Atmos 528 Complete Overhaul Part 2 Clock Assembly 

Final assembly and testing of Amos 528-8.  This 50 year old clock was a dead on arrival. An overhaul within manufacturers specs, brought this clock back to life.  This clock now performs as good as any new Atmos clock. The important components are within factory specifications. I don’t anticipate performing any service on this clock for another 20 years. 
You can contact me at [e-mail] to overhaul your Atmos.

[@forgettmenot]

I'm a 26 year old collector and just got my Atmos 528-8 in as well! Thank you for the insightful video 🙏

[@watchguyAtmos]

Enjoy your new clock!

[@crrountree1]

Although I have a good understanding of how each component relates to the overall function of the clock, your explanations provided the rationale for evaluating each component during the process of cleaning. I very much enjoyed the presentation and would hesitant to let anyone clean and adjust my Atmos but you! I’ll be in touch. Thank you.

[@watchguyAtmos]

Thank you for your kind comments and let me know if I can help. I’m currently in the process of overhauling three clocks. The overhauling process does not take me very long. It’s the regulation after that can take a few months. I need to make sure everything will run properly for a few months before shipping.

[@crrountree1]

What is the ballpark cost of a complete overhaul for a 628 that is keeping fair time but cannot be regulated.

[@allanrichards3752]

This is by far the best video I have watched on these clocks. I have learnt a lot. I bought a 528 off evil bay about 10 years ago and I have been fortunate in that it runs well and keeps good time. It has never stopped but on a few occasions the amplitude has fallen quite low, getting down to around 270 degrees. After an month or so it will increase back up to its normal of around 420 degrees. Perhaps it is getting near to wanting a service or I am not sure if it is seeing quite enough temperature variation to wind itself enough, in fact I have never seen the winding mechanism move and I look at the clock quite a lot, I find them fascinating and relaxing to watch.

[@Sokol_]

Great video! Im watch collector and always know about Atmos but never really understand how it work. Now i know how it works and how to service one ;) Best wishes

[@watchguyAtmos]

Glad to help!

[@mgp00a]

Great video it's wonderful to see a master at work. I dare say not too many masters like you left, keep up the great work.

[@watchguyAtmos]

Thank you!

[@donaldchapman8392]

Very good videos. I am very technically inclined and have studied horology to some degree, nowhere near where you are but I have been working with technical machines all my life. I have a 1962 ATMOS that was my Grandfather's retirement gift that has not run in years. Now, seeing your videos I may give it a go to bring it back to life. Thanks

[@watchguyAtmos]

Please come back and let me know how it turned out!

[@donaldchapman8392]

@@watchguyAtmos I will. Probably wont tackle it until I retire myself later this summer. I travel a lot for work and don't want to take it apart then leave it sit.

[@tomerdman9255]

Very cool videos. Thank you.

[@robbyddurham1624]

Incredible. You made this look simple. It can't be this simple.

[@watchguyAtmos]

It’s not. There are so many variables. A clock that runs on air can be halted by a hundred different very small defects.

[@gsunde]

Outstanding work

[@watchguyAtmos]

Thank you very much!

[@DavidMucci-v8k]

Really well done videos and commentary, I service and restore Atmos clocks myself and I still found it fascinating and informative. Really well filmed as well. Good on ya! and thanks.

[@watchguyAtmos]

Thank you I appreciate you. If you have anything to add, I am willing to learn. I take any advice with gratitude.

[@DavidMucci-v8k]

I really loved the part where you discussed the spring strength. I am currently working on a 528 for someone and after complete disassembly and cleaning and reassembly when I pushed the spring in at the back to begin winding it didn't come back out at all! I have never seen that before. I watched your section on that carefully and I think I may have cracked it. We will see. But no question we can all help each other as not many of us tackle these beautiful clocks.

