How to Remove & Replace Diafix Shock Springs

In this video we tackle the Diafix Shock setting including removal, installation and 3 ways to lubricate the jewel.
Thanks for watching!
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All THE TOOLS & SUPPLIES I USE: watchrepairtut...
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► Brass Rods watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► Rodico watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► 4 Pot Oil Reservoir geni.us/8UsFHwe (Amazon)
► Bergeon Oilers watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► Dumont Tweezers watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► Watchmakers Paper watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► Micro Drill Bits watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
My Microscope Setup
► Amscope SM-3T watchrepairtut... Amazon)
► Barlow Lens watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► LCD Ring Lite watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► Hayear Microscope Camera watchrepairtut... (Amazon)
► Camera Adapter watchrepairtut... (Amazon)

[@1961UK]

Very clear and makes complete sense when you watch a pro at work. After watching this I felt inspired to make a jewel cleaning/measuring tool as you have with an old broken balance staff and a tooth pick. I turned out pretty good, and I always enjoy making new tools. I agree a microscope is a must, without it, I could never have made such a small tool. Thank you sir 👌

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad it was helpful . Update me as you progress. Love to hear those stories

[@windgarden5079]

I'm always excited about the detail of your videos and how you meet the needs of non professional watchmakers. Thank you very much for this. Please keep it up.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I appreciate that! That’s who these videos are for.

[@HeliBenj]

Oh man, that couldn’t come at a better time, my Lord Marvels are waiting ! Thanks sir

[@tomholloway7566]

Another great video Alex, you are giving us the “knack” that long time experience gives but so many are reluctant to share. Thanks again.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks for the kind words Tom.

[@bangy55]

Will you never cease to amaze me? I saw the title of this video this morning and thought to myself, "I already know this one pretty well." Nope! I am once again amazed by your skill and those Bonus Tips. I could have saved a good chunk of money on an automatic oiler (and the cost of a tip replacement since). You are the dean of watchmakers and teachers. Thank you again for sharing your skills in such a pleasant and easy-to-understand manner.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

LOL, I have a couple auto oilers and very rarely use them unless I’m working on an old pocketwatch. Thanks for checking in Chris.

[@tropicalspeed]

Another great video. The bonus tip comes just in time: I have two balance jewels on a Waltham 16s that I see no other way to lubricate other than thru the jewel holes. Thanks, Alex.🤙

[@watchrepairtutorials]

There you go Ray. Glad to help

[@kyproset]

What a lesson. The final tip though is all the money. Thank you, Alex, you never disappoint. Looking forward to the next lesson.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Kypros, you are most welcome. See you again soon.

[@JuanMedina-qj1hg]

Hello from Spain...just great all of your Videos...easy to understand and clear...

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks my friend and welcome

[@So.Stephen]

Amazing bonus tips and in this case pun intended! Great work as always Alex. Very grateful that you are doing these videos and sharing your knowledge

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Did you like that tip ? I thought it was a pretty good one that many people would not think of.

[@johnbreakswatches]

Genius. Also casually mentions drilling into a *toothpick*. I’m gonna need a smaller drill bit! However, I started my broken balance staff collection this week so I’m in like Flynn!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Sounds perfect John. I believe I picked those micro bits up on Amazon. They are not great quality, maybe useful on electronic boards but they are pretty cheap and work for this just fine

[@vesselingenadiev2526]

The bonus tip is just genious, thanks for sharing that!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad it was helpful Vesselin

[@kswaminathan5439]

Mr.Alex, the knowledge which you possess on watch repairing is phenomenal. Apart from explaining the movements, you also talk about the tools that should be used. This is a plus point for those who want to be experts in this field. Thank you so much, Sir.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I will put it on the list. Thank You

[@johntebeau4493]

Finally I understand now to use my auto oiler the right way. Whew! My hands are not steady enough for the wire (snap) goes the wire. Bonus tip looks to be a life saver. Great info thanks !

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Glad it helped!

