As you may have sen over in the WRUW thread, I had recently enhanced my Gorbatko chronograph more to what I believe is original form by adding a steel case and bracelet from the same period the watch was manufactured. Although I believe the case that came with the watch was not the original, the rest of the watch was in very good condition for it's age and all parts of the movement, except the chrono-minute jumper spring, are original. This makes this particular chronograph an excellent case study for determining what exactly were the initial components used to build the very first cal. 3133 movements.
I had first only wanted to better prepare the watch for storage by cleaning the entire movement, and then adjusting it to run as best as possible using the original parts and no lubricants. As before, I had taken mental notes of the differences, but this time I decided to backtrack a little and take a few images so that I/we can cross reference the parts with other first generation movements when the opportunity arises. Because so many changes were made in the early years of production, this may better assist us in determining the exact order in which they were produced.
1) This is the wheel within a wheel that advances the date ring. On the Valjoux it was just a single wheel that advanced the ring with a lever, were Poljot's updated version of the movement added a quick set function that a)advances the ring with a spring that remains immobile while advancing the ring, and b)gives way when pressure is applied in the opposite direction allowing a quicker repositioning of the spring back to the point where it can once again advanced the wheel.
On this, one of the initial movements produced, the spring was caped; presumably to keep it from popping off the wheel.
This feature was obviously deemed unnecessary soon after production began.
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2) Not overly helpful since is was in use through much of the eighties, the early dial rests were bolted onto the main plate.
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3) This is the spring that hold in place the setting lever. With this early version, the winding pinion has nothing to hold it in place when the movement is disassembled, whereas the late-model has an additional arm that keeps it from falling through the plate.
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The Incabloc shock protection is also slightly different in the early stages of production. Much like other Poljot movements, the retaining spring had wings that slide in from the back of the housing, and the two main legs on the spring form a diamond shape. Also note a bend in the spring that forces the arm (with roller attached) into the date ring teeth.
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Subsequent versions had a different spring design and were inserted from the inside as opposed to the outside of the housing. When replacing the balance components, only replace the wheel w/spring and both jewels.
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I think by now everyone is familiar with the early brake clamps.
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The winding stem on this older piece is female and the pin that holds it in place is machined on the main plate, while the reverse is true for late-models. I have received more than a few late-model Poljot chronographs with broken off stem pins, but at least they are easily replaced if you have a spare...
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The straight edge on the initial pallet cock has also been well documented.
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This is the spacer that sits between the balance bridge and the plate. The new version just slides in place, whereas the old version has to be stuck on the bridge with a little grease before installing the balance assembly.
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Despite it`s age and lack of lubricants this piece is still twisting away pretty good!
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Not so sure that I want to get into purchasing a mini-welder to test this theory out, but it may be possible to have the reset hammer revert back to the "off" position after pressing the reset button by remodeling the cam on the reset hammer:
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The old cam is in green, and the new cam in red.
If enough force is generated when pressing the reset button, the elevated and super loaded jumper spring may be able to roll back down the cam and force the hammer back to the "off" position, which would resolve all of those annoying start up issues.
I had first only wanted to better prepare the watch for storage by cleaning the entire movement, and then adjusting it to run as best as possible using the original parts and no lubricants. As before, I had taken mental notes of the differences, but this time I decided to backtrack a little and take a few images so that I/we can cross reference the parts with other first generation movements when the opportunity arises. Because so many changes were made in the early years of production, this may better assist us in determining the exact order in which they were produced.
1) This is the wheel within a wheel that advances the date ring. On the Valjoux it was just a single wheel that advanced the ring with a lever, were Poljot's updated version of the movement added a quick set function that a)advances the ring with a spring that remains immobile while advancing the ring, and b)gives way when pressure is applied in the opposite direction allowing a quicker repositioning of the spring back to the point where it can once again advanced the wheel.
On this, one of the initial movements produced, the spring was caped; presumably to keep it from popping off the wheel.
This feature was obviously deemed unnecessary soon after production began.
2) Not overly helpful since is was in use through much of the eighties, the early dial rests were bolted onto the main plate.
3) This is the spring that hold in place the setting lever. With this early version, the winding pinion has nothing to hold it in place when the movement is disassembled, whereas the late-model has an additional arm that keeps it from falling through the plate.
The Incabloc shock protection is also slightly different in the early stages of production. Much like other Poljot movements, the retaining spring had wings that slide in from the back of the housing, and the two main legs on the spring form a diamond shape. Also note a bend in the spring that forces the arm (with roller attached) into the date ring teeth.
Subsequent versions had a different spring design and were inserted from the inside as opposed to the outside of the housing. When replacing the balance components, only replace the wheel w/spring and both jewels.
I think by now everyone is familiar with the early brake clamps.
The winding stem on this older piece is female and the pin that holds it in place is machined on the main plate, while the reverse is true for late-models. I have received more than a few late-model Poljot chronographs with broken off stem pins, but at least they are easily replaced if you have a spare...
The straight edge on the initial pallet cock has also been well documented.
This is the spacer that sits between the balance bridge and the plate. The new version just slides in place, whereas the old version has to be stuck on the bridge with a little grease before installing the balance assembly.
Despite it`s age and lack of lubricants this piece is still twisting away pretty good!
******************************
Not so sure that I want to get into purchasing a mini-welder to test this theory out, but it may be possible to have the reset hammer revert back to the "off" position after pressing the reset button by remodeling the cam on the reset hammer:
The old cam is in green, and the new cam in red.
If enough force is generated when pressing the reset button, the elevated and super loaded jumper spring may be able to roll back down the cam and force the hammer back to the "off" position, which would resolve all of those annoying start up issues.