[@galaxygalaxy4389]

Hi there and thank for the very informative video. As a watch/clock hobbyist, I also overhauled my 526 Atmos bringing him to full functionality. I've watched your video for each and every detail and is just perfect, the photography, the explanation everything! Let me have few comments & questions - 1) As far as I know, according to the spec the intermediate wheel pivots also required lubrication. 2) The 6 screws of the front frame - I couldn't find a screwdriver that fits exactly, so I had to file the screwdriver flathead. I'm wondering if this screws requires a special screwdriver... 3) I managed to insert the chain by myself by connecting a long wire to the last link of the chain. this allow me to insert everything without a tension and then pull the chain to tension and insert the locker. 4) When you discover that the arbor is making only 4 rounds instead of 5-7, how did you determined that this is main spring fault? It could be also the counter spring (the one inside the bellow) fault...after all this is two spring forces one against the other? 5) few years passed since I worked on it, but I remember that there was one wheel - I think the minute wheel on the movement, that had to be extracted using some tool. How did you extract it? 6) In order to release main spring tension, I'm gently pushing the ratchet lever and releasing the arbor slowly. This is good for the cases you have some work to do on chain/bellow without removing the movement. Once again, everything is just awesome in your video. Thank for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@watchguyAtmos]

I agree with everything you’re saying, and I want to comment about the main spring. I’ve tried increasing the length of the rear bellow spring and it makes no difference with the 5 to 7 rotations of the arbor. I’m currently working on a main spring that measures 95 mm wide and I’m getting five rotations out of the arbor. I have another main spring that is 60 mm wide and I’m getting seven rotations. The tighter the main spring, the more power it holds.

[@theeasterbunny8308]

Good video ✌

[@TFShaw]

I want to thank you for your excellent videos on the Atmos. With the information you've provided I finally had the courage to disassemble, check, and service my 540. The bellows is good, and it now has a 420 degree amplitude. Yay! Not perfect, but way better than it had been and this is with all original parts. Serial number 616960. Date of manufacture looks like 8/8/86. The date was scribbled and difficult to read. Thanks again so much!

[@watchguyAtmos]

That’s great news congratulations! That’s quite the improvement you had from the 240° you reported just a few days ago. Whatever you did, you did it right. Now you may not have to touch it again for another 30+ years.

[@TFShaw]

@@watchguyAtmos I removed and checked the bellows, disassembled the "movement" (please forgive my lack of knowledge of all the parts names), I checked the poise and beat of the balance, but left that be as it seemed to be good, I cleaned everything the best I could, lubed the main spring, and only the pivots without jewels and the shaft on the piece that fits into the main spring "wheel / hub" (sorry I forget what you called that part). I didn't have Moebius and couldn't obtain it quickly. I used Horace Whitlock grease and oil plus cleaning supplies, I figured it was better than nothing, hope that's the case anyway. It is synthetic. If I have to do it again so be it. Obviously I did not do nearly as thorough and amazing job as you can do. I love this clock, I'm not wealthy, and I'm extremely interested in this type of work so I gave it a go. I commented one more time only to reply with what I did, (hopefully not annoying you), and to thank you once more for the excellent videos. I'll be looking forward to more in the future, and "counting the minutes" until then. Cheers!

[@TFShaw]

BTW there seems to be controversy about lubing the main spring on the 540. I did a light coat anyway. Apologies for all the comments.

[@felipeprado6414]

Im considering buying one or these clocks. I enjoyed and learned so much with your tutorial. Great job! Subbed

[@watchguyAtmos]

May I offer you some advice. I have purchased four clocks on eBay, all of which were said to be in working condition. None of them were in working condition. Almost all of them required a bellow refill and a suspension spring in addition to a complete overhaul. Make sure when you purchase a clock There is a one week, two week or a 30 day refund policy no questions asked. If you get burned by a seller and they do not want to take your clock back contact me I do offer overhaul services.

[@TFShaw]

My 540 only turns 240 degrees clockwise and counter clockwise. It does work and keeps time, however I'm thinking it should be serviced. Thanks for the very informative videos.

[@watchguyAtmos]

Get it serviced by somebody. 240° amplitude is barely moving. Contact me if you’d like me to perform the service for you. I currently have 4 clocks on the bench.

[@oozlefinchoozlefinch1376]

Always wondered how those worked without a way to wind them, wound with the change in air pressure.

[@Jm4steam]

Excellent video, narration.....These are such fascinating mechanisms.

[@brianwarburton4482]

Excellent video. Great explanations and attention to detail.

[@JeffBeairsto]

Thanks, I really enjoyed this.

[@_tikinick_]

Thanks for both these video's, I really enjoyed them and the level of detail shown. My case is crusty, what did you clean yours with? It looks magnificent!

