Steve53 2 Posted May 22, 2019 So I bought this Seiko 5 (SNZG 13 J1) At 42 mm it is a good size for my 7.5 inch wrist. I like Seiko watches, they are good quality for a reasonable price. This one has the well known 7S26 movement. Something this movement does not have, is hacking and hand winding. After doing lots and lots of reading on this forum and also watching some you-tube videos, me thinking: Hmm, maybe I can put a new movement in it myself? A NH36A was bought off eBay for $50. New movement on the left. Old movement and crown are out. Rookie at work. Homemade levers for hand removal. The watch had been left running until it stopped, so the hands are not moving. Dial and hands removed. The hands being pressed in place on new movement. Since I have zero experience nor any training as a watch-smith, the day and date wheel were not swapped over. I did not want to press my luck. Dial and hands in place. Old 7S26 movement on the right. NH36A in place. The movement is held in place simply by a nylon ring, no screws nor clamps. When I saw this photo on the computer screen for the first time, I thought: Oh my, look at all the dirt in the outer case groove. The watch smiths on this forum are going to laugh their heads off." Oh well, as stated before: rookie at work. After regulating, really good numbers. Final result, a Seiko 5 with hacking and hand winding. The watch has been running perfectly now for several months. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction every time I look at it. I did it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenTLe 1,485 Posted May 22, 2019 Nice but... Why didn't you replaced also the date / day wheels? They're nothing special to replace Also: the stem of the NH35 and the 7S are different, have you replaced it in the crown? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RussP 21,679 Posted May 22, 2019 Excellent job. You have done much better than a lot of us on this forum. Thanks for sharing your experience with the photos too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenTLe 1,485 Posted May 22, 2019 By the way... I ordered on Ali a NH36 like that for the same reason (but I paid 30€), as I also have that watch and want to improve it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve53 2 Posted May 22, 2019 2 hours ago, GenTLe said: Nice but... Why didn't you replaced also the date / day wheels? They're nothing special to replace Also: the stem of the NH35 and the 7S are different, have you replaced it in the crown? GenTLe Thank you for the positive comment. The day/date wheels were not changed over because of my fear of screwing up the whole job. I know it is not really complicated, but still. Over the last year I have read many of your posts, GenTLe, and you are a very experienced watch-smith. I, on the other hand, well, every time I look inside a watch movement, I feel like a black-smith in a glass-ware store. When inside, everything I do takes a lot of time, sometimes I dear not breathe. So on my part, it is all about baby steps. Yes, the stem that came with the new NH36 had to be cut to the right length and the old crown screwed onto that. That part went really well. Back and forth a few times to file the stem and get the right length and in the end it fit quite nicely. When the watch was all back together, I was quite pleased with myself. As I am typing this, my girlfriend is reading over my shoulder. She says I had a huge, happy grin on my face. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIG GRUNDY 6 Posted May 22, 2019 damn... for a rookie you have some nice tools (press and timegrapher)... nice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GenTLe 1,485 Posted May 22, 2019 GenTLe Thank you for the positive comment. The day/date wheels were not changed over because of my fear of screwing up the whole job. I know it is not really complicated, but still. Over the last year I have read many of your posts, GenTLe, and you are a very experienced watch-smith. I, on the other hand, well, every time I look inside a watch movement, I feel like a black-smith in a glass-ware store. When inside, everything I do takes a lot of time, sometimes I dear not breathe. So on my part, it is all about baby steps. Yes, the stem that came with the new NH36 had to be cut to the right length and the old crown screwed onto that. That part went really well. Back and forth a few times to file the stem and get the right length and in the end it fit quite nicely. When the watch was all back together, I was quite pleased with myself. As I am typing this, my girlfriend is reading over my shoulder. She says I had a huge, happy grin on my face.I am not a watch smith, just a passionate about this world Thanks for your kind words And you gave me the idea to do the same on mine Well done mate! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites