Thank you Hans. I own a vintage railway (CPR) Waltham gold pocket watch. My Grandfather was an immigrant from Sweden who 150 years ago found suitable employment as a Roadmaster with the CPR and was charged with laying down the thousands of miles of track that we now enjoy today. My watch once again works. Thank you!
i just found this video today, it saved my pocket watch, cause last time i over winded my watch, then it stopped working, it had been almost 2 years, till today i watched your video, yeah, my watch is working again, thank you, my friend
I am new to own a vintage pocket watch. I was tinkering with mine too much and it stopped ticking and my heart skipped a beat. after watching your video I released the tension of my pocket watches spring and it is now ticking again. thank you!
A thousand thanks to you. I have an admittedly cheap pocket watch but I love it anyway. It had been working fine until one day it stopped ticking and then my heart almost stopped ticking for a moment. But your video helped me start it back up and I am truly grateful!
I looked inside the back of my old Longines pocket watch (almost a mirror configuration of the one you showed), and figured that the catch locked in the big wheel needed to be released. I wasn’t sure if I needed to undo the screw! I should have known that was not necessary. So I watched your very informative video. The problem was that the entire movement appeared to be jammed solid. I couldn’t even turn the winder at all. So I shook the watch back and forth a few times, and each time it ticked for a few moments. Then it was possible to turn the winder slightly and release the spring as you described. The watch still won’t run. I guess it either has something else wrong with it, or perhaps just needs cleaning. Clearly I’ve got a lot to learn. Every journey begins with a first step. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed.
Thank you for this video, it saved me a great deal of hassle. I have a fob watch that although in expensive means a great deal to me and living in rural Wales there is no where hear to get it repaired so, your video did it for me. Very clearly explained and demonstrated and, while mine was clearly different, it gave me all that I needed to release the spring on my watch so, a huge big thank you. Ray
Thanks for this video, very informative but straight to the point. Whether it helped my watch to run again or not remains to be seen, but this is still helpful to know.
I am a self trained hobbyist watchmaker. I have serviced over 700 watches and I have rescued hundreds of collectible watches from estate sales. If someone wants to start out the low end watches like the one used in the video are a great starting point. They may have differences but basically all have the same parts. Watch a lot of videos and take your time. The only thing you will need is tools, lots and lots of tools.
Hans van den Berg : THANK YOU FOR THIS WATCH VIDEO . I'M SURE TO SEE OTHER YOU TUBERS FEEL THE SAME . YOUR VOICE IS GREAT AS WELL AS YOUR SKILL . BEST BLESSINGS .
There is nothing against someone unexperienced giving it a go as long as the watch is not too valuable or special. Even the professional had to start somewhere, and I bet many professionals will have started experimenting early on by taking apart grandpa's watch. It can be really educational taking a watch apart for the first time and finding a challenge in putting it back together again in working order. My advise: go for it.
Today I just got my first key wound watch it's a silver case and it's not working can you probably try to do a demonstration on how to unwind a key wound watch
Hello hans . Yesterday i wound up my elgin pocket watch and it just made a click at the end and now it stopped working i can hear the gears inside moving but it has lost tension and just keeps cranking . The watch has sentimental value to me i am hoping it wont cost me an arm and a leg to have it fixed
Hey, my current railroad watch has the same problem, but I'm not sure how to go about fixing it since it has a Swing Out case. This detaches the wind, meaning I wouldn't be able to unwind the spring Slowly. And I'm worried it would spin out of control. Any tips/ideas on what to do?
Your instruction did work. However, there was a tiny spring underneath the catch mechanism that when I pulled it back ever so slightly, sprung out of its position. I could not find where the tiny spring bounced off to. Takeaway: Take watch to a pro watch jeweler or be prepared to lose tiny pieces 🔍😄
I have a pocket watch (a cheap one as far as I can tell, feels cheap but still love it) and the second hand keeps ticking back and forth on the 27 second mark and I’m annoyed I can’t fix it
hi im kinda late on your video. I have a Illinois watch as well. same one and i over waund it then it stopped working i then took apart then it spun back quick .then i put it back together and now the knob just twists without any clicking and doesn't wind up . any idea whats cuz it not to a missing or broken piece ?
