When the sea visit your watch...

[Porter]

Hi all,
I recently bought two beautiful movements, 1520 and 3000. I bought them not only because are amazing machines the truth is I bought them because are nearly dead!!
I'll try to restore them and afterwards try to find a new case to pass the following years!!
The 1520 will be the first to try to restore! Here is the pic just after opening the box from the seller:

Is seriously damaged! More than expected!! First eyeshot goes to the balance wheel. Rust eat the spring!! So... Will need new spring! Before getting mad I take the movement to the ultrasonic machine and introduced in different cleaning liquids! Here is the result:
Now is a bit better...
Tomorrow I'll check all screws and start trying to unscrew them. I want to save them as much as possible but probably will brake a lot...
To be continued...
NOTE: Sorry if I cannot explain in correct words but I'm not costumed to explain my work to anyone in any language!. All corrections are welcome!!

[rod727]

Looking forward to seeing additional posts......

[Amme]

wow what a great challenge :)
Good luck!

[Porter]

Well...
1 hour...3 screws...
After 30 minutes fighting with half screw I decided to leave it for another day...
No one said would be easy. Hahaha.

[ilovewatchestoo]

Yes this is awesome. Thanks for sharing and please continue.

[SearChart]

Oh dear, that doesn't look good.

Hope I'll never get this on my workbench..

[Porter]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Oh dear, that doesn't look good.

Hope I'll never get this on my workbench..

Haha! Yes! Doesn't look good! After fighting with the screws for nearly 2 hours I was really sad thinking there's nothing to do!....but!...later walking along the port my mind started again trying to find the way to solve the problem and my energies came up again!!
Not sure if my methods will work but if not...new methods must find!!!
I agree with you! Not nice to see a beautiful 1520 in such horrible condition!

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Porter

Haha! Yes! Doesn't look good! After fighting with the screws for nearly 2 hours I was really sad thinking there's nothing to do!....but!...later walking along the port my mind started again trying to find the way to solve the problem and my energies came up again!!
Not sure if my methods will work but if not...new methods must find!!!
I agree with you! Not nice to see a beautiful 1520 in such horrible condition!

I wish you good luck with this project, would love to see some updates along the way.

[Porter]

Originally Posted by SearChart

I wish you good luck with this project, would love to see some updates along the way.

Really thanks! I will need it!! And some new parts too!! Hahaha

[Scot_3]

Wow this is exciting please keep us posted on your progress

[lew07]

Cool thread. I love to see people bringing back some thing from dead lol. As others say keep us informed.

[Porter]

Hi all,
Thanks for your support! This will be a very hard mission!!! Haha yesterday I sank the movement in a special rust free oil to try screws get free of some. I want to leave it 48 hours minimum so tomorrow will try again.
The other day trying to unscrew one of them I broke half head. Mr. drill will appear sooner than wanted...sh**!! Hope no!
Next step:
Take the movement out from oil and take some off to work safely. Try to unscrew, if works then try to finish taking them out and clean with ultrasonic cleaner. If doesn't work, hammering a bit and try again.
Hope will work...
Bye!

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Porter

Hi all,
Thanks for your support! This will be a very hard mission!!! Haha yesterday I sank the movement in a special rust free oil to try screws get free of some. I want to leave it 48 hours minimum so tomorrow will try again.
The other day trying to unscrew one of them I broke half head. Mr. drill will appear sooner than wanted...sh**!! Hope no!
Next step:
Take the movement out from oil and take some off to work safely. Try to unscrew, if works then try to finish taking them out and clean with ultrasonic cleaner. If doesn't work, hammering a bit and try again.
Hope will work...
Bye!

Nice work, how long has it been unattended after getting in contact with salt water? The longer it has been the deeper the rust goes.

Also, are you going to replace the whole balance or are you going to keep the wheel and just replace the staff and hairspring?

[Porter]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Nice work, how long has it been unattended after getting in contact with salt water? The longer it has been the deeper the rust goes.

Also, are you going to replace the whole balance or are you going to keep the wheel and just replace the staff and hairspring?

Thanks!
The problem is the person who sold me the movements had no idea about them.
The real damage is at the side of the stem. Right now I'm bit lost because the part of the balance is full of rust and I cannot see under the rotor bridge. That's why I'm trying to take out the screws and make up my mind once I see what's waiting for me "downstairs".
The balance spring is dead nearly sure but no idea yet! The reversing wheels are loosing the red coating and the seller thought the stem was broken and a part is inside the movement!
I bought a new stem but need to take all pieces out and let's see what I find.
Sorry if don't explain well because I'm not costumed to speak about technical parts in English.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Porter

Thanks!
The problem is the person who sold me the movements had no idea about them.
The real damage is at the side of the stem. Right now I'm bit lost because the part of the balance is full of rust and I cannot see under the rotor bridge. That's why I'm trying to take out the screws and make up my mind once I see what's waiting for me "downstairs".
The balance spring is dead nearly sure but no idea yet! The reversing wheels are loosing the red coating and the seller thought the stem was broken and a part is inside the movement!
I bought a new stem but need to take all pieces out and let's see what I find.
Sorry if don't explain well because I'm not costumed to speak about technical parts in English.

