Ronda 5050 b!

johnro6659

Tyme Machine
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
4,212
I wonder how many guys here do their own battery swaps? I would like to hit the guy who designed the Ronda 5050 movement with a lead pipe. I swear the guy was a sadist! I just got done doing some work on some waches 4 of my own, 3 Filsons and a Brera Orologi and several for a friend all battery replacements. The dam 5050 b battery hold down or what I call the screw catapult SUCKS! :mad: If you not very, very careful it loves to send the hold down screw into oblivion. I thought I had enough experience doing batteries on them but every now and then one gets the better of me. I do all my watch work on a nice piece of felt lined board. The catapult sends the screws pretty far they never land on the desk 99% of the time. I have a long piece on magnet on a stick I hover over the floor and sometimes I luck out and find the screw but most they are gone. I ended up buying a bunch from Esslinger $20.00! So far I have only had to use a few. Tonight two went flying luckily one hit me in the face and fell onto the felt the other landed on my shirt. I saw both fly usually the go so fast you do not see them. Trying to think of a way to keep them close if they do get away from me but so far I haven't come up with a good solution.


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I use some specail high tack non-residue St. Gobain tape to hold the holder down while I remove the screw so it doesn't become a catapult. Once the new battery is in, realign the hole and use the tape to hold it down. It makes it somewhat easier. And you are correct that the guy who designed this was a sadist.
 
I agree. I've been using tape for years. I just did a bunch with the springs and tiny small anchor locations. Without having three hands, the tape helps get the job done keeping them down and avoids catapulting parts. There are some ISA movements that are even worse than RONDA. They are great movements, but the one armed parts bandit springs can easily get away.
 
I feel your pain. First couple I did turned out to be quite an interesting experience. Now though, no real issues. I personally don't use any tape or anything just take my time and all goes pretty well.
 
While I have been fortunate not to lose any screws so far, finding them with a magnet. More recently I have placed the watch inside of a large plastic bag for this operation and though it a bit of a pain, it does contain the screws when they get launched.
 
It's always a challenge working with micro size parts. I have the deepest respect and appreciation for the skill it takes to build and work on mechanical movements. Screws, springs and batteries changes are only a fraction of things inside a watch. These mechanical surgeons have to have a photographic memory to recall where everything goes back. Not to mention the ambidexterity and steadiness of hands.

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