I dropped the 422

[Cryten]

The title says it all. I was changing some straps and due to some "assistance" from a small child managed to drop the 422. It was in a watch vault and only fell about 3ft onto a hardwood floor. No problem right? Sadly, wrong.

The balance wheel was stopped, so I gave it a wind (perhaps foolishly) and no dice. It looks like the balance isn't centred, but its hard to judge. Did I bend or break the balance shaft? It wasn't a big fall and it was in a case.

Do I send it to Panerai?

I eventually convinced myself the balance shaft is probably just dislodged and not centred on the jewel properly. Not a hard fix, but my first attempt on a Panerai.

So.....off with the back


I think I've killed it

I was thinking of releasing the incabloc spring and allowing the shaft to centre, but have you seen the size of that spring on a Panerai? I have visions of the spring whizzing past my head and never being seen again, so I decided to release the balance bridge instead. That's an easier fix, but now I have 3 days of power reserve wound onto this thing so I have to do it hacked.

So I released the balance bridge and gently manipulated the balance wheel. It's hacked remember, so I can't move it far. It'd be nicer to feel when its floating freely but I don't want it to unload 3 days of spring pressure on me. It took 3 attempts, but the 3rd time I tightened the balance bridge and pushed the crown in, it started up.


It lives!

So with a sense of relief, I tightened everything back up properly and screwed the back on again. Now I'm timing it and have everything I can cross firmly crossed in the hope the shaft wasn't damaged in the fall and it was a simple case of a dislodged balance wheel.

Who'd have thought a small drop while in a case could damage it?

[SearChart]

The terminal curve (last bit of the hairspring before the stud) was stuck behind the rest of the hairspring, common issue after a drop. Next time just slap it a few times in your hand to dislodge it.

Broken balance staff would mean it would run with either dial up or down depending on where it broke, still completely unusable since it only 'runs' in that position, but a good sign to diagnose a broken staff.

Also, you can take a balance bridge with balance out of the movement even when fully wound, the pallet fork will prevent it from unwinding all at once. Now don't take the pallet fork out when fully wound (I've been there)...

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by SearChart

The terminal curve (last bit of the hairspring before the stud) was stuck behind the rest of the hairspring, common issue after a drop. Next time just slap it a few times in your hand to dislodge it.

Broken balance staff would mean it would run with either dial up or down depending on where it broke, still completely unusable since it only 'runs' in that position, but a good sign to diagnose a broken staff.

Also, you can take a balance bridge with balance out of the movement even when fully wound, the pallet fork will prevent it from unwinding all at once. Now don't take the pallet fork out when fully wound (I've been there)...

Thanks for the info on the hairspring. You give me more confidence that no lasting damage was done.

I did try the bang technique to start it after it's fall, but it wouldn't go and I wasn't about to drop it again in the hope of a magical fix.

I've also had a main spring unwind on me before, so I was being very cautious with this one, having just fully wound it.

[crazycarlitos]

Originally Posted by SearChart

The terminal curve (last bit of the hairspring before the stud) was stuck behind the rest of the hairspring, common issue after a drop. Next time just slap it a few times in your hand to dislodge it.

Broken balance staff would mean it would run with either dial up or down depending on where it broke, still completely unusable since it only 'runs' in that position, but a good sign to diagnose a broken staff.

Also, you can take a balance bridge with balance out of the movement even when fully wound, the pallet fork will prevent it from unwinding all at once. Now don't take the pallet fork out when fully wound (I've been there)...

Good to know

[KBM]

Originally Posted by Cryten

The title says it all. I was changing some straps and due to some "assistance" from a small child managed to drop the 422. It was in a watch vault and only fell about 3ft onto a hardwood floor. No problem right? Sadly, wrong.

The balance wheel was stopped, so I gave it a wind (perhaps foolishly) and no dice. It looks like the balance isn't centred, but its hard to judge. Did I bend or break the balance shaft? It wasn't a big fall and it was in a case.

Do I send it to Panerai?

I eventually convinced myself the balance shaft is probably just dislodged and not centred on the jewel properly. Not a hard fix, but my first attempt on a Panerai.

So.....off with the back


I think I've killed it

I was thinking of releasing the incabloc spring and allowing the shaft to centre, but have you seen the size of that spring on a Panerai? I have visions of the spring whizzing past my head and never being seen again, so I decided to release the balance bridge instead. That's an easier fix, but now I have 3 days of power reserve wound onto this thing so I have to do it hacked.

So I released the balance bridge and gently manipulated the balance wheel. It's hacked remember, so I can't move it far. It'd be nicer to feel when its floating freely but I don't want it to unload 3 days of spring pressure on me. It took 3 attempts, but the 3rd time I tightened the balance bridge and pushed the crown in, it started up.


It lives!

So with a sense of relief, I tightened everything back up properly and screwed the back on again. Now I'm timing it and have everything I can cross firmly crossed in the hope the shaft wasn't damaged in the fall and it was a simple case of a dislodged balance wheel.

Who'd have thought a small drop while in a case could damage it?

Wow, even if it was a simple fix, lots of cojones to diy!

[Ravager135]

This is an excellent post. So many garbage posts on this forum lately; this was a refreshing, insightful read.

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by kauebm

Wow, even if it was a simple fix, lots of cojones to diy!

Thankfully nothing serious.

So far it's running at 0.9 seconds a day. It was 1.7 seconds before, so I'm sure it'll be somewhere around there after a longer period or wear.

[KBM]

Originally Posted by Cryten

Thankfully nothing serious.

So far it's running at 0.9 seconds a day. It was 1.7 seconds before, so I'm sure it'll be somewhere around there after a longer period or wear.

Now that's funny. I gotta drop a couple of my watches.

[Cryten]

If it stays at 0.9 I might be tempted to drop a few more too

[badass09]

Originally Posted by Cryten

If it stays at 0.9 I might be tempted to drop a few more too

Lol. Great fix and happy that your watch is still working..

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[jag32]

This is brilliant. I am thoroughly impressed you fixed it. Would you mind sharing where you learned the skills to diagnose and pull off such a repair? Excellent job, I’m envious of your skill.

[banL]

One of my first read in this forum and already impressed! Good job!

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by jag32

This is brilliant. I am thoroughly impressed you fixed it. Would you mind sharing where you learned the skills to diagnose and pull off such a repair? Excellent job, I’m envious of your skill.

I mess around with everything. My first vocation was as an engineer, so I'm interested in how things work.

I'm amazed many how many car guys know nothing about cars, motorbike guys who don't even know which way to turn a bolt, and watch guys too scared to even turn a bracelet screw.

As a watch guy, you can buy very cheap watches or movements on ebay and learn something about what makes them tick without breaking the bank. Chinese ETA clones and Russian movements are a dime a dozen.

[jag32]

Originally Posted by Cryten

I mess around with everything. My first vocation was as an engineer, so I'm interested in how things work.

I'm amazed many how many car guys know nothing about cars, motorbike guys who don't even know which way to turn a bolt, and watch guys too scared to even turn a bracelet screw.

As a watch guy, you can buy very cheap watches or movements on ebay and learn something about what makes them tick without breaking the bank. Chinese ETA clones and Russian movements are a dime a dozen.

Thank you, I will do just that!

[nick c]

Great ending. Happy that everything is good now. Well done 👍

[zesty55]

Dropped my 233 and it fell a foot and bounced off a wooden chair, now the whole thing hangs up if the subseconds dial is near 6'o'clock while I'm strapping it on.

No other trouble, keeps good time, too scared to open it up and try anything. :)
Kudos to you for fixing your watch, has to feel good.