[@cryptophiliac4533]

I wanted to thank you because I just finished my first full disassembly / reassembly without a hitch, strictly from watching your videos. I had never even opened a watch case let alone touched a movement till I started your videos 2 weeks ago. Great instruction! I will progress to a smaller automatic calibre now.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I wish you could see the smile on my face. 😊 Nice job

[@cryptophiliac4533]

@@watchrepairtutorials 🤜🏽🤛🏽

[@wayneweir246]

Alex, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I learn something each time I watch one of your videos. Too many people treat knowledge as currency. If they give away some of their knowledge they think they are poorer. I think the reality is that both end up richer. Keep up the great work!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

The response since I started this little channel has been overwhelming positive. I definitely feel I’m better off because of it. Thanks

[@johnvaluk1401]

Thank you Alex. Haven’t run across one in my adventure in watch working. But when I do I’ll know how to handle it. Thanks Again.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

It’s just a matter of time😊

[@skizzlemane1]

I’ve watched your whole channel the past few days and I’m super eager for more! Thanks for these comprehensive videos! You’re helping me so much 👍🏼

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Awe man, that’s cool. I have a lot more coming.

[@philedwards2213]

Thanks again for another great video. I needed this a couple of weeks ago. :-) Really appreciate these videos, they are a great help.

[@tonycollard4185]

Brilliant tutorials!! Your expertise and experience is excellent and thanks for sharing! My tweezer skills are pretty good, but I still find it too much of a risk to pick up & manoeuvre a tiny cap jewel, so what I use is rodico. Firstly, I place the balance jewel into the end piece using tweezers. Then, I clean the cap jewel as you advise, make a small point with my rodico and pick up the cap jewel from its round side. I then suitably oil the flat side of the endstone using my oiler while its on the rodico and then place the endstone onto the balance jewel using using a fine pin. As you say, magnification is key to see what you are doing. I love the idea of making tools from broken balance staffs and wheel pivots. Brilliant!! I'll be making some for sure!! Keep up the excellent work!!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Hey Tony, thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again brother.

[@eugenerijnders]

And another lesson learned. Awesome.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Indeed!

[@littleviking488]

Thanks again for being so generous in sharing your knowledge. It is much appreciated!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You got it brother.

[@BiffTannenBTTF]

You can also put the jewel upside down on a tiny piece of rodico, oil it, and then put it in place using that rodico. It’s super easy that way.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Rodico leaves residue behind so its not ideal for use on parts after final cleaning.

[@Supercruze]

Awesome stuff Alex. Thank you. Maybe I am crazy but my method for diafix jewel oiling is to turn the jewel flat side down on watch paper after cleaning and take some pointed and flattened rodico and touch the edge of the jewel to lift it off the paper. You then have control of the jewel to place a drop of 9010 to the center the jewel, flip it over and place it directly in the middle of the diafix setting using a fine tip tweeze to separate the jewel from the rodeo. Then replace the spring. A bit of work but I get good results with this method with nice even drop of oil in the setting.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

That works. There are multiple right ways to get to the same place and then there are wrong ways. That my friend has no negative affects on the task and is a great tip. Thanks for sharing that.🤙

[@lsu1992]

Amazing lessons. Love it!!!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks so much!

[@WatchWithMike]

Fantastic info and video!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks buddy

[@itzhaccroitoru4082]

Another great video,Thanks again.Itzhac

[@franklima1269]

Hi Alex, I've learned so much with your videos so far the I've decided to became a Patreon so I can have access to your more advanced videos. This Diafix spring shocks are very difficult to work with and to lubricate. Have you tried using these other methods? if yes, what are the pros and cons? 1- (From your 1st method) Lubricate the end stone but instead of using the tweezes to put the end stone back in, you use Rodico to help put the end stone back in. 2- (From your 1st method) Instead o lubricating the end stone, you lubricate the 4th wheel jewel from the top and then put the end stone. 3- In your 2nd method you used a wire or repurposed pivots to push in the oil into the jewel hole. Would it do the same effect if using the pivots from own 4th wheel to will push in the oil into de holes during installation of the 4th wheel? In other words, you'd be using the 4th wheel own pivots to push oil in instead of wires. Thanks. I really appreciate your comments. FLima

[@watchrepairtutorials]

1- I don't like using Rodico after the parts are clean because it leaves a residue behind which is bad. 2- This will smear the oil, no good 3- you could do this, but its harder to judge how much oil is reaching the endstone. Your time is better spent practicing. Get a parts movement for cheap and practice. You get better the more you do it. Don't develop the mindset of looking for short cuts when something is difficult to do. If you start short cutting one thing, then you start skipping steps, not inspecting all the parts and on and on.