I NEED HELP! I just bought my fiance a pocket watch for Christmas. When I go to fix the time the watched ticks for only a few seconds and then it just stops. If anyone as any suggestions as to why this would be that would be great. I was really looking forward to giving him this gift I just need it to be working!
The mechanism may be dirty, so there's too much friction in the system to keep things moving. It probably needs service from a watch repair shop or somebody who knows how to clean a watch mechanism.
Very well done. You have a talent for this, my friend, and I would really like to see you replace all of the videos done on the subject of watchmaking by bunnspecial, who is hamhanded, careless, and generally annoying. Please consider it!
When I twist the crown on my pocket watch of I twist it more than 10 times the click or whatever it's called slips for a second And it makes a weird why is it doing making noise and why is the click slipping
Typically you pull out on the stem, which clicks the gear into the setting position, in which you can move the minute and hour hands. It's best to move it forward to the time you wanted to set the watch to. Moving it backward creates slight pressure against the slip clutch, and since the mechanism wants to advance the dials creates less strain. The balance wheel, is usually the part of the watch that is the most delicate. You must be careful not to bend the tiny coil springs positioned on either side.
feck i left it to unwind to fast :( how can i fix it? :( i have this old pocket watch and my parents sold the gold part of it and i got the only the watch left and i want to turn into a neckless...but it stops all the time and missing about 10 mins of time...now i tried to unwind it and i left with once to unwind :( now its dead...is it possible to bring it back to life again? :(
If it unwound too far, usually can just be rewound but looking like your going to have to remove the mainspring and see if it broke. It's uncommon to have it not work unless it was so overwound that it literally broke. Yeah, really you only needed to unwind it maybe 1 turn at the most. A better way to do this would have been to apply slight finger pressure to the smaller gear and just let it unwind 1 or maybe 1/2 turn. Few watches are designed to be overwound, but if they were severely overwound more likely it either broke a gear, or the balance wheel exceeded past the 180 degree rotation, bypassing the ratchet fork, and leaving it in a state of unbalance. Fixing it requires to remove the balance wheel, letting it settle back to the center position, and carefully reinstalling it. Some watches you cannot do that too. In any case, if you can it will mean having to unwind the watch after removing the balance wheel, and then reinstalling the balance wheel, in its natural position, and winding the watch and see it start running again.
I don't agree with you totally, i'm a toolmaker by profession, and i started working on small mechanisms like Z_Gauge modeltrains 1:220 scale.. those are also very delicate.. i'm now moving into watches, at the moment an ETA 2763 is on my workbench.. being a novice means you have to read and learn a lot before even attempting to repair a watch.. but it is something that can be done, if a watchmaker can, someone with experience in fine mechanisms, patience and the will to learn can also do it.
Sadly as shown this did not fix the watch, and so you can see that the pendulum never did start moving. So releasing the overwound mainspring did not fix anything. It would then seem the real problem is requiring mineral spirits to lube the pendulum and hopefully resume the action to a running state again. Also if Parts are flying out of the watch, then its probably indicates that something is broken in the watch. A Screw, or some gear broken pin, or dirt is present in the watch.
Dude. Releasing the tension in the main spring has nothing to do with fixing the watch, at least not directly. You do that so that when you disassemble the rest of the watch (say to repair the actual broken part) the pieces do not fly out because of the tension built up in the main spring that you never relieved.
Exactly why novices should stay out of watches. Being a Watchmaker is not a hobby its a serious profession which should only be done by trained professional. There were many schools years ago, I attend and graduated one of the best in United States however now finding a school can be challenging. There are so many things that can go wrong if you are not trained that all you will do is ruin a good watch that could possibly only need a cleaning and adjusting. Take my word...say out.
