Question for watchmakers regarding cleaning machine

[ParisDakarBmw]

I just recieved my L & R watch cleaning machine. It has all of the baskets, jars, and works like a charm. I guess it's from the 50's, but it has some serious RPM's.

My question relates to the method of placing the items in the baskets. I can take the entire movement apart, and put it back together with little issue. My next step is to operate the cleaner. Do you guys kave a certain technique to keep the parts in order, or do most of you know every part no matter what order?

I considered doing several cleaning sessions, and replace the parts back in order as I finish, and then move to a seperate portion of the movement to clean. My last watch had 8 seperated trays with the parts in order. Do I just pluck the wheels, and sprockets for the first load? Or all keyless works together? or just toss everything into the baskets, and sort it out later?

I'd like to know what method would work best if I can't remember the exact order for every part.

[Andad]

Hi Paul,

I have an old cleaner very much like that one.

[ParisDakarBmw]

Do you still use it?

[Andad]

It is even older than your one. It's in a box at my factory. I will post some pix when I find it.

[Sgt. Henry]

Hey Paul,
will the cleaner clean Afghan Sand out of my watch?

[ParisDakarBmw]

Mark! Your still alive!

The cleaner works fine, it's me I'm worried about!

I can turn a 27 jewel movement into a sundial contraption at the snap of a finger.

have you met my friend Jim O'leary? He's going through training with your same employeer.

[Ironstark]

After nearly 20 years in the trade I should know where the bits go!! For me it does'nt matter about loading different parts by section of the movement. What does matter is ensuring an even weight distribution in the baskets so nothing gets damaged or the basket starts to judder/shake when going through the spin cycle.
If you need to load them in a certain order etc.. to help you remember what goes where, then work out a system you can easily remember.

[ParisDakarBmw]

I never considered the weight distribution......This is the good info I need as a beginner

[Rikki]

Weight distribution is a must and you said it spins real fast the knob on the front will adjust from a snails pace to launch into space mode be careful you can break balance staffs if done incorrectly. Good luck and have fun first jar is cleaner last 2 rinse. Rik also make sure your heater coils are cleaned if not it will stick when you turn it on burning dust and old dryed on solutions. About 5 minutes a jar oughta do it

[ParisDakarBmw]

I'll clean the heating coil, and give it a test run on some old parts. I'm actually really happy to have this little model. It seems like it's built to last. Parts are easy to find on ebay, and may pick up a second unit for that reason.

Thanks for the tips guys!

[Sgt. Henry]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

Mark! Your still alive!

The cleaner works fine, it's me I'm worried about!

I can turn a 27 jewel movement into a sundial contraption at the snap of a finger.

have you met my friend Jim O'leary? He's going through training with your same employeer.

Paul,
I havent met him yet, I'm "in country" now, so tell him to look me up!

[David Woo]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

or just toss everything into the baskets, and sort it out later?

That sounds like my Sig pistol armorer final exam: all 30 of us had to fully strip our pistol and place the parts onto a large empty tray.

Then one by one we had to come back up to the tray, pull all the required parts out of the huge pile and take them back to our table and reassemble the pistol. No going back to the tray if you picked out something wrong or forgot a part, just one chance. Then the instructor came by and function tested the pistol.

Pass/fail grading.

The funny part? After each student had his trip up to the tray and went back to his desk, the instructor walked over to the tray and said "there are still some parts laying here" meaning some poor soul did not have sufficient parts to reassemble the pistol correctly.
Glad it wasn't me.

I saw the instructor a year later working a booth at the SHOT Show and he said this happens at each class, one or two of the students just can't pass the final.
DW

[conrail]

Originally Posted by David Woo

That sounds like my Sig pistol armorer final exam: all 30 of us had to fully strip our pistol and place the parts onto a large empty tray.

I stripped my Sig last night, absolute joy