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SF240 conversion

Posted: March 13th, 2021, 3:07 pm
by Yoda
These conversions always present some kind of surprise.

I have received an intermediate winding bridge from Chile and I was told that the pillars from the KW movement could be used - beep...
Also, it should be threaded - beep...

I can turn the pillars to the correct length/depth and I can cut threads, but it seems wrong as the customer paid for the completed part and not a DIY bridge.

We already agreed on a price for the conversion and I am not going to charge a higher price for this extra work.

Uneven QC in my opinion.

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 13th, 2021, 3:15 pm
by Vapyag
Hmm, I have set of convertation parts, I think It will be interesting quest soon))

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 14th, 2021, 11:59 am
by unreformed66
What is it that needs to be threaded? The original pillar posts are just driven in friction tight. I've done several of these "conversions" and though each has presented it's own set of challenges due to out of specification parts supplied by Jorge none of them have required any alteration to the original pillar posts. Has he changed something in the kits?

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 14th, 2021, 1:47 pm
by TimemiT
one time I asked ... just put that Incabloc on that other movement ... and I remember him telling me there are like 5 or 6 different SF240 ... so not all SF240 plates are interchangeable? I don't think he make various types plates.

The only time this happens is when you send the entire movement to him and he custom fits the plate to the movement. Then you have to factor in the wait time, which I have learned is not a static variable in this hobby. I can attribute several my new grey hairs waiting for SF240 to come back from Jorge and from Joe. :mrgreen:

reminds me now of that movie with Michelangelo and the Pope yelling at him to paint the sistine chapel faster faster!!! :lol: ... yeah, I just compared an SF240 to the Sistine chapel :lol:

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 14th, 2021, 3:42 pm
by Yoda
I know of 4 different movements, the layout is the same.
Bridges are, KW without alarm, KW with alarm, SW without alarm and SW with alarm.
Pattern has changed over the years, so has the finish.
Simple and flat pallet arbor assembly, highly polished pallet arbor assembly, the newer versions had pallet arbor assembly cock (incastar movement) and the older had a bridge.
All wheels are interchangeable, but two kinds of seconds wheels were made, the low standard and the high one which came into the picture with Panerai.
4 different centre wheels and cannon pinion, height is the difference.
4 different patterns, narrow CdG, wide CdG, brushed and plain.
4 different balance assemblies, free sprung overcoil hairspring for incastar, Breguet overcoil hairspring used in different movements in combination with short regulator arm, flat hairspring used in both KW and SW movements in combination with long regulator arm and on two different balance wheels. Different materials used in balance wheels, especially the yellow glucydur.
3 different sets of balance jewel sets, non shock, incabloc and incastar.

4 different jewel counts, 7, 11, 15 (most used) and 17 for Panerai.

I may have forgotten something, please do chime in with additional information.

I know that I have seen at least 8 different barrel bridges, perhaps even more, but all others than the four mentioned were made for other companies.

There are variations in the way these movements were marked on the train bridge, different fillings in the engravings, black, red and gold, some had no engravings.

The balance cock were also engraved differently, or not at all.

Engravings depended on which customer and country.

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 14th, 2021, 4:46 pm
by TimemiT
it is all this variance that has somewhat cooled me to the SF240 ...and I know it's not the best or most stable of movements ... I have 4-5 converted SW movements and another 2-3 clocks for parts ... but it has got frustrating and defeating for me that I have just stopped in the past year .... this shit pandemic and the non-stop work has not helped either

maybe in a few months I will relax and get my senses back .... I feel where you are coming from M

It's been almost 2 years that I have sent anything out for anyone to build .. I have enough tools and grey matter between my ears to do certain things ... however, I lack all the high level equipment to truly do fine work on plates, jewels, machining, etc ... I leave that up to the experts. (which I am not)

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2021, 4:14 am
by Yoda
Monday morning at 0730 hours.

Sorting some SF240 parts while converting a movement for a friend. Looking for screws and small parts to finish the conversion.
20210315_094610_resized.jpg

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2021, 6:30 am
by Phaedros
Groovy!

What kind of screwdrivers do you use there?

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2021, 6:35 am
by Yoda
Phaedros wrote: March 15th, 2021, 6:30 am Groovy!

What kind of screwdrivers do you use there?
Horotec 9 piece set, the one I like the most.

Re: SF240 conversion

Posted: March 15th, 2021, 10:35 am
by Yoda
Conversion number 193 finished today....