Teardown: Bulova Accutron 218

Bulova didn’t invent the use of tuning forks to measure time – but they were the first ones to pack the technology into a wrist watch. One of the great inventions in watch making in my humble opinion, and a great piece of technology.

The watches are mainly mechanical. Instead of a balance / hairspring oscillator, the Accutron uses a tuning fork that swings. The electronic part is keeping the tuning fork swinging – all the rest is done mechanically.

I got this one off ebay and it’s not working – that’s why I paid £ 37.50 for it. But for this post, I will only take it apart and have a look at some details, and put it back together at a later time.

First look inside. The electronic circuit for the tuning fork is on the left - only a transistor, a capacitor and a resistor. Battery on the right, the 2 coils to drive the tuning fork on the top (with the ends of the tuning fork around the coils), and the mechanical part in the middle. The left coil actually consists of 2 coils, but we will get there later

Battery and wheel bridge removed

One huge difference to a conventional mechanical watch is that the power flow through the wheel train is inverted. Whereas in a traditional watch, the spring barrel provides the power and the balance keeps the watch from winding down quickly, it’s the tiny little wheel at the bottom (called the index wheel) that is driven by the tuning fork, which then drives the other wheels of the wheel train. So there are minimal forces at work, and the movement probably will take centuries to wear out if properly maintained.

The bottom plate with the date wheel is pretty much like in a traditional watch - with the only exception that it contains an electrical switch

The on/off switch is at the top of the plate. When the crown is pushed in, the contact is pushed up against the contact and closes the circuit. When the crown is pulled out, the circuit is interrupted. This allows to store the watch without running the battery down

And here I encounter my first problem - the central tube that holds the cannon pinion has rust on the outside and quite a bit of dirt on it. This prevents the cannon pinion from turning, thus making only the second hand turn - the minute and hour hand won't turn

The cannon pinion under the microscope

This is the index wheel under the microscope. You still can't see the tiny little teeth on the side of the wheel, into which the pawl jewels engage to drive the wheel

The index wheel has 320 teeth. As the tuning fork swings at 360Hz, the index wheel makes 1 1/8 turns per second.

Nice close-up of the pawl fingers with their jewels. The lower pawl finger is mounted to the plate, so it doesn't move. The upper index finger is mounted to the fork. When the tuning fork swings to the right, the index finger pushes the index wheel. When it retracts, the pawl finger keeps the index wheel from moving backwards

The simple electronic circuit

The coil on the left side has two coils – one is used to switch the transistor, as a small current is induced in the coil every time the fork swings. The transistor then switches the second coil within the left coil and the right coil on and off, pulling the fork ends and keeping it swinging.

The capacitor and the resistor are there to provide an initial oscillator to start the tuning fork swinging when the watch is switched on.

The circuit diagram of the 218

Close-up of the finger jewels engaging into the index wheel

I even found the original Accutron218 Service Manual on the internet – you can see a detailed description of the parts and their function in there.

Time to check the coils – they tend to be the main source of electrical problems. Apparently, the transistor, capacitor and resistor rarely cause problems.

First, I check the battery. 1.35 V is fine

I take out the screw at the top that connects the left and right coil to separate them and I take out the battery.

I measure the resistance as shown in the drawing. The two infinite resistance measurements aren’t good. It means that the coil that pulls the tuning fork on the left side is shot. The coil on the left that is used to trigger the transistor is fine, but that’s no consolation.

This means I need a left coil assembly. If you have one lying around, please contact me (e-mail address on the “About” page).

Otherwise, it’s another Accutron less in this world.

Never fear, I manage – read up here for the follow-up

 

34 thoughts on “Teardown: Bulova Accutron 218

  1. I have a 218 model says N3. On the back The heweller put a new battery in and it runs,but, it keeps loosing time. If they didnt use an Accutron battery in it could that be the problem? Also on the back there is a gold plated back but there is a silver ring around it, where does it go? It doesnt really have threads so I dont know how it attaches, problem??? Thanks so much.

