SEIKO Bell-Matics

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Hi,

Relatively new to this forum but have been trauling around in it for a few days to get a feel for it.

I have bought, but yet to recive, a Bell-matic 4006-6040 766116 and was wodering what to do next.
In all probabilty it will need a service, but I would like to do this myself. I have no experience with watchs, but do have a couple of cheap non-runners to work on. If I get them going, I might then try the bellmatic. I have the tools required for the job.
Is there a service manual anywhere for this watch? A simple step by step approach sort of thing that I can go by? Im pretty handy at such things, and will be photographing everything at everystage just in case. What would be really handy I'd a blow up picture of the inside. On small delicate things ive done before I took the diagrams, blew them up, printed them off, and as each part was removed, placed it on the diagram so I knew where to put it all back - usually with the aid of double sided sticky tape (using ipa to clean it off before putting it back though!). Is this a good idea with such small parts for a watch?
Lubricants is another thing. Which oils, silicone, do I use and where? Is there anything on top of a service that would be reccomended I do?
I will document and post everything I do from start to finish, including the stuff done wrong.
Look roward to ant help I can get.
Karl

John N

There are several members of the forum who work on their Bell-matics and I imagine they will chime in here sooner or later.
To start, you might want to visit http://www.bellmatics.com/archives/Archives%20Tech%20Guides/index.htm for some technical info. good lucK!

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

John,

Thanks for the reply. I printed of the technical manual, have to say, to a comlete novice it can be abit scary! But I'll read through it couple of time and get my head around it. As for the service, its really the lubrication points (the lubricants are handily listed) for a basic service and maybe the points where they need to be cleaned that I really need. And if there is a common probelm of thing to look out for that I would really want to know. If I open it up and find all sorts of crud, which seems common enough, tips on how to deal with it would be great.
As, im on the subject of cleaning, I dont have a ultrasonic bath so is there another preferred method? I read wd40 somewhere for cleaning only, not lubrication, but dont like the idea of it. I know from previous experience that a unwelcome residue resides afterwards. But does this matter or is it cleaned by another substance.
Cheers!
Karl

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Well, got my watch makers tools in and set to work on the old watch I had. Bleeding nightmare! Talk about figity! Came apart handy enough, took all the photos so I knew where it went back, and inside it was crusty as hell. Cleaned everything with a solvent based cleaner first, then wd40, then started the absolute nightmare of putting it back together again. It was great to see how everything was intricately worked, and the attention to detail was unreal!
First real problem was aligning the balance spring in correctly with the little wratchet type mechanism - it wobbled everywhere of course but got it in eventually. Then came the worst bit. Three gears, all set in jewels on the top and bottom. Placing them in the bottom jewels was easy, but when it came to putting the upper plate on, I had to align all three at once before the plate would go back properly. Extremely difficult to do, but eventually with patience and a real stroke of good luck it went back into place. But I must have been doing something wrong or not using a certain technique as it took forever to do! Is there a clever way to do this this?
Put everything back the way it was, wound her up and hey presto - working! But not for long, about 15 mins. I have no lubricants which it desperately needs, but considering it never worked at all before I call it progress. When I do get the lubricants in, I'll do it again and see what happens, even just for the practise. But someadvice on the above would'nt go amiss!
Cheers,
Karl

dtdukok · Joined: 29 Jan 2010 Posts: 13

You're a brave man KarlKane. I can't offer you any watch tinkering advice but I do says 'hat's off' to you for having a go, and having some success!

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Well, oddly enough, its working perfect now. Once it started running and staying running, it has'nt stopped! Cool!
Been running through the service stuff for the bell matic - Hmmmmm! Bit complicated looking isnt it?

John N · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:49 am **Post subject: Congratulations!**

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Well it finally came and a very nice watch it is too. Quite a party piece, everyone is genuinely interested in how it works and cant believe it does'nt have a battery. Young ones eh! Very pleased with its condition, everything works as it should thanks god. It does need some gaskets though. Had a shower with it on and it steamed up so there water getting in somewhere. Where do you buy these gaskets by the way? Does anyone here have a set?
Ive actually gone and bought another I liked it that much!
A word on gaskets would be greatly appreciated.
Karl
ps. Unfortuanately I cant post pics on this site.

John N · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 8:01 am **Post subject: Re: bell-matic arrived!**

sounds good, but showering with a vintage watch might not be the best idea, gaskets or no gaskets. Shocked

I assume you can't post photos here because you do not have a hosting site for your own photos? like webshots or photobucket?

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Exactly. Cant upload, will look into photobucket.
Now, I have a problem. I noticed that the watch had stopped because the minute hand had come loose and had stuck the second hand with it. This threw the alarm off by about five hours. Got home and removed watch from case, reset everything the way it should have been after sticking the hand on properly, but I noticed that when I release the crown, a little pin type thing protruded from the edge of the case. It goes back into place when you re-insert the crown, but now the alarm is not working! Bloody hell! Definately not something I did, as I was uber carefull, but not sure what it is or how to remedy. Any ideas?

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Realised what the issue was. The minute hand had come loose, and stopped the second hand, stopping the watch. Once the minute hand was replaced and pushed into place, it disruppted the alrm somehow. By placing the hand back on and then lifting it, the alarm is back working. Probably smells of future trouble but so far so good.
A word on waterproofing, where can I get the gaskets and how do you waterproof the chrstal?

farangbell · Joined: 28 Jul 2010 Posts: 5 Location: Australia

[quote="karlkane"]Well it finally came and a very nice watch it is too. Quite a party piece, everyone is genuinely interested in how it works and cant believe it does'nt have a battery. Young ones eh! Very pleased with its condition, everything works as it should thanks god. It does need some gaskets though. Had a shower with it on and it steamed up so there water getting in somewhere. Where do you buy these gaskets by the way? Does anyone here have a set?
I've actually gone and bought another I liked it that much!
A word on gaskets would be greatly appreciated.
Karl

I'm glad you like your new Bell and nice work having the hands on approach.. However I nearly fell off the chair when i got to the "had a shower with it on".. vintage watches with old and often perished gaskets or gaskets that are stretched and not seated correctly will not keep water out and the last thing you want is water/moisture inside your bell... but good luck and some photos would be nice.. If you in Australia I can put you onto a watch supply shop if you are after some lube (mobius) etc...
Enjoy the "Bell".. farang

karlkane · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 8

Could'nt believe I left it on in the shower either! But after years of having watch's that shockproof and waterproof and climbing in and out of showers without a thought I just forgot to take it off! Silly huh! But it seems to have survived in tact.
Unfortunately im not in Australia but Northern Ireland, so if anyone knows of anywhere closer for parts, please let me know.
Karl

Patoz · Joined: 28 Aug 2010 Posts: 4 Location: Sydney Au

I'm afraid I've also been afflicted by "vintage watch-itis" recently Karl ...and yes, fell for the same old trick of forgetting where I was when wearing same.
In my case it was a lovely pulsating M2 Bulova Spaceview ...aaargh! Currently disassembled whilst I figure out the retro-battery arrangement. D-uh!

Another symptom of the "disease" is a bad "shoot first - ask questions later" habit, which finds me - here and now, waiting on the delivery of (what I sincerely hope turns out to be) an "as described" 4006-6016 acquired via blurry snaps on an Auction site.

Brave man taking to the tool-kit - keep it up.