Hopefully I'm doing right by posing my questions as separate threads...

Mainspring barrel warns not to open. I did notice that Yuriy mentioned cleaning mainspring in another thread which made me wonder...

Can it be opened? If so, is there a trick? If not, is there anyway to do anything with mainspring?

Happily, I'm getting great amplitude readings (299 degrees) on my just-restored seawolf, so the spring seems to have plenty of life left... However, just feels wrong to strip a watch down completely and not do anything with the mainspring.

Thank you!

Definitely, you need to read this if you did not have a chance yet:
https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/index.php?topic=2134.0 (https://www.vintagezodiacs.com/zforums/index.php?topic=2134.0)

I had read that - and I just reread it. Really good article. Yes, I had the feeling from that reading that it was not really possible (especially for a hobbyist) to open the barrel. I was just looking for confirmation.
I wonder if, at some point, someone will machine a barrel assembly... :)

It seems as though the watches I'm attracted to all have their eccentricities. haha. Zodiacs, Hamilton electrics, Smiths...

Quote from: stefaninla on December 29, 2021, 08:02:00 PM
...I had the feeling from that reading that it was not really possible (especially for a hobbyist) to open the barrel. I was just looking for confirmation.

It is possible to open it, properly service and close. Every watchmaker invents their own method. It is why nobody willing to share.
In nutshell, you would need a watchmaking lathe to open and close. Rest (poising, cleaning, oiling) is similar to servicing regular barrel.

Quote from: stefaninla on December 29, 2021, 08:02:00 PM
I wonder if, at some point, someone will machine a barrel assembly... :)

Hope very soon this problem will be solved. Stay tuned for an advertisement about offering an new barrels produced on original equipment in Switzerland. Although prices won't be cheap. :lolz;