How Crappy Repair Work Is Done - Part 48

[Adrian-VTA]

I'm currently doing some work on a 6217 Diver (The 62MAS) for a forum member and came across something really weird. I was nearly finished re-assembling the movement, had just dunked the balance in one-dip and went to clean the roller jewel, and thought WTF?

Some bastard previously has replaced the roller jewel with a chunk of steel. Seriously? I'm actually really pissed off. It also looks like it's been repaired with a jackhammer. I can't put this back in, it will never keep time properly.

The other frustrating thing is the stem. It's been broken and some bugger has welded about 3 stems together to fix it. These stems aren't even that rare. 

I don't have a WOSTEP certification, but if this is the work that's coming from people that do I have no respect for the system.

[cannop]

What makes you think someone who's WOSTEP trained did that work? I'd be shocked if it was but stranger things have happened I suppose. I know quite a number of watchies who are WOSTEP trained and replacing a roller jewel and turning a new stem is bread and butter work for them.

[Adrian-VTA]

Because I've had work done for me like this before by people with WOSTEP. I probably came across a bit cranky n the post because I was just furious. I mean, it would have taken say over an hour's work to do this crappy repair. The part probably costs around $20. So it's a false economy. I've pretty much always worked in a technical field and I see this kind of crap all the time, repairs with sticky tape, chicken wire, silicone and alfoil. Why not just do it right? If I know I can't do a job properly, I won't accept it.

I worked on another job last night as well, instead of replacing a caseback gasket....they just glued it shut with contact adhesive...

Sept 10, 2015 9:02:43 GMT -8 cannop said:

What makes you think someone who's WOSTEP trained did that work? I'd be shocked if it was but stranger things have happened I suppose. I know quite a number of watchies who are WOSTEP trained and replacing a roller jewel and turning a new stem is bread and butter work for them.

[cd_god]

That stem job is just horrific.

[doomguy10011]

I don't think I've seen a stem so poorly put together even on a cheaper watch. The horror...

[cannop]

Sept 10, 2015 16:26:20 GMT -8 Adrian-VTA said:

Because I've had work done for me like this before by people with WOSTEP. 

The easiest thing to do if a WOSTEP trained watchie churns out crap work is report him to WOSTEP. He's risking a bollocking at least, possible retraining and even his certification by churning out sub standard work. Maybe it's changed now I don't know, but that's what I was told on my last BHI training course in June this year by my WOSTEP trained (3 years in Switzerland) tutor.

[Adrian-VTA]

I'll keep it in mind if I ever do that again. I'm always surprised how many hacks are out there.

My bad experience was with the ROLEX/OMEGA/IWC dealer here, who do claim WOSTEP everywhere. Not in the above case, but in a previous experience.

Sept 10, 2015 23:13:20 GMT -8 cannop said:

Sept 10, 2015 16:26:20 GMT -8 Adrian-VTA said:

Because I've had work done for me like this before by people with WOSTEP. 

The easiest thing to do if a WOSTEP trained watchie churns out crap work is report him to WOSTEP. He's risking a bollocking at least, possible retraining and even his certification by churning out sub standard work. Maybe it's changed now I don't know, but that's what I was told on my last BHI training course in June this year by my WOSTEP trained (3 years in Switzerland) tutor.

[camrok]

Sept 10, 2015 20:33:17 GMT -8 doomguy10011 said:

I don't think I've seen a stem so poorly put together even on a cheaper watch. The horror...

That crown looks a bit similar to that orange thing I sent you Adrian.
I hope some of our watch makers here in oz have not got their training from bush mechanics!

[cobrajet25]

I see this a lot with cars.  "Back yard engineering" is what we call it.

I am always amazed at how many people will spend $2.00 and take six hours to fix something wrong when they could spend $7.00 and take ten minutes to just do it right.

[Adrian-VTA]

I debated adding a part 49 post as a fresh post, but that's just too much attention for this shit work.

So I stripped a Bullhead today and was aghast at the amount of dodginess (aussie term dodgey = to be deceptive)

So exhibit number 1 - 

YAY a dodge plastic movement ring to replace the spring. First sign a hack has been here previously -



OK so what's next?

Broken shaft on the minute counter? No worries. Let's spend an hour or so welding a part that costs $15.




Next stop, the hour counter.

Now I have absolutely no idea what the thought process was here. But it looks like it's been chewed down by my cat, on BOTH sides. WTF?



Oh no...please don't be true...why did half of the dial just fall onto my bench? Shit. No. Note those knoblets to the right? They are dial feet. Guess where they were? You guessed it. In the movement. Why wouldn't you remove them? The bottom of the dial is glued very firmly to the spacer ring. I doubt I'll take that off. The top half....it's quick grip (contact adhesive sold in AU) city. Also, it's not clear here, but the hands seem to be re-lumed with luminous kitchen paste or something. It's just hideous.




The past 4 or so jobs I've been working on have gone this way. WTF is wrong with some watch repairers?

[ausimax]

What a nice mess that is, though top marks for getting the job done - the trouble involved in doing that is stupendous, me if duct tape don't fix it throw it in the bin and get a new one.

I hope that is not a watch you have to fix for a customer? Looks like a parts bin job to me!

Max

[seikoholic]

I just had a 6139-6002 come through where the "repair person" hadn't had access to a genuine 357612 stem, so they'd made their own, hand-machining a square section out of the middle of a standard 357615.  Amazingly, it worked - held the indicator ring gear / spring, turned the indicator ring, set time, everything.  If it wasn't just slightly too short to allow the day quickset to function, it could have been left in place if the owner had wanted that. 

[Adrian-VTA]

I've seen some videos of LORCH lathes with the mill attachment going, and to make one of these stems on these machines would be fairly clinical. I now have a LORCH lathe + attachments on my want list.

This is long, but better than porn. But I did train as a fitter/machiner for a while so I guess I'm biased.

Sept 13, 2015 18:35:08 GMT -8 seikoholic said:

I just had a 6139-6002 come through where the "repair person" hadn't had access to a genuine 357612 stem, so they'd made their own, hand-machining a square section out of the middle of a standard 357615.  Amazingly, it worked - held the indicator ring gear / spring, turned the indicator ring, set time, everything.  If it wasn't just slightly too short to allow the day quickset to function, it could have been left in place if the owner had wanted that. 

[Adrian-VTA]

New day, new balance and a fantastic amplitude (note the image here was taken before I put the shock protected jewel in). I've replaced the assembly with an entire assembly from a 6206 that I scrapped. Still need to adjust the regulators, but a great initial result after just dropping the new part in!

[rossr]

Looks great.