Timex Electric (M40 and related) movement Review and Deep Dive

[@estebanlopez9236]

This is very educational. I like how he shows the simple diagram which helps bring the quartz function with these mechanical and battery operational watch .

[@richardbrunelle7517]

The first watch I ever bought myself was a Timex Electric around 1970. I still have it in my (very small) collection. In the past I've tried to revive it with no luck. I tried again a few weeks ago. After coaxing it along for about 20 minutes it finally ran on it's own and has continued to run. I ordered a new leather strap and will put it in my watch box to show in my collection. Thanks for the information and video on this watch movement!

[@paulberk2264]

Same story here - first watch I bought with my own money, in 1972. I stopped wearing it sometime during the 80s and when I tried using it again, it wasn't reliable. A service wasn't effective. I just bought a NOS movement and had a local person replace it in the watch. Holding my breath!

[@amphibiousone7972]

Electric watches are, Electric driven , Mechanically Regulated, Contact Point Impulse Watch. Much much different from a Quartz. An Electronic watch is virtually the same as an electric, however a transistor is incorporated into the power control system. Great overview. I like the old electrics too.

[@sethjohnson4845]

Thank you so much for making this video. I saw an old Timex that my grandfather owned and I assumed that “Electric” just meant quartz. I don’t know much at all about how watches actually work but even I got the gist of what makes these particular movements unique from this video.

[@christicks5843]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad it was informative! These watches are very neat and come from an pretty cool period of timekeeping!

[@paulberk2264]

I just had mine revived with a NOS M41. The watch guy said it was a lot of work! The watch was dead accurate when I was wearing it regularly during the 70s and early 80s. With the NOS calibre it seems to be losing not quite a minute a day. My thinking is not to fuss with the watch too much. I'm happy it's working again.

[@pibbanon1987]

Some of the later Q models from the late 70's, such as the falcon eye were given stainless cases and a crude quickset mechanism for the calendar. For many of the stainless case models, it also appears that Timex also tried to emulate the case and dial designs that many Japanese quartz watches had at the time.

[@inrangerimfire20two]

What a great video, very thorough and informative

[@Coggdaddy]

Great video! I am somewhat of a newbie horology guy and was given one of these watches by my mother in law that belonged to her father. I new absolutely nothing about them until watching your video. Hopefully, it will start ticking with a fresh battery.

[@christicks5843]

Thanks! Hope the electric fires right up for you! If not give it a light tap and see if that gets it going!

[@Coggdaddy]

@@christicks5843 thanks. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. Oh well. It was worth a shot.

[@christicks5843]

@@Coggdaddy ah that sucks :(

[@paulberk2264]

Also, thanks for the excellent video!

[@dns711]

Is the Q Quartz really a quartz regulated mechanical watch? That sounds similar to a Seiko Spring Drive. Obviously a Timex quartz regulated mechanical could not compare to a Seiko Spring Drive, but I would like to see a comparison.

[@christicks5843]

Good day, yup! It is the regulation though is a totally different technique to the spring drive. Where the Q Quartz is more or less a electric watch employing a proper balance with a quartz module shoved between the circuit to modify impulse timing the Spring drive mechanism looks to take the function of the balance/escapement entirely using their tri-syncro regulator mechanism

[@frankporfidio9813]

Hi Chris , I was just looking through the Timex M40 service manual and it says " no silicone oil" that's all I see ,is this out of date now? what should you use on these ? Thanks

[@cchristens1]

Nice video, well done. I just picked up a Q Day Date, thinking the Day part isn't functioning right though, it just slowly pans throughout the 24 hr cycle, versus the date that snaps into place at midnight? Still its an interesting innovation for the era for sure!

[@christopherchang4167]

Nice, yeah haha the date advance on them is pretty basic but pretty ingenious given how few parts it has. But yeah modern snappy advance it is not!

[@josephchong7531]

Awesome 👍 Thank you very much!

[@DroppingIn]

Thank you for the video. P This was a very helpful explanation of an electric timex.

[@100amps]

Cool. I didn't know about these and I grew back then. Wasn't paying attention I guess. Really interesting videos, Chris. And it sounds like you're Canadian too. Subbed.

[@christicks5843]

Thanks! And I am!

[@_Brohan]

EXTREMEMLY difficult to change the movement on if you get battery corrosion all over one. you have to take off (at least partially) the hairspring to remove the crown stem to replace the movement. trying to do this now, waiting for the replacement to come.

[@christopherchang4167]

Hmm you shouldn't need to remove the hairspring to get the crown out there are 2 holes you can put a set tweezers in that'll release the stem. I'll see if I can find a picture or take one to demonstrate.

[@apoorvsaxena3886]

Very informative thanks for sharing 👌

[@1rightrev]

Thanks! I just bought a Timex Electric. Movement says 22D. I am learning watch repair (hobby) and I have just serviced a Seiko Elnix. What battery does this use and is 22D in fact movement number? (I tried an LR 44 but not running.) This has a metallic "cowl" that goes between the movement and the case back. Do they need to be in place in order for this to run?

[@christicks5843]

I am not aware of a call 22D. I don't think that it is a movement number. The LR44 should work. The cover is not needed for it to run.

[@jonconlon5440]

I look at tons of watch tutorials on Utube and you are one of the most professional. Thanks for all your great, hard work on your presentations. Can you please tell me the replacement batteries for the Timex type C and type A battery?