To my knowledge you're the first person to show how simple this process is.
Thank you Hans. I own a vintage railway (CPR) Waltham gold pocket watch. My Grandfather was an immigrant from Sweden who 150 years ago found suitable employment as a Roadmaster with the CPR and was charged with laying down the thousands of miles of track that we now enjoy today. My watch once again works. Thank you!
i just found this video today, it saved my pocket watch, cause last time i over winded my watch, then it stopped working, it had been almost 2 years, till today i watched your video, yeah, my watch is working again, thank you, my friend
Watching this 11 years later dude but still very beneficial and needed today. Thanks so much hope you are well 😊
I am new to own a vintage pocket watch. I was tinkering with mine too much and it stopped ticking and my heart skipped a beat. after watching your video I released the tension of my pocket watches spring and it is now ticking again. thank you!
A thousand thanks to you. I have an admittedly cheap pocket watch but I love it anyway. It had been working fine until one day it stopped ticking and then my heart almost stopped ticking for a moment. But your video helped me start it back up and I am truly grateful!
how come my Timex quartz watch does not move the hands when I pull out the stem and crown?
I looked inside the back of my old Longines pocket watch (almost a mirror configuration of the one you showed), and figured that the catch locked in the big wheel needed to be released. I wasn’t sure if I needed to undo the screw! I should have known that was not necessary. So I watched your very informative video.
The problem was that the entire movement appeared to be jammed solid. I couldn’t even turn the winder at all. So I shook the watch back and forth a few times, and each time it ticked for a few moments. Then it was possible to turn the winder slightly and release the spring as you described.
The watch still won’t run. I guess it either has something else wrong with it, or perhaps just needs cleaning.
Clearly I’ve got a lot to learn. Every journey begins with a first step. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed.
Thank you for this video, it saved me a great deal of hassle. I have a fob watch that although in expensive means a great deal to me and living in rural Wales there is no where hear to get it repaired so, your video did it for me.
Very clearly explained and demonstrated and, while mine was clearly different, it gave me all that I needed to release the spring on my watch so, a huge big thank you. Ray
Simple, straightforward, efficient video.
Thank you.
All my pocket watches are in the drawer for many years.. now i can try to fix the problem.. thanks for sharing
That was a big help! I wanted to know how things look on my Timegragher, but I needed it to unwind for repair.
Thank you so much for sharing this, it was a pleasure to watch and learn.
thank you so much, you brought my jowissa time jump back to life
by the way, excellent video. I believe in years to come esoteric knowledge like this will be shared more often.
Excellent video. Clear, well-spoken, and well-demonstrated.
Thanks for this video, very informative but straight to the point. Whether it helped my watch to run again or not remains to be seen, but this is still helpful to know.
Super helpful & clear thank you~ any idea where I could find the tiny tools you use for watch repair please? thank you ~
I am a self trained hobbyist watchmaker. I have serviced over 700 watches and I have rescued hundreds of collectible watches from estate sales. If someone wants to start out the low end watches like the one used in the video are a great starting point. They may have differences but basically all have the same parts. Watch a lot of videos and take your time. The only thing you will need is tools, lots and lots of tools.
Hans van den Berg : THANK YOU FOR THIS WATCH VIDEO . I'M SURE TO SEE OTHER YOU TUBERS FEEL THE SAME . YOUR VOICE IS GREAT AS WELL AS YOUR SKILL . BEST BLESSINGS .
Perfect! Thank you very much - this has been very useful!!
Straight to the point! Awesome, thank you.
Heroes are remembered. Legends never die.
Nicely explaind and practical.Thanks
There is nothing against someone unexperienced giving it a go as long as the watch is not too valuable or special. Even the professional had to start somewhere, and I bet many professionals will have started experimenting early on by taking apart grandpa's watch. It can be really educational taking a watch apart for the first time and finding a challenge in putting it back together again in working order. My advise: go for it.
