1680 5mil serial isn’t hacking

[davie489]

Hi there

Can anyone help? Having recently got my 1680 back from service I’ve noticed that I can no longer hack the seconds. Is there anyway this could happen? I’ve had a new crown tube and crown fitted. Early 1680s we’re non hacking but I’m sure my watch used to.

Thanks

[Dan S]

That seems far too late to be non-hacking. OK, please don't be offended at this question, but are you sure you are pulling the crown out to the time-setting position and not the date-setting position?

[XavierM]

No date setting position on a 1680

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by XavierM

No date setting position on a 1680

Doh! :facepalm:

[Next time, I will think before replying.]

[Fredrik]

It should definitely hack, have you asked the service centre about it?

[davie489]

Going to ring service centre tomorrow as it definitely should, I’m paranoid now that it’s not original movement. Hopefully it’s a simple fix back at service?

[springer]

I had the same thing happen on a late 1970s GMT many years ago. I brought it back to the watchmaker and told him that it no longer hacked. He seemed to know why it quit hacking since it hacked before the service.


I came back to him a couple days later and all was good again with the watch. Not being a watchmaker myself, I don't remember what he did to it but he repaired the hacking feature.

[phillip ridley]

Originally Posted by davie489

Hi there

Can anyone help? Having recently got my 1680 back from service I’ve noticed that I can no longer hack the seconds. Is there anyway this could happen? I’ve had a new crown tube and crown fitted. Early 1680s we’re non hacking but I’m sure my watch used to.

Thanks

So, there are one of two reasons as to why it is not working:

1. The hacking lever is broken and was not replaced, or the watchmaker simply didn't notice.

2. The end of the hacking lever (Tip that touches the balance wheel) is slightly bent and when the stem is pulled out to engage the balance wheel, it is missing the target so to say.

The hacking lever is a thin long piece of brass that engages with the setting lever and once the owner pulls the crown out, the setting lever forces the hacking lever into the movement towards the balance wheel. Once the crown is pushed back in to winding mode, that then carries the hacking lever back releasing the balance wheel.

[Crown & Shield]

Originally Posted by phillip ridley

So, there are one of two reasons as to why it is not working:

1. The hacking lever is broken and was not replaced, or the watchmaker simply didn't notice.

2. The end of the hacking lever (Tip that touches the balance wheel) is slightly bent and when the stem is pulled out to engage the balance wheel, it is missing the target so to say.

The hacking lever is a thin long piece of brass that engages with the setting lever and once the owner pulls the crown out, the setting lever forces the hacking lever into the movement towards the balance wheel. Once the crown is pushed back in to winding mode, that then carries the hacking lever back releasing the balance wheel.

Great info

[davie489]

Originally Posted by phillip ridley

So, there are one of two reasons as to why it is not working:

1. The hacking lever is broken and was not replaced, or the watchmaker simply didn't notice.

2. The end of the hacking lever (Tip that touches the balance wheel) is slightly bent and when the stem is pulled out to engage the balance wheel, it is missing the target so to say.

The hacking lever is a thin long piece of brass that engages with the setting lever and once the owner pulls the crown out, the setting lever forces the hacking lever into the movement towards the balance wheel. Once the crown is pushed back in to winding mode, that then carries the hacking lever back releasing the balance wheel.

Thank you for this great info 🙏

[007Sub]

Did the watch hack prior to service? I recently worked on a 1655 for a client that came in without the hack spring at all! Had to source him a new one and sent it back to him hacking as it should have.

Generally the hack spring and screw are not to be removed during cleaning so if it used to hack and no longer does definitely send it back to the watchmaker to check whats going on.

If you're concerned your movement was changed, look at any photos (hopefully you have some) of the movement prior to service. The 1680 features a chronometer grade 1570 and is therefore numbered on the base plate. Just make sure those numbers still match.