[@watchguyAtmos]

You can use warm water and finish with One Dip.

[@اكرمالشمري-ز6ش]

شكرا"..شكرا"جزيلا"...فيديو مهم جدا" بالنسبة لي..أستمر رجاء"

[@ludakryz]

Where do you buy your suspension springs? And is it possible to find an upper regulator, i.e. swedge for the suspension spring as I have broken one side on the one I have.

[@watchguyAtmos]

They don’t make a swedge tool for the upper regulator. You’ll have to purchase old parts.

[@zakyxzaky]

Can you go a vedio on how to recharge the bellows. Woulg greatly appreciale it.

[@watchguyAtmos]

I outsource my bellow refills. Some of these bellows that are 30 or 40 years old cannot be refilled and must be replaced with new bellows.

[@robertgift]

I thoughthathese operated from barometric pressure. Pressure changes. In modern home heating systems, the temperature can be very steady and even.

[@watchguyAtmos]

Drop a ice cube on the bellow and it shrinks yet barometric pressure in the room has remained constant

[@robertgift]

@@watchguyAtmos Thank you. Yes. But we do not have those artificial temperature fluctuations Our thermostaturns the furnace down to 65ºF at night. But many people keep their house temperature much moreven. So barometric pressure would be my method of winding the clock.

[@zs1dfr]

I am struggling to understand why you have so few subscribers!

[@watchguyAtmos]

The Atmos repair videos are fairly new. The subscribers will get there. My goal is to help people with Atmos clocks overhaul them, or at least understand the overhaul process. It looks easy in the video, but overhauling these clocks can be a real challenge.

[@zs1dfr]

I understand this, and in no way would I attempt a service or repair after watching your video because of my ineptitude. But your camera skill, and your explanatory skills are so good, that I understand and comprehend things now about my clocks that I haven't grasped in the last 3 years! Thanks again @@watchguyAtmos

[@DarrellSambor]

Do you oil the arbors on the mainspring and second wheel?

[@watchguyAtmos]

The arbors of the main spring, and the pivots of the intermediate wheel get Mobius 9020

[@edwardhemperly813]

hey where do you buy new mainsprings?

[@watchguyAtmos]

You can’t buy new parts

[@ScottSellsSoCal]

Can these clocks be shipped and survive? Would it be normal to have to adjust it to get it to run once I receive it? This is why I haven’t bought one

[@watchguyAtmos]

Yes, these clocks can be shipped to survive. If the clock has been serviced and regulated, it will not need any further adjustments. Just release the locking mechanism for the balance and level. After shipping, I recommend letting the clock sit for at least one week before you fine-tune the regulation. The clock will find its natural speed after a week or possibly a little longer.

[@watchguyAtmos]

Yes, these clocks can be shipped to survive. If the clock has been serviced and regulated, it will not need any further adjustments. Just release the locking mechanism for the balance and level. After shipping, I recommend letting the clock sit for at least one week before you fine-tune the regulation. The clock will find its natural speed after a week or possibly a little longer. Try to keep in mind, the person who services your clock may insist they keep the clock for a few months to ensure it’s working properly before spending the money to ship it back.

[@civiprepper]

mine died. bought it in an uction house working and it arrived dead. that was 4 years ago. Now its just a long term refurb project but getting parts is difficult.

[@watchguyAtmos]

@@civiprepper if the clock was in working condition and died it most likely just needs to be cleaned. An overhaul is recommended. The smallest amount of dirt will stop these clocks dead in their path. You may not need any parts.

[@2hungchannel384]

Where address local

[@watchguyAtmos]

www.atmosclockrepairshop.com

[@missgameluna4868]

jaeger lecoultre

[@robbyddurham1624]

I checked my atmos a couple hours ago after it'd be locked for months. It was 14 right away, but I checked in after a couple hours and it's 9. I'll have to watch the videos again. The clock just started acting up last year. I"m sure it's never been serviced since new. 1975.

[@watchguyAtmos]

The grease on the mainspring is 48 years old. It will need an overhaul. Best of luck.

[@missgameluna4868]

I have the same

[@zs1dfr]

Absolutely magnificent tutorial. Thank you so much. I learnt so much - I have two 526's which behave perfectly as a result of a service by a master!