[@christicks5843]

Thanks, Hmm looks like for Type C the AG5, I am unable to find many details of the Type A though, got a link to a photo or any more details?

[@jonconlon5440]

@@christicks5843 Thanks so much, Chris. The type C was the real mystery to me; you solved it. and made my day brighter. I think to type A is a 357. I saw someone else mention that on KZbin.

[@julesd.8973]

Thanks for another awesome Timex tutorial. I've really learned alot from your work and appreciate your love of their seriously misunderstood and under appreciated watch movements. I was looking for the follow up video on common issues that you mention at the end. Did that ever happen?

[@christicks5843]

Good day, unfortunately I have bot done a follow up with common issues but i may do that as part of a new video im currently drafting a script on the Q Quartz movements which are extremely similar.

[@julesd.8973]

@@christicks5843 look forward to it. I currently work on strictly mechanical Timexes but would like to expand my skill set. Thanks again.

[@davidstone9518]

Great video. I share you love of these as well

[@douglasskinner]

You mentioned that you had a video where you address problems/issues with repairing Timex Electrics, but it doesn't appear to be posted yet. I have several of them that don't work. They look okay but when I put in a fresh battery noting happens.

[@christopherchang4167]

Good day. Sorry about that. The video is one that is planned but likely won't be for a while until I get use to shooting macro video. A lot of the time though the contactor needs to be cleaned or replaced with one that is in better condition. Also check the contact point on the balance. Sometimes they are corroded.

[@buggerit]

i love the old timex electric watches

[@righteyeblink8996]

Would there be an where to oil video coming soon ?

[@christicks5843]

There is one in the works! These ones aren't tooooo bad.

[@sadro4591]

I like vintage timex what i like more is the dials really shine i have a day date one, i bought it for 3 bucks on a flea market it's was kinda rusted but after cleaning and leave it the movment on hot alcohol and acetone started running on 46 seconds a day, beautiful watches but the dial feats are to fragile they are easy breakable

[@christicks5843]

True. Yeah they are pretty fragile but hey 46 seconds a day isn't bad!

[@cloudcitydigital]

Hi, I have a 1978 Q Quartz which has a bad movement, I would like to remove it and actually try to shoehorn a different quart movement in, just for fun. Can I take the movement out though the back, or does it come out through the front?

[@christopherchang4167]

Good morning. You generally need to go through the front to get the movement out. Basically. Remove the stem, use a crystal lift then the movement should drop out (tighten the lift a lot as the crystals I have pulled out tend to have one hell of a lip). Additionally on most models there is a little metal retaining between the dial and crystal, keep note of the orientation it's in (up or down) so when you put the crystal back on it sits properly. Goodluck!

[@cloudcitydigital]

@@christopherchang4167 Thank you this was incredibly helpful!

[@RH-se5bm]

Can you explain regulating the Model 40. Which way to move the lever to either speed up or slow down the movement. Thanks

[@christicks5843]

Good day, This should be pretty similar to mechanical watches, I'm not sure how much leeway the regulating lever actually gives but I've attached an image depicting the general directions for speeding up or slowing down drive.google.com/file/d/1iKBw5F9FSGImDqg-4Oeens9KDbsnKCRi/view?usp=sharing I'd try to keep the regulation to within the little cut out given on the movement covers. The watch is pretty unforgiving and with the cover removed you can basically whack that regulating lever as far as you'd like and potentially warp the hairspring a bit. I've done that before. Luckily you can generally spot if you are getting a bit too far with the lever (given the battery is out and the movement isn't running), you'll start to see the hairspring bunch up on one side, don't let it do that. Good luck!

[@Toph378]

Canuck bucks, too funny. I also live in Canada and have a 1978 electric day date. I’ve recently had this watch handed down to me and wonder where to have it serviced. My local watchmaker refused to have a look and stated it wasn’t worth repairing.

[@christicks5843]

Haha thanks. Cool Hmm does it need a total overhaul? There aren't a huge amount of people fixing these sadly. That's kind of why I just started doing it myself. If you want we can try to trouble shoot the watch a bit here.

[@jB..33b854]

Great! Thank you

[@OffGridInvestor]

OH GREAT. I might be getting a bunch of timex watches, I think like 13 or 15 in a batch. I have been highly interested in the Soviet luch 3055 movement which is something like this. Good to know that I might have some coming. There's a woman's timex (dead) coming in another batch.

[@tommottram5968]

I have a Timex electric model 42 world timer quartz that runs intermittently. What could be the problem I replaced the battery?

[@christicks5843]

Good day. It could be a few things but in general the movement probably needs a general service. Otherwise the contactor may need to be cleaned if the balance appears to move freely. Additionally if there is wobble the bridge may need tightening just enough to reduce the wobble. Those tend to be what I commonly see.

[@tommottram5968]

@@christicks5843 thank you, your video was very informative also.

[@Fastxfords99]

I have one that I'm serving now, and it's very unique, and I'm positive that it's beyond my skillset as of the current time lol.

[@christicks5843]

It is pretty odd looking but when you look past the crude look you can see all the elements of a regular watch there! If you have done work on a regular manual wind watch I have no doubt you'd be able to do these! The only tricky thing is the magnet and over torquing the screws. If you have a perticular spot where you need help reach out! I'll try my best!

[@jorge32421]

I just came up on a few tumex vintage watches