  2. My old friend gave an Accutron 218… It runs fine but after hours or days, the hour and min hands don’t turn, just second hand does.. You still can hear the humming noise no idea whats the problem… Thanks for your post, i learn a lot…
    USA

  3. I just love someone who spouts bollocks about something they clearly know nothing about.

    You’re same berk I read with theories on why Seiko Chronograph hands stop centring. That was bollocks too.

    Why do some people have to try prove how they are (not!)

    Enjoy your ‘tear downs’. Hilarious!

  4. I have a 218 “Snorkel” that we used as an underwater data collection device (watch was master time recorded by photography), from 1978. I just put a new battery (alas 1.55v) in and it is running fine (2017) – some 40 years later. Its a beautiful watch. If anyone has a SS band for a snorkel I’d be interested

    Cheers, Al al@groupj.net

  5. I have a Bulova Accutron serial number 3748969, with another number inside 3704-4. Anyone know what model it is? It looks like an Accutron 220 Stainless stell, but is gold plated.

  6. Bulova timepieces are my favorite choice.Their craftsmanship is so admirable, Bulova is among the few brands that can offer a high-quality watch at an affordable price.

  7. I have a Bulova Accutron purchased on 27.11.2011 .On the back I can only read the following : C880765 A9 SAPPHIRE CRYSTALS WATER RESISTANT 30 M . The hour hand and minute hand do not move but the Chrono 60 second timer moves . There is no movement in the 3 small dials on the watch face .
    I replaced the battery about 12 months ago which cost me £150
    What could be the fault ?

      • Hallo Christian – I have UG Cal 1-52 with same problem above – fresh battery #344 and second hand runs but minute/hour do not. There is only 1 stop when pulling out the stem for adjustment. I notice that the date can be set with the crown all the way in and seconds hand is running and then first stop (all the way out) adjusts the time with seconds hand stopped (as expected). Is this correct? If not the the stem needs to push in further? I could I try to see by removing the stem – but I read in the manual it says not to push it too far when replacing it – so I want to know first If this is correct setting mechanism? If not then it may be the cannon pinion clutch as you say above – can this be “jogged”, cleaned, fixed without disassembly? Possible to identify the problem without disassembly? Thank you, Sir – I enjoy your knowledge and articles.

        • The problem is the cannon pinion – it’s slipping, so the hour and minute hands don’t advance.

          You have to take quote a lot apart to get there, and It’s easy to break stuff on your way along …

  8. Gareth: The 219 is a simplified version of the 218. Yes, perhaps lower power consumption, but some claim it’s not as good a movement. I personally don’t see enough difference, everything else (price, case model, dial type, condition, etc.) being equal, to real’y make one a better buy than the other.

  9. Repairs: There are very few actual trained and equipped tuning fork Accutron repairmen around. Bulova had a special course, which shut down after they stopped making the Accutrons in 1977. Some who claim to be Accutron repairmen really aren’t, and some of those who are are ridiculously expensive. And some are even less than completely honest. I do have 2 recommendations, both, unfortunaterly, in the US. But both are qualified, equipped, and honest. One is Boomertime.com, the other Mybob.net. Bob might cost a bit more, and Boomer is almost always backlogged, so it’s kind of a tradeoff between cost and time to get the repair done.

  10. Gareth Cook writes – “Now I’m torn because they don’t have a switch to turn off the battery between times being worn.”
    I have a 214 Spaceview which I bought new in 1970. The adjusting handle (D ring) on the back which folds out to operate does in fact hack the movement.
    Bob Weston.

    • Easy on 214–

      Slacken–but dont remove the battery hatch until watch stops. Batt is now disconnected.

      Not a great idea to leave even a new battery in a watch for more than required when not using–risk of leakage when left in storage and forgotten about is too great IMO, Its happened to me, I have a nice 2182 -Somewhere- that has by now a dead batt, but can’t find it anywhere!.
      -First casualty will be a coil if batt leaks, (even with a modern quartz–but who cares about them!) Accutron coils are getting harder to find NOS and more expensive every month…..