[@franklima1269]

@@watchrepairtutorialsYou brought up good points. Thanks for the advices.

[@keithstarling8244]

Another great video, Thanks Alix.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

You got it brother.

[@billyg736]

Off to the workshop..lol cheers Alex.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Hi ho go it’s off to work I go. Thanks Billy

[@johnfrum2024]

One good source for homemade insertion oiling needles are hairspring fixing pins. These are tapered with the tip fine enough to be inserted into the diafix pivot holes. A pack of 100 will set you back about 7 USD. Mount one on a piece of pegwood and you're diafix ready.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Great tip John. I didn’t even think of that one but they are perfect.

[@JonTheComputerDoctor]

Knocked it out the park yet again, superb video.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks again Jon.

[@brianpercival1829]

Awesome video, thanks for the 'tips'.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks Brian.

[@ஓம்நமசிவாய-ட9வ]

Alex, few months back, I was trying to oil a cap jewel on a vintage French Lorsa p62 movement on a Indian French collaboration watch called timestar.. shock spring looks very similar to the one you are showing in this video and it was frustrating because I could not see well. Ended up losing the spring in the carpet. Movement is sitting in a box.. 😢 As you mentioned magnification is the key and of course proper technique..

[@watchrepairtutorials]

It sucks when it happens but it has happened to use all.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

This video is available ad free to all Patrons available on Patreon. I would like to thank all my Patrons who are helping to make these video's possible. Aaron Levine bill doog Chris Fish. Gregory Corna Heath Payne John Boyarsky Khronosbest Larry Lauer Marcel Gustafson Matt Sloan Mike G Mike Maltese Paul Schumacker Ray Everett Richard Chinn Steve Stroschein Timothy Chaney Vincent Tiger

[@awdturbopowah773]

Haven't had to work on one of these yet, and can't say I'm looking forward to it! 😄 Seriously great work Alex, I will be referencing this video in the future when I inevitably need to deal with one.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Hopefully these videos will become a library for future reference. Thanks man

[@awdturbopowah773]

@@watchrepairtutorials Oh for sure, it'll be an extremely valuable resource to have!

[@ஓம்நமசிவாய-ட9வ]

Hi Alex, please give us tips on how to open a very stubborn case back. Both the screw down case back and snap on case back..

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Stay tuned my friend.

[@blenny47]

Thanks

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Welcome

[@chrissnyder7980]

Thanks!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thank you for your support in what I do.

[@a.aguilar]

Thanks Alex! Next time I have a 66 or 6119 on my bench (or any other diafix thing) I'll be prepared to deal with it... well, maybe 😁

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Just review and you got it.

[@gregcapella5941]

THANKS,,,Good video

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I appreciate you Greg. Thanks buddy

[@chrissnyder7980]

Thank you Alex! For the auto oiler, do you recommend the lowest setting on the top incabloc jewel as well?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Yes but I would still check it on an endstone to see how much is being deposited.

[@fattern_]

Thank you for yet another great video :) One question, how do you clean the oiler after each use. It's so tiny and fragile.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Yos, in a piece of pith wood

[@educarmar]

This method is way more elegant: Just gently push with an old oiler to the outside of one of the long arms, moving it slightly in the opposite direction of the finger arm. Then, do the same in the opposed long arm. This results on the finger releasing by itself - works 100% of the times.

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks Alex, great tips as per usual! Are you going to do a video on end shake? I have a movement that the balance staff pivots are fine but has end shake so I’ll need a horia tool (so expensive!). Also I have no idea which jewel to push do you push both jewels by half? It’s the balance jewels. Ta. See you in the next one!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I had a video explaining it but correcting it will be in the Jeweling tutorials coming up

[@boydsargeant7496]

@@watchrepairtutorials thanks. I’ve put a horia tool on order from Aliexpress, wish me luck! Reviews online are mainly good.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

@@boydsargeant7496 I look forward to hearing what you think about it.

