self winding mech

[cwru32]

hi
can anyone explain how self winding mech works? do you have to move your hand in x or y or z planes?
tia

A

[charliec]

only if you direct traffic methinks

[Thomas]

Yes, you must move your arm in x, y and z planes at least 30 times as quickly as you can 10 times a day to keep the watch fully wound.

[Quicksilver]

Just move - any which way will do - and it will wind.

[Chris B]

Just wear the watch during normal activity & it'll be fine

[Scojay]

I think a long, fluid stroke with a twist on the finish will get your motor running... Kind of like casting a fishing rod....?

[Perdu]

It's a rotor on a central pinion. When you move your wrist the rotor rock side to side or revolves. That winds the mainspring.

[cwru32]

i know it works i dont know HOW it works ;o

[mickeydainish]

Well.... we could tell you, Ali.... but then the secret would be out!!!!! :-) :-0

[cwru32]

Originally Posted by mickeydainish

Well.... we could tell you, Ali.... but then the secret would be out!!!!! :-) :-0

and i chose you as my beloved rolex friend

[mickeydainish]

Originally Posted by cwru32

and i chose you as my beloved rolex friend

I was wondering the same thing...... maybe you employ the old 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!' tactic.....

[cody p]

Originally Posted by cwru32

hi
can anyone explain how self winding mech works? do you have to move your hand in x or y or z planes?
tia

A

it just works. is that not answer enough?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by cwru32

hi
can anyone explain how self winding mech works? do you have to move your hand in x or y or z planes?
tia

A

Move your hand like you were swirling a fine after-dinner brandy!!

[Andad]

Sorry to be the one to tell you JJ but that won't wind your Rolex unless you are emptying the glass out at the same time.

[GMTJOHNNY]

I move my hand like I am polishing JJ's head.
Wax on....wax off!
Keeps the Rollie up to speed!

Who loves ya JJ!

[Mrdi]

Funny thing....
It seems the gentlemen's Rolex stay wound easily
and the ladies, not so much.
Curious , know?

[Mrdi]

Originally Posted by GMTJOHNNY

I move my hand like I am polishing JJ's head.
Wax on....wax off!
Keeps the Rollie up to speed!

Who loves ya JJ!

Gotta be careful how you phrase a statement like that Johnnie.

[Tools]

Here is how it works...sort of......

So follow along..

Sitting atop the movement is a counterweight. It fits like a half shell. The counterweight axle fits into a bushing in the center of the movement and the axle has a notch/detent that is engaged with a series of gears.

Think of this counterweight as a single blade propeller on your beanie cap... As you move your head around, the offset single blade will rotate to either side, depending on how gravity and centrifugal force move it... Imagine further that your propeller is attached to some gears that drive your brain.. As it moves back and forth it winds the grey cells and gives you some smarts.

So too, the counter weight drives the gears they are attached to...the gears, in turn, are driving a uni-directional wheel atop the mainspring...as the counterweight gears drive the mainspring wheel, it can turn in only one direction, winding it up.

Here is a picture of a 3185 movement with the counterweight and it's gears (the red ones) sitting on top of the movement..


Sorry, I don't have a picture of a beanie

[cwru32]

Originally Posted by Tools

Here is how it works...sort of......

So follow along..

Sitting atop the movement is a counterweight. It fits like a half shell. The counterweight axle fits into a bushing in the center of the movement and the axle has a notch/detent that is engaged with a series of gears.

Think of this counterweight as a single blade propeller on your beanie cap... As you move your head around, the offset single blade will rotate to either side, depending on how gravity and centrifugal force move it... Imagine further that your propeller is attached to some gears that drive your brain.. As it moves back and forth it winds the grey cells and gives you some smarts.

So too, the counter weight drives the gears they are attached to...the gears, in turn, are driving a uni-directional wheel atop the mainspring...as the counterweight gears drive the mainspring wheel, it can turn in only one direction, winding it up.

Here is a picture of a 3185 movement with the counterweight and it's gears (the red ones) sitting on top of the movement..


Sorry, I don't have a picture of a beanie

Thanks alot. from your discussion i assume that only rotations of the counterweight in clockwise direction would wind the watch. so half the movements of the hand would be useless...am i correct?
last, as you can see, not every rolex owner has a high IQ...LOL

[Tools]

Originally Posted by cwru32

Thanks alot. from your discussion i assume that only rotations of the counterweight in clockwise direction would wind the watch. so half the movements of the hand would be useless...am i correct?
last, as you can see, not every rolex owner has a high IQ...LOL

Nope...that is not correct (there are exceptions). The gear cluster is a reverser gear set-up. When the counterweight starts to swing in either direction, the reverser gear swings into position to ensure that no matter which way the weight goes, the gears always wind in one direction.

Some do only wind in one direction...the older Daytona Zenith movements for example.

Here is the Reverser Gears, upside-down. You can see that the two red gears drive the brass wheel, and the small grey pinion on the bottom does the actual winding of the mainspring.

[Mrdi]

Nice Tools!

[cwru32]

Originally Posted by mickeydainish

I was wondering the same thing...... maybe you employ the old 'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer!' tactic.....

one more strike and i kiss You & Gandhi thats close!

[cwru32]

Originally Posted by Tools

Nope...that is not correct (there are exceptions). The gear cluster is a reverser gear set-up. When the counterweight starts to swing in either direction, the reverser gear swings into position to ensure that no matter which way the weight goes, the gears always wind in one direction.

Some do only wind in one direction...the older Daytona Zenith movements for example.

Here is the Reverser Gears, upside-down. You can see that the two red gears drive the brass wheel, and the small grey pinion on the bottom does the actual winding of the mainspring.

Attachment 44973

Thanks for taking time and explaining. although didnt fully understand...but i get the idea..
appreciate it very much

-A

[f16570]

Nice explanation Tools, thanks from all us stupid guys.