      Out of all the tuning-fork makes/types, best movement IMO, is the 218 series, but have a soft spot for the ‘cheapened’ single-coil 219
      –ESA 9162/4 types (Omega speedsonic/F300Hz etc) just too fussy needing regular service and with iffy coils that can fail for no apparent reason, while the weird F720Hz is just strange with its magnetic gear coupling– and just plain ugly!…

  11. I have an Accutron with the original gp’d flexible strap. The reference No inside is 2171 no alpha letter after No though. Left to me by father in law. Must be 40 years old, but not working and woukld like to get it fixed, not the battery, tried a new one. Did try the Bulova website for suggestions as to a repairer, but no answer. Any suggestions? Live London.

    regards and thanks in anticipation of any response.

    Richard Banks.

  12. Interesting; I have an ancient omega Seamaster f300, officially certified chrono, which looks slightly more upmarket inside …
    On the down side, the date doesn’t always change @ midnight (a common problem with this model). I changes fine manually, however.

  13. I was interested in the idea that the mechanism might last for centuries. I suppose that could well be for the wheels and spindles, but I’ll put money on the resistor going high or open circuit and the transistor internals disintegrating long before. I have a bit of experience with elderly valve (tube) radios from the 1940s and they often have huge numbers of components which are way out of tolerance. Capacitors are the worst culprits from that era, but resistors and also transistors just die as the materials break down. Some semiconductors from the 1960s grow long crystals on their junctions which short out the darned things.

    An interesting device nonetheless. The pawl fingers look incredibly fragile.

    • Should have been more specific… I meant the wheel train.

      Surprisingly enough, it appears that the electronic components last quite well. It’s the coils that cause most of the problems.

    • Ive found the Capacitor sometimes fails–It Increases in value and stops the circuit working–particularly with 219’s, that appear to use Tantalum ones…
      Resistor is nearly always well in spec, and only mis-use seems to kill the Transistor.
      Coils rot of course,–only option in that case is to replace.

  14. very interesting! I have to say, though, that bending a transister lead backwards on itself and re-using the excess from the resistor lead as a jumper is horrendous aesthetic design! Those electronics are screaming “cheap”! Still a cool concept for a movement though! Makes me want one!

    • Yes, I had to have one. I agree that the electronics could look a lot tidier, though…
      Should be part of any watch collection, I’d say – especially as you can pick them up for around £100 – 150 in decent condition.

      • Thanks for this interesting information. Your photo-microscopy is excellent.
        I have a small watch collection and I too remember the Accutron from the 1960s/70s; it is a legend and so I must have one!
        I’d been thinking of buying a 214 on e-bay because of the interesting crown and battery placement on the back of the watch. This appealed to me because of the intrinsic “waterproofness” of the arrangement.
        Now I’m torn because they don’t have a switch to turn off the battery between times being worn.
        Any advise on best model/year to buy?
        Thanks.

          • Thanks Christian.
            I’ve been looking at a 219 Accutron on ebay (seller’s name “anticvarius” – item number 351261636106) and in his excellent picture of the movement it appears there is only one coil visible. I wonder – how would that work?
            The “electrics” look a bit tidier though.
            There’s also a couple of 218s there (item numbers 351261635193 and 351269867410) with two resistors present.

            Thanks again,
            Gareth.

        • Waterproofness was never a strong point with back-set 214, the setting stem ‘o’ rings are now upwards of 30 years old–Not replaceable either as far as I know.
          Consider any Back Set Accutron 214 series of the age they are now as Water Catchers–particularly in hot (sweaty) weather!
          Moisture is death to coils and movements, particularly salty sweat, which by Capilliary attraction will track up behind time-set crown and setting stem past (old rotten) stem-seal right into the guts of it…….

          For this reason all my 214 are on cuff type straps….

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