[@weerobot]

Awesome

[@paulmullen1189]

Hi Alex, What is the best way to polish the oilers etc?.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Aanswered

[@BiffTannenBTTF]

Can you remove the cap jewel and just oil directly into the jewel cup?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

No. when you oil the center of the stone and lay it inside the jewel, setting the curvature of the balance pivot holds the oil in position. if you just drop onto the top of the balance, pivot jewel, it'll migrate out of the setting, leaving the jewel setting dry

[@eduardoperez7797]

Thanks for your great videos I have a question that have not found all over the place how do you know the size of the balance spring or (hairspring) if you need to order? When there’s no information on watch thanks in advance and many thanks for your great knowledge sharing.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Wow, the answer to that is very difficult to give in the comment section. Here’s my advice for now. You need to figure out what the caliber is first. 2nd, hairsprings and balance wheels need to to statically poised together so you want a balance spring and balance wheel together as a set. 3rd, selecting a balance spring that matches the weight of the balance wheel and vibrating the hairspring to the balance wheel will be covered in master classes down the road.

[@eduardoperez7797]

@@watchrepairtutorials how do I sign up for the classes? Thanks

[@watchrepairtutorials]

@@eduardoperez7797 the master classes will be in the Patreon for members in the $9 and $19 levels. One master class per month plus white paper notes. The videos will be about 1 hr and will be very detailed . I am working on the first one which is about the 8 point escapement inspection process.

[@awdturbopowah773]

@@watchrepairtutorials Oh sweet! I am stoked for the master class.

[@amandagelien9612]

You can use a arm hair to get the the oil into the balance costs nothing and does not break and if you loose you have two armfuls😃

[@watchrepairtutorials]

LOL

[@gerryrutar310]

Hi Alex what size of automatic oiler is use for the jewel holes

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Its the black tip, 7718-1A

[@gerryrutar310]

@@watchrepairtutorials thanks Alex, you are very patient, your knowledge is amazing , thanks hope for more of your videos

[@HeliBenj]

Maybe dumb question, but can you use the actual wheel that goes into those jewels to push the oil?

[@watchrepairtutorials]

It’s not a good idea to use a pivot that needs to stay perfectly straight for the task.

[@rossjackson3670]

So glad I'm a pupil

[@watchrepairtutorials]

So am I Ross. It’s always good to hear from you.

[@rossjackson3670]

@@watchrepairtutorials Just re-watched. Can't believe how much I understand your teaching. The small sized chunks of information make it easy to assimilate. I'm still at the 'ping' stage. But less 'ing' than 'P'. Any chance you could keep the # number in the title. Makes allocation easier for viewing. Regards. Ross

[@ΓιώργοςΚουτσαντώνης-χ3ο]

Superbe my friend!

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Thanks as always my friend

[@billsexton5532]

Iv just broke broke the incoblock shock spring on my eta 6498 on the balance side, I want to replace it but I can't figure out how to remove it, and findlay finished braking out. How do you take these out and install a new one. The diafix is self explanatory if you look at it but this most common one has me stumped HELP. Billy

[@watchrepairtutorials]

I’d have to see a picture, but in most cases you have to press out the setting with a jewel press, install the spring and then reinstall it. It require a jewel press.

[@billsexton5532]

@@watchrepairtutorials thank you I've been doing a little more research and it looks like I'm going to have to press it out, install a new spring if I can find one , and press it back in, will a staking set work. Billy

[@watchrepairtutorials]

@@billsexton5532 staking sets are likely to damage the setting. It’s possible but risky.

[@PMELKUS]

If for some reason you do loose a Diafix spring good luck finding any, vendors don't stock this item reasoning being you can't loose these well they don't know me very well since it did happen to me one time but I was lucky I had a donor movement.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

Yea your are right, there’s no where to buy them so extreme caution is required.

[@AR15UserRev1]

I think this is beyond my skill set until I get a microscope

[@watchrepairtutorials]

That’s OK. Lots of things might be out of your reach TODAY, but you keep adding a little bit more and a little bit more and the next thing you know you got it.

[@watchrepairtutorials]

✨✨ Get Your Copy of my eBook, The Secrets for Adjusting Watch Rates ✨✨ ➡➡PDF DOWNLOAD watchrepairtutorials.com/ebook/ ⬅⬅ ➡➡Available on Kindle & Soft Cover @ geni.us/4x8C (Amazon) ✨✨Watchmaking Courses and Training ✨✨ ➡➡ watchrepairtutorials.com/watchmaker-course/ ⬅⬅