Service: Bulova Sea King with Bulova 11AC Movement

Another Bulova with the Bulova 11AC movement on the bench. I restored a Bulova with the same movement before that was just one year younger.

This particular model is a Bulova Sea King and the date code on the back (L6) dates it to 1956.

The watch did run but winding the watch and setting the time was difficult. It was also a couple of minutes fast per day.

Here we go!

Disassembly

Before you start working on a mechanical movement, make sure to remove all the power from the mainspring. This method will prevent any damage while working on the wheel train.

Move the click away from the ratchet wheel while letting the crown slip between your thumb and index finger.

When all power has been removed, you can safely lift the balance and the pallet fork.

Flip the movement around to lift the cannon pinion. If you don’t you can’t lift the center wheel when you’re working on the wheel train.

Remove the ratchet wheel and the crown wheel. The crown wheel has a left-handed screw.

Lift the barrel bridge.

Always open the barrel to check the condition of the arbor and the mainspring. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a barrel that was as dirty as this one.

This causes swings in amplitude which is one of the reasons it doesn’t keep accurate time. It also causes the power reserve to drop.

I removed the mainspring and ordered a new one. Make sure to pre-clean parts like this as much as possible with a peg wood, cocktail stick, or an old toothbrush. If you don’t do that, the cleaning machine might not get it all and your cleaning fluids will go bad very quickly.

Lift the wheel-train bridge to gain excess to the wheel train.

Lift the escape wheel, the fourth wheel, the third wheel, and the center wheel.

Flip the movement around.

Lift the set lever spring, the return bar with its spring, the setting wheel, and the minute wheel.

Remove the set lever screw so you can take out the winding stem with the crown wheel and the castle wheel.

Pre-clean the pivot holes and bearing jewels with peg wood. Clean all the parts in the watch cleaning machine.

Assembly

Start with the main barrel and the wheel train.

Reinstall the wheel-train bridge.

Install the barrel bridge, the crown wheel, and the ratchet wheel.

Turn the movement around and start with the motion works and the keyless works.

Flip the movement to the top plate and reinstall the pallets and the balance.

After re-casing it, I noticed that the hands were floating too high above the dial.

There are many movements that exist in different configurations to fit certain dials and hands.

I pulled a shorter cannon pinion and hour wheel from one of my donor movements.

I fitted a new watch strap because the old one was falling apart.

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What do you think of this Bulova Sea King? Do you have a similar one or would you like to add one to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.