Many thanks for making this video.
Exactly how RUclips videos should be, informative and well done. Great video, thanks.
Today I just got my first key wound watch it's a silver case and it's not working can you probably try to do a demonstration on how to unwind a key wound watch
Picked up a pocket watch at a thrift store, and I am trying to sell it to help them out, but I think it is overwound, so I will try this.
Hello hans . Yesterday i wound up my elgin pocket watch and it just made a click at the end and now it stopped working i can hear the gears inside moving but it has lost tension and just keeps cranking . The watch has sentimental value to me i am hoping it wont cost me an arm and a leg to have it fixed
I was also told by bunnspecial that in his opinion you cant wind a watch up too tight which i thought was the case for me now im worried
I did exactly how he said it worked thank you so much
Hi that worked on mine but still not working. Any ideas please? Or does it start getting a bit more difficult after that . Thanks
Hey, my current railroad watch has the same problem, but I'm not sure how to go about fixing it since it has a Swing Out case. This detaches the wind, meaning I wouldn't be able to unwind the spring Slowly. And I'm worried it would spin out of control. Any tips/ideas on what to do?
Thank you it worked!!!! Now how to I fix it so that this watch will function properly when wound and stop
How many hours did the unwinding take you back?
Will this unwinding work with any windup watch? Or it only for a pocket watch?
Nice video, Thank you so much for sharing.
thanks!. i just got an action antichoc sf , wristwatch made in france nothing on the web so I hope it's not worth much as i try this.
Instructive video. Thanks
what a GREAT VIDEO DUDE!
Your instruction did work. However, there was a tiny spring underneath the catch mechanism that when I pulled it back ever so slightly, sprung out of its position. I could not find where the tiny spring bounced off to. Takeaway: Take watch to a pro watch jeweler or be prepared to lose tiny pieces 🔍😄
Thank you very much. I own a pocket watch that has different setup than this one?
Thank you just what I needed
How did you get a new crystal that was the right size
I have a pocket watch (a cheap one as far as I can tell, feels cheap but still love it) and the second hand keeps ticking back and forth on the 27 second mark and I’m annoyed I can’t fix it
My 1934 Delbana wrist watch doesn't want to stay on. Should I try to do this to get it to work properly again?
If your watch is not working, you might as well give it a go.
SomeKid Games Thank you sir. I will give it a go
Thank You. That's what I need to know.
I have a pocket watch. Think it was a remontoir cylindre 10rubis. What's the worth of em today?
question for you: how easy is it to find work? I think at a minimum a watch school grad can always repair old watches and sell them on ebay?
DOES THIS WORK ON WRIST WATCHES ALSO ?
Thanks for this so called video on the so called Internet. I found it so called clear and so called useful
hi im kinda late on your video. I have a Illinois watch as well. same one and i over waund it then it stopped working i then took apart then it spun back quick .then i put it back together and now the knob just twists without any clicking and doesn't wind up . any idea whats cuz it not to a missing or broken piece ?
Total legend! Cheers
I do not see a "click" or "stopper". Now what to do please?
Thanks I was looking for something else but this is useful info :-)
Excellent, have one that need be let out , eager to try, will get back if it I'm successful. Thanx. P.S. Tx.
All very well but some Swiss pocket watches have the 'click' hidden from sight.
when I rotate the crown, the stopper doesn't move. I cannot wind it in any way... what do I do?
I NEED HELP! I just bought my fiance a pocket watch for Christmas. When I go to fix the time the watched ticks for only a few seconds and then it just stops. If anyone as any suggestions as to why this would be that would be great. I was really looking forward to giving him this gift I just need it to be working!
