaged.
It's OK I suppose if you are an amateur watchmaker but....would it cost more than $25 for a pro to change the case???? Just my $.02
At least let down the mainspring before you do anything. You don't want a broken balance staff in the bargain. :-(

[Angra Mainyu]

Hello Ray,

"...brain surgery over the Internet..." LOL

Ray, for your peace of mind, rest assured that I won't mess, er, I mean "work", into the watch if I'm not absolutely confident about what I'm doing and how it should be done (I would "try" the parts watch first). If I don't see it perfectly clear where I'm going, I will search an expert watchmaker for the work (or I will let the watch unmolested until I know how service it correctly). I don't want to damage my Hammy! ;-)

Regretfully, there are no "true" watchmakers in my area (the so-called "watchmakers" here only are able to change the batteries in a quartz watch! :-| ), so I try to learn for service my watches myself. By now I'm only "sizing" the chore, trying to know what things and how should be done, before deciding if I'm up to the work, and you, the watchuseek members can be of help here, teaching me. :-!

However, my lacking knowledge of english are sometimes in the way. By example, you have said "At least let down the mainspring before you do anything". Do you mean that I should let the watch run out of wind -to stop- before unholding the stem? It sound logical to me to let the watch stop before working into it, but I need to be sure about you mean. The "broken balance staff" sounds definitely as a no-no! :-(

[Ray MacDonald]

Hello Ray,

"...brain surgery over the Internet..." LOL

Ray, for your peace of mind, rest assured that I won't mess, er, I mean "work", into the watch if I'm not absolutely confident about what I'm doing and how it should be done (I would "try" the parts watch first). If I don't see it perfectly clear where I'm going, I will search an expert watchmaker for the work (or I will let the watch unmolested until I know how service it correctly). I don't want to damage my Hammy! ;-)

Regretfully, there are no "true" watchmakers in my area (the so-called "watchmakers" here only are able to change the batteries in a quartz watch! :-| ), so I try to learn for service my watches myself. By now I'm only "sizing" the chore, trying to know what things and how should be done, before deciding if I'm up to the work, and you, the watchuseek members can be of help here, teaching me. :-!

However, my lacking knowledge of english are sometimes in the way. By example, you have said "At least let down the mainspring before you do anything". Do you mean that I should let the watch run out of wind -to stop- before unholding the stem? It sound logical to me to let the watch stop before working into it, but I need to be sure about you mean. The "broken balance staff" sounds definitely as a no-no! :-(

OK you can obviously let the watch run down, but this reference tells you how to let the mainspring down if you want to try it:

http://www.thewatchguy.com/pages/repair.html

You should never work on a watch if the mainspring has energy in it because everything is in tension then. I would think that applies even if you are just removing the movement from a case.

[Angra Mainyu]

Thanks Ray! :-)

This is a very interesting and informative page. I will use the rusted (what a pity, to see an otherwise nice watch soo ruined!) "parts watch" to practice and learn the most basic tasks, as completely dismantling and oiling a valuable watch is out of question for my actual skill level.

I will let the watch run down to a stop and then, I will also let down the mainspring as explained in the webpage, to take out the residual forces that can still have. This way I will be safe from "surprises", I hope (but I should wait until next weekend, as in the "lady calendar" B-) this is scheduled for "shopping & gardening". Oh, well... ;-) ).

Regards.