The Time Guy

This is a rare clone of the Accutron 214 that was made in China. I restored this one to running condition.

More photos inside!

This Tian Jin was sent to me for repairs. I found all coils open and the electronics dead, as well as various mechanical problems including a broken stem and jewel.

After restoration, it runs and regulates and sounds just like a 214, at the same frequency. Final rate when flat is -1.6; tines down +2.5; tines up -6.5

After consultation with the owner, I left the original dead circuitry components for appearance's sake, and built a new driver circuit in between the solder pads under the dial. That space is 0.8mm tall, so I used 0.5mm tall surface mount components. This excludes the popular SOT23 transistors which are too tall, so I had to use a very tiny package. Then I rewound both coils to match. Final unloaded current is about 2.5uA, running the train is 5uA. Amplitude is about 1.5 teeth on silver oxide. This approach leaves us with a totally reversible repair that gives us a reliable running watch, and the appearance is all original when assembled.

Here's the circuit side coil, rewound but not yet soldered or coated for protection. The coil forms seem to be made of the same plastic exactly as the 214, but the castings are much lower quality. The bobbins that hold the wire are larger, so when wound with the 214's parameters they were not very full. I wound extra wire to give lower amplitude in case the index wheel was worn.

The original index wheel is good, or at least good enough!

I fixed the original stem, which was in good condition except the thread being broken off, by drilling and tapping it and inserting a new threaded portion with thread (tap size) that matches the original (0.8mm). There was just enough of the old thread left to measure. I installed a new waterproof crown. Interestingly the case has an internal O-ring that seals against the smooth part of the stem. With a traditional waterproof crown, this gives a double seal. It came to me with a tension ring crystal, and I installed a new O-ring on the case back. This is a much more waterproof watch than the 214.

The cracked jewel was simple to replace (friction fit 0.9mm).