The mechanism may be dirty, so there's too much friction in the system to keep things moving. It probably needs service from a watch repair shop or somebody who knows how to clean a watch mechanism.
thank you clear ,simple info
Great simple instructions!! Thanks so much!!
great video can you tell me hot to slow down a watch
Very well done. You have a talent for this, my friend, and I would really like to see you replace all of the videos done on the subject of watchmaking by bunnspecial, who is hamhanded, careless, and generally annoying. Please consider it!
Thanks Brother... Now I know the secret...
Thanks, great vid
Than you for the help
How easy! Thanks!
thank you for the tutorial.....
When I twist the crown on my pocket watch of I twist it more than 10 times the click or whatever it's called slips for a second And it makes a weird why is it doing making noise and why is the click slipping
Thank you Hans!
Thank you very much
How do you set the clock I have the same one as that one
Typically you pull out on the stem, which clicks the gear into the setting position, in which you can move the minute and hour hands. It's best to move it forward to the time you wanted to set the watch to. Moving it backward creates slight pressure against the slip clutch, and since the mechanism wants to advance the dials creates less strain. The balance wheel, is usually the part of the watch that is the most delicate. You must be careful not to bend the tiny coil springs positioned on either side.
It seems to have worked well but only time will tell.
feck i left it to unwind to fast :( how can i fix it? :( i have this old pocket watch and my parents sold the gold part of it and i got the only the watch left and i want to turn into a neckless...but it stops all the time and missing about 10 mins of time...now i tried to unwind it and i left with once to unwind :( now its dead...is it possible to bring it back to life again? :(
If it unwound too far, usually can just be rewound but looking like your going to have to remove the mainspring and see if it broke. It's uncommon to have it not work unless it was so overwound that it literally broke. Yeah, really you only needed to unwind it maybe 1 turn at the most. A better way to do this would have been to apply slight finger pressure to the smaller gear and just let it unwind 1 or maybe 1/2 turn. Few watches are designed to be overwound, but if they were severely overwound more likely it either broke a gear, or the balance wheel exceeded past the 180 degree rotation, bypassing the ratchet fork, and leaving it in a state of unbalance. Fixing it requires to remove the balance wheel, letting it settle back to the center position, and carefully reinstalling it. Some watches you cannot do that too. In any case, if you can it will mean having to unwind the watch after removing the balance wheel, and then reinstalling the balance wheel, in its natural position, and winding the watch and see it start running again.
How to remove pocket watch back
I don't agree with you totally, i'm a toolmaker by profession, and i started working on small mechanisms like Z_Gauge modeltrains 1:220 scale.. those are also very delicate.. i'm now moving into watches, at the moment an ETA 2763 is on my workbench.. being a novice means you have to read and learn a lot before even attempting to repair a watch.. but it is something that can be done, if a watchmaker can, someone with experience in fine mechanisms, patience and the will to learn can also do it.
Thank you!
Is it just THAT easy?.. luckilly the ETA 2763 on my workbench was already unwound... but i'll remember this video.. :)
THANK YOU!!
Thank you!!
Sadly as shown this did not fix the watch, and so you can see that the pendulum never did start moving. So releasing the overwound mainspring did not fix anything. It would then seem the real problem is requiring mineral spirits to lube the pendulum and hopefully resume the action to a running state again. Also if Parts are flying out of the watch, then its probably indicates that something is broken in the watch. A Screw, or some gear broken pin, or dirt is present in the watch.
Dude. Releasing the tension in the main spring has nothing to do with fixing the watch, at least not directly. You do that so that when you disassemble the rest of the watch (say to repair the actual broken part) the pieces do not fly out because of the tension built up in the main spring that you never relieved.
Thanks!
thank you
Thanks much.
What next
thankyou.
Exactly why novices should stay out of watches. Being a Watchmaker is not a hobby its a serious profession which should only be done by trained professional. There were many schools years ago, I attend and graduated one of the best in United States however now finding a school can be challenging. There are so many things that can go wrong if you are not trained that all you will do is ruin a good watch that could possibly only need a cleaning and adjusting. Take my word...say out.
Thanks!
Thank you!