Sounds like it's in pretty bad shape, hope you can save most of the parts as they are bloody expensive.
A friend of mine recently had to replace a cannon pinion and center wheel on an older Rolex movement, cost him a little over €100... For just two little parts. I don't even want to know what a complete balance system would have to cost.

[Porter]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Sounds like it's in pretty bad shape, hope you can save most of the parts as they are bloody expensive.
A friend of mine recently had to replace a cannon pinion and center wheel on an older Rolex movement, cost him a little over €100... For just two little parts. I don't even want to know what a complete balance system would have to cost.

Hahaha! Yessss! Really bad!
For prices I can reply! ...that's the only easy thing in this project!!
The complete balance: 380$
The bridge: 130$
Reversing wheels: 60$ each
Complete rotor: 240$
The main spring: 40$
.... Crazy!!!
Yes! Hope not to buy many parts!!

[Porter]

The 1520 stem...

[Porter]

Well... 20% probability to survive adding a lot of new pieces...

Later I'll explain the pics! Don't worry...looks worse than the real thing...
Nearly all axels are totally eaten by rust. Need to do new emplacements for new screws, new wheels, new rotor (someone forced in the past)....
To be continued...

[DCgator]

Wishing you the best, Carlos.

[Porter]

As you can see at the pics 1 & 2 the hair spring is totally destroyed. Rust everywhere specially at the holding of the hair spring. I can keep the ruby and the bridge. So need new balance wheel and bridge.
Pic 3: anchor and holder is OK. Need to check axels strength but I think is OK.

[Porter]

Pics 4,5 & 6: after cracking the screws I took out the rotor and the wheel set. You can see the big amount of rust and SAND inside and between both reversing wheels. This is why the rotor's axle is blocked. Nearly sure cannot rescue more than the main bridge.

[Porter]

Pic 7: just touched the balance wheel the hair spring died! Part is stuck and eaten.

[Porter]

Pics 8 & 9: after ultrasonic cleaner looks better. Is a beautiful movement even with such rust and dust! Seconds wheel is dead and stuck. Escape wheel is OK needs checking. Transmission wheels are dead. Hour wheel is OK but stuck.
Minutes wheel no idea yet!

[Porter]

Not seen at the pics: I took off the barrel bridge with the barrel and transmission wheel screwed. Was a very delicate operation because is not really "well done" to do this but needed to see more. Barrel's screw is impossible to move right now. I will let the barrel in oil several days trying to rescue the main spring axle. If not possible to move it I will brake the head of the screw to open the barrel and see inside. Nearly sure can keep the barrel and will need new axle and spring.
Will post more pics next week.

[Porter]

Till next day main plate and complete barrel will be sunk in oil.
Any comments, recommendations or whatever are highly appreciated!!
Thanks, bye!

[Easy Rhino]

Very courageous of you to take this project on. I'm enjoying watching your work. Curious as to why you would take this on. Is this a special watch, or is this an experiment for learning, or is there another reason?

Please don't apologize about your English - it is fine, and much better than any of my foreign languages.

I look forward to following this work.

[Porter]

Originally Posted by Easy Rhino

Very courageous of you to take this project on. I'm enjoying watching your work. Curious as to why you would take this on. Is this a special watch, or is this an experiment for learning, or is there another reason?

Please don't apologize about your English - it is fine, and much better than any of my foreign languages.

I look forward to following this work.

Thanks for your kind words.
I started this project because I love the 5513 first editions. The movement was a 1520 initially and adding I never worked on one I decided to do it. At the beginning the movement supposed to be in better conditions (60% useful parts) after opening (35% or less).
I worked on 3135, 3130, 1560, 1570 and few more but never on a 1520. I think the best way to learn about something is to get always the worst conditions and try to solve the problem.
In this project the very hard work is to rescue from death as much as I can and find some new pieces. Is my hobby and have no Rolex account or similar to buy pieces. Just few contacts and the net. I would like to think will be a few weeks project but is nearest a few months one.
This is not for taking profit. I can buy one fine movement for 1300$ or so and probably I will need more in pieces to see it running again.
Sure I can learn a lot from this and I will enjoy every minute dreaming with the movement in a 5513 case "ticking" on my wrist with a super dome plexy and a matte meters first dial!! Dream is free, hahaja

[lew07]

Il be interested to see inside the barrel. I think Im right in saying the main spring is made from stainless steel.Possibly it will still look like new?

[Porter]

Originally Posted by lew07

Il be interested to see inside the barrel. I think Im right in saying the main spring is made from stainless steel.Possibly it will still look like new?

So do I!! Hahaha
I live in a quite small island and 15 meters from the sea, one thing I learned about SS is that without minimum maintenance the result of mixing salted water and oxygen... Is not good!! Other thing is if its still in one part or broken? The mainly problem is I have no idea from the last owner. He took the movement from an auction and no more info.
Next week I'll try to open it and...mystery solved!!!

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by lew07

Il be interested to see inside the barrel. I think Im right in saying the main spring is made from stainless steel.Possibly it will still look like new?

Don't get your hopes up, stainless steel can rust.