I ask you all to please read this posting, and if you feel you desire, to respond to same, always remembering to do so in a gentlemanly and Timexican manner.
Following on from recent discussions regarding servicing of Timex' - I've consulted a straw poll of both "professional" and "amateur" members, friends and watchmakers.
There currently seems to be three levels of "service" in terms of getting Timex items running again. The first is Option #1 - "swish/dunk" which consists basically of sloshing the movement about in lighter fluid or a similar solvent, re-lubing what you can reach or using a lube rinse and if it runs, fine!
Option #2 - is to strip the movement as recommended in the Timex Service Manuals and perform the tasks listed there in cleaning, relube and re-assembly as per the Manual, re-time and that's as recommended (or is it?)
Option #3 - is a complete strip to base plate, clean, check and re-assemble all parts and components with re-lube taking place where necessary and as you go and re-time before casing up and ready to go, virtually restored as much as possible to original condition.
Option #1 rarely involves any replacement parts other than perhaps a new crown, mainly because parts are not inspected individually for wear.
Option #2 may involve some replacement parts
Option #3 will usually involve replacement parts if the watch is vintage, and wear can be more easily seen on the individual items
My straw poll contributors all consider Option #1 - "swish-dunk" to be a nono and possibly only suitable to determine if a piece is worth working on further - if it runs with a swish-dunk, a full service is worth-while.
Option #2 is now considered (by a sizeable majority. 80%, of contributors) to be really only a viable option for perhaps NOS (New Old Stock) or minimal wear pieces, based on the grounds that the recommended Service Manual procedures were intended to keep these mechanical movements running for seven to ten years and involve minimum dismantling, lube and check work. At this stage, forty years or more on, if a movement has been running without much in the way of maintenance, the recommended service procedures are felt not likely to prolong the life of a vintage item without more or better work being necessary.
Option #3 was universally considered to be the most effective method of restoring any vintage watch, including Timex' , and although the most difficult and time consuming method to learn and use in some respects for amateurs particularly, as amateur watchmakers we do not have to worry about viability in time factoring into our costs as a professional does.
As Forum Owner, I'm not in any sort of position to dictate what any member does as/for a service, however I can and do urge you to evaluate your thoughts and consider carefully which of the Options, #1, #2, or #3 will suit best your personal goals of preserving a working collection of vintage Timex' as part of the Timexican heritage we all handle every day.
I for one have decided to get up to speed with Option #3 as a regular method - - over and above the call of duty - - but using the basic Manual information to help I hope to get my working time down from one every three weeks to three every one week as soon as possible .
and possibly only suitable to determine if a piece is worth working on further - if it runs with a swish-dunk, a full service is worth-while.
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