Long story short, the nineteen teens Illinois pocket watch broke it's mainspring again.

The few local shops that still work on mechanical watches want $4-500 and a six month turnaround time to fix a watch that has no real value that isn't sentimental.

With that in mind, I'm debating buying a few watch tools and giving this a go myself.

Anyone work on their own watches?

No help here, but I’ve certainly thought about it. There are tons of watchmakers who post videos to YT that qualify as “how-to”, and the replacement parts and tools are accessible to the layman. I went so far as buying a chinesium automatic wristwatch from Amazon to disassemble and “study”, but I haven’t worked up the nerve yet.

Here's something that might be of interest (and help) to you -

https://www.youtube.com/@WristwatchRevival

He also sells watch repair tool kits for beginners.

I know there's a handful of watch tinkerers in the watch thread in the gallery.
Not sure if a pocketwatch is much different than wristwatches, but one of them could likely have some good input.

+1 for Marshall at Wristwatch Revival. He's the Bob Ross of watchmaking. I think you are on the right track in doing it yourself. Worst case is you have to send it for service.

Got another $600 quote today. Looks like it is probably me or nobody. My biggest question at the moment revolves around ensuring I'm getting the correct replacement spring.

I went thru this some years ago. Ended up mailing it to a guy in Massachusetts that said he could repair it. Never got it back... Good luck.

Exactly what I am trying to avoid.

Do it! Get an inexpensive watch tool kit and a lamp like this
Lamp with magnifying lens.

Youtube will be lots of help.

Take pictures of every step.

I've got a lamp like that already so I've got that covered. Need to look at my inventory of tweezers and fine slot screwdrivers.

My brother MarsAttacks does.

Get some detailed pix of the movement.

Mainspring is easy. There’s just a couple dozen kinds.

How is this?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/...04/shares/UJk7A702F1

It was manufactured in 1911. I can get the spring.

It might cost upwards of $25.

$25 or even $50 so does not sound bad at all, especially if a mere mortal like myself can change it and avoid multiple hundreds in watchmaker fees.

Generic spring question, I see lots of vintage springs made or sold by the original watch manufacturer out there along with lots of aftermarket vintage springs and I think I saw something about "never break" springs.

Other than age and price, when it comes to the correct size spring is there really much difference?

quote:

Originally posted by M1Garandy:

Other than age and price, when it comes to the correct size spring is there really much difference?

Yep. You need one for the particular movement size.

A pocket watch spring is easy to hand wind in, but will cut you up pretty good if you slip.

The barrel is easy to remove if you just gently lift the plate up. It can be slid up and out with a pair of brass tweezers.

https://www.daveswatchparts.com/

.

Itty bitty parts? Insanely small screws? Stuff you can't get to unless it is turned a certain way?

Yeah, it could be worse if you wanted to replace the screen on an I-Phone.

You should be able to replace it yourself, just give yourself a good amount of time with no distractions and you'll be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:

quote:

Originally posted by M1Garandy:

Other than age and price, when it comes to the correct size spring is there really much difference?

Yep. You need one for the particular movement size.

A pocket watch spring is easy to hand wind in, but will cut you up pretty good if you slip.

The barrel is easy to remove if you just gently lift the plate up. It can be slid up and out with a pair of brass tweezers.

I poorly worded my question. With regard to the proper mainspring for any given movement, is there really much difference between vintage OEM, vintage aftermarket and any current or recent production options with regard to spring longevity or quality?

Brass tweezers 'eh? Those I don't have.

A reproduction spring would be just fine.