Particles stuck to magnetic housing area of tuning fork (center of pic)
What do Accutron Watches look like before service? Here are a few example pictures:
Here are some very recent pictures of watches received in for service. These watches were still running, but keeping poor time. Continued running under these conditions will result in further damage to parts. I will be updating and adding additional pictures soon. These are typical of a watch which has not been serviced for 5 or more years.
Foreign material stuck to magnetic housing of tuning fork (center left of pic)
Debris stuck to bottom, and edge of index wheel.
Debris stuck to index wheel which interferes with proper time keeping...Note you can see the individual teeth on the index wheel. This wheel is only about 2mm in diameter!
Debris clinging to jewels on index fingers. Also note that index fingers are bent out of shape. they should be straight with jewels aligned to finger.
Another pair of dirty index fingers.
A center wheel clutch and cannon pinion which has worn enough to allow slippage of hands.
The missing tab (arrow) is part of the date changing yoke mechanism. Unbroken yoke on right.
Debris clinging to teeth of 2nd gear.
Another 2nd gear with accumulated debris, and corrosion. This debris is very gummy, and can slow down or damage the index mechanism, fingers, and index wheel teeth. Debris comes from: Dust, Dirt, Corrosion, Leaky batteries, wearing parts due to lack of lubrication, Poor quality lubrication, and grease.
Lack of lubrication, and a little moisture caused this index wheel pivot to freeze and break off in the jewel bearing.
Another view of the same index wheel.
The same index wheel showing the amount of pivot missing at the bottom compared to the undamaged top pivot.
The pivot jewel with the broken pivot imbedded. The index wheel, and jewel were replaced to affect repair.
Over time stray particles may accumulate and cling to the tuning fork magnets and cups. As the fork vibrates the particles may rub against the coils damaging them.
The synthetic ruby jewel which has become clogged by the "pivot" or end of the gear which has broken off due to lack of lubrication and corrosion. The clog must be removed prior to inserting a new gear.
The ruby jewel which has been cleaned of the broken pivot in the previous picture.
Dirty and Bent index fingers on an Omega f300. This watch was starting and stopping and not keeping good time.
See how the index fingers have been bent by a well-meaning but misguided repair technician. Index fingers must be straight and properly positioned to work.
Here the index fingers have been straightened, and adjusted to the exact position required for proper time keeping. Cleaning is next.
Straight, adjusted, and cleaned index fingers on f300.
Cleaned, adjusted, and straight index fingers, and cleaned index wheel for Omega f300.
In each case servicing is affected through a combination of mechanical, and/or ultrasonic cleaning, part replacement where necessary, straightening, and adjustments to index fingers, proper lubrication, and proper reassembly, and timing.