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Flash! Caveman Watchmaker discovers the WISorcerer Stone!
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Last week when I was bragging about gettin' the SoCal Eco-Drive running (or confessing me ignorance for not RTFM, take your pick 
), Jeff surprised me with this offer..
Offer or challenge, I'm not sure which. LOL!
In any case, the watch arrived yesterday, and I must say that I was quite impressed with its looks and overall nice finish. 'tis a quartz, and Jeff warned me that it took an odd battery, and that there was some gunk inside from a deteriorated gasket. He surprised me by including a new 386 / 301 cell, a perfect match for the OEM Russian battery. I wasted no time swapping it in.. but no go.
I then removed it, tested it with me VOM and, while it checked good, I decided to try a 357 cell I had on hand, and knew to be good. The 357 is the right diameter, but one MM thicker. Good enough for a bench test but, again, no go. 
At that point I decided to call it a day, and sleep on it.
Well, this morning I sat gazing at the watch while waiting for the coffee to brew, and decided that it was just too handsome for the Salvage Yard. But the 4-jewel Slava quartz module, while quite impressive to look at, was obviously dead as a doornail. What next? Only one choice.. Movement swap! LOL!
Having made my decision, I quickly gutted the case. And Whoa Nelly! I see what you mean about the "deteriorating gasket". While Jeff had obviously tried to clean it up, the interior of the case was coated with a nasty, sticky, toxic looking black goo.
If this turns out to be some Andomeda Strain of Russian bug, I'm gonna come back and haunt ye Jeff! LOL!
It cleaned up pretty easily with isopropyl alcohol, even the teensy spot on the dial, and I was ready to test-fit the ETA 805.111 movement I had in mind to use. To my amazement, the dial feel were almost a match! The clocking was right, but the diameter a bit off. But, wonder of wonders, there's an easy fix. I simply took my trusty X-acto and opened up the dial feet holes in the movement, making them an open-ended slot, vs. a hole. Yes! It works!
Now for some hands. To my disappointment, the Slava hands wouldn't fit. Ah well, I couldn't be that lucky. OK, plan B - I've got a selection of hands in the proper size for the ETA, so I picked out a set, and whipped 'em on. So far so good! When I test fit the dial / movement assembly into the case, it became apparent that coming up with a movement ring was gonna be the next challenge. The solution...
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
5-Minute Epoxy, The Caveman Watchmakers Friend! LOL!
Let's take a closer look..
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
Not pretty, I'll grant you, but it works. For insurance, I added 2 more epoxy 'dots' after the photo was taken, clocked 90 degrees from the ones shown. Moving on..
To my relief the threads of the Slava crown matched up with the ETA stem, though, as you can see in the photo, 'twas ~ 3mm too long. Shortening a stem is child's play, though, and I've soon got 'er buttoned back up..
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
..got the Ricky Standard NATO whipped on, and she's on the wrist..
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo
WooHoo!
Now, I know that swapping in a new movement is kind of cheating, so I don't reckon I'll claim the WISorcerer title.
And let's not get into the ethics or advisability of shoehorning a Swiss movement into a Russian case. LOL! But it was cheap as dirt, and it's once again a fully functioning watch, so plenty good enough for me! 
Thanks for lookin'...
-Ricky
P.s. - I was, alas, so keen to get after this one that I didn't take any "before photos". Do you perchance have any, Jeff? If so, please post 'em!
), Jeff surprised me with this offer..Quote
TakesALickin
..the Home for Wayward Watches. I have a candidate of Slavic origin. If you can resuscitate this one, I'll regard you as a WISorcerer of the highest order.
Offer or challenge, I'm not sure which. LOL!
In any case, the watch arrived yesterday, and I must say that I was quite impressed with its looks and overall nice finish. 'tis a quartz, and Jeff warned me that it took an odd battery, and that there was some gunk inside from a deteriorated gasket. He surprised me by including a new 386 / 301 cell, a perfect match for the OEM Russian battery. I wasted no time swapping it in.. but no go.
I then removed it, tested it with me VOM and, while it checked good, I decided to try a 357 cell I had on hand, and knew to be good. The 357 is the right diameter, but one MM thicker. Good enough for a bench test but, again, no go. At that point I decided to call it a day, and sleep on it.Well, this morning I sat gazing at the watch while waiting for the coffee to brew, and decided that it was just too handsome for the Salvage Yard. But the 4-jewel Slava quartz module, while quite impressive to look at, was obviously dead as a doornail. What next? Only one choice.. Movement swap! LOL!
Having made my decision, I quickly gutted the case. And Whoa Nelly! I see what you mean about the "deteriorating gasket". While Jeff had obviously tried to clean it up, the interior of the case was coated with a nasty, sticky, toxic looking black goo.
If this turns out to be some Andomeda Strain of Russian bug, I'm gonna come back and haunt ye Jeff! LOL!It cleaned up pretty easily with isopropyl alcohol, even the teensy spot on the dial, and I was ready to test-fit the ETA 805.111 movement I had in mind to use. To my amazement, the dial feel were almost a match! The clocking was right, but the diameter a bit off. But, wonder of wonders, there's an easy fix. I simply took my trusty X-acto and opened up the dial feet holes in the movement, making them an open-ended slot, vs. a hole. Yes! It works!
Now for some hands. To my disappointment, the Slava hands wouldn't fit. Ah well, I couldn't be that lucky.
OK, plan B - I've got a selection of hands in the proper size for the ETA, so I picked out a set, and whipped 'em on. So far so good! When I test fit the dial / movement assembly into the case, it became apparent that coming up with a movement ring was gonna be the next challenge. The solution...5-Minute Epoxy, The Caveman Watchmakers Friend! LOL!
Let's take a closer look..
Not pretty, I'll grant you, but it works.
For insurance, I added 2 more epoxy 'dots' after the photo was taken, clocked 90 degrees from the ones shown. Moving on..To my relief the threads of the Slava crown matched up with the ETA stem, though, as you can see in the photo, 'twas ~ 3mm too long. Shortening a stem is child's play, though, and I've soon got 'er buttoned back up..
..got the Ricky Standard NATO whipped on, and she's on the wrist..
WooHoo!
Now, I know that swapping in a new movement is kind of cheating, so I don't reckon I'll claim the WISorcerer title.
And let's not get into the ethics or advisability of shoehorning a Swiss movement into a Russian case. LOL! But it was cheap as dirt, and it's once again a fully functioning watch, so plenty good enough for me! Thanks for lookin'...
-Ricky
P.s. - I was, alas, so keen to get after this one that I didn't take any "before photos". Do you perchance have any, Jeff? If so, please post 'em!
& good save Ricky Lee Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
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