Outline of my Atmos Clock Course

Last updated January  01, 2015.

Copyright 1998-2017 Michael P. Murray & Mike's Clock Clinic

Mike's Clock Clinic
1600 Maryland Avenue
Myrtle Point, OR  97458-1508

In continuous horological service since 04/01/82

541-559-1090 or 877-286-6762 (Toll Free)

E-mail Mike@atmos-man.com
MCC's Web site is located at http://www.atmosman.com/

The total costs can be viewed at Atmocost.html

ATMOS OVERHAUL BENCH COURSE OUTLINE

The repair and overhaul of the LeCoultre Atmos clock; 
A two-day course

This two-day course is designed for the clock or watch repair 
person or hobbyist who is already proficient with all the basic
clock or watch service and repair skills.

These skills, for the Clockmaker, are the knowledge and skills 
required in order to completely disassemble and properly assemble
a "carriage" type clock with a platform escapement.  Or the 
knowledge and skills to completely disassemble and properly
assemble a pocket watch.  Any watchmaker, with the knowledge and 
skills in order to completely disassemble and assemble a mechanical
watch, may also take this course.

If a student comes to the class that is obviously not
qualified to work on the Atmos, then I'll be forced to ask them
to leave or sit quietly.  The reasoning here is because this
two or three day course cannot provide introductory lessons
for the beginner and each and every student would suffer
and I doubt that we will be able to cover the overhaul in it's
entirety.

The opportunity exists to take a third day, which will concern
itself with the Atmos caliber 540 and higher.  If you are already
proficient in the 528/526 and earlier calibers, then I'd be glad
to provide a one day only course in the overhaul of the 540 caliber.


Day One: Inspection, Documentation, Disassembly, Addressing Bellows
and Mainspring, Cleaning, and Poising of both the Balance and Fork.

Inspection: Visual observation of exactly what you will need and
areas that may need special attention.

Documentation: Keeping a worksheet of the vital statistics of the
Atmos for future reference.

Disassembly: Removing the movement and frame from its case,
removing the bellows, movement, balance and proper disassembly of
all of the above.

Addressing: Bellows and mainspring; measuring and making the
determination of when to replace.

Cleaning: Discussing proper cleaning techniques and we will hand
clean in class

Poising:  Techniques and skills needed to poise both the balance
and fork.


Day Two: Assembly of Frame, Movement, and Balance, Required
Lubrication, Checking Beat, Timing both Electronically and Manually,
Final assembly, and Parts in as far as where to obtain them, proper
ordering, and their cost.

Assembly: Reassembly of frame, movement and balance and skills
needed to do this right the first time.

Lubrication: Critical areas of lubrication and what lubricant to use.

Beat: The balance and fork must be in near perfect beat and how to
obtain this.

Timing: Covering both electronic timing and manual timing.

Final Assembly: Putting it all back together and final timing.

Parts: Complete parts list, making sure you order the right part
and the cost of those parts.


Material and Tool List that the students must bring to the class.

MATERIALS:

You must bring one Atmos clock of the appropriate caliber.
For the two day course any LeCoultre Atmos with a caliber
# of 532 or less is required. This translates to a serial
# of 599,999 or lower.  For the third day, any LeCoultre
Atmos clock with a caliber # of 540 or higher is required.
This translates to a serial # of 600,000 or higher.  This
clock does not have to be working, but must be as complete
as possible with all the parts you have even if they are
not installed.

All parts used in class will be sold at cost plus 10% and
I'll only sell parts for the particular clock you work on
in class.


A copy of the appropriate LeCoultre Atmos Repair Notes.  These
are available from most major clock part suppliers.  Please read
it prior to coming to the class.  I'll have a supply of these
Notes and overheads from those Notes.  Purchase the caliber # 528
Repair Notes and/or the caliber # 540 Repair Notes, if you are
taking the 540 course.


TOOLS:  (It should be noted that I don't expect you to bring
everything listed here but please make your best effort to bring
as many as you possibly can)

1/100th second, hand timer or an electronic timer that reads BPH
to at least two places after the decimal point.  I.E.  XXX.XX or
greater.

2 tweezers or more (any combination of # 3, # 5, # AA, or # MM)

2.5 mm flat blade screwdriver (either a # 6 or # 7 and bring several)

6 mm flat blade screwdriver (either a # 2 or # 3 and bring several)

5 sided cutting broach and smoothing broaches

8 mm or 5/16" box or open-ended wrench and corresponding sockets

6' extension cord and one electric strip with at least a 4 plugs

4/0000 or 6/0000 emery paper

4/0000 or 6/0000 steel wool

Atmos balance posing tool

Atmos minute hand remover (You may use large clock pry bars)

Atmos movement holder, or a Bulova electric watch movement holder,
or a Bulova Universal Movement holder # 300

Brass brush

Brass hammer and nylon hammer

Bench lamp

Crow's foot

Ear Syringe

Large thin clock pry bars

Loupe or other work magnifier

Pegwood

Pithwood

Portable bench riser of at least 8" x 12" x 6" high

Portable bench vise

Regular and needle-nosed pliers and bring several

Scotch tape and be sure it's in the original roll

Shellac (Flake or liquid)

Small smooth jaw parallel pliers and bring several

Staking set (clock or watchmakers set).  The watchmakers
set is preferred. (Bring both if you can)

Surgeon-type or cloth gloves

Svelte or Shammy cloth

Vice Grip pliers

Any of your own bench hand tools

Any Atmos specific tools that you may have accumulated and
most Atmos tools are available from TimeSavers.

	If the course is three students or under then we
can share all my tools but try to bring as much of the above
as possible.

END of outline						

Respectfully,

Michael P. Murray


The FTP sites can be accessed from Mike's Clock Clinic's Web site.
This site contains all of the FTP (file transfer protocol) sites
mentioned below plus much, much  more.

The FTP sites are as follows:

Atmos Clock FTP site.
and
Repair Web FTP site.
or
Main Earthlink FTP site (contains all of the above).

            A service from,   E-mail address Mike@atmos-man.com
            Mike Murray         Founder of Clocksmiths

A specialist in Atmos and 400-day clock repair.
Also, I overhaul most plug in electric clocks.
In continuous service since 04/01/1982.

Mike's Clock Clinic  Memberships: Clocksmiths & NAWCC
My Web site is located at http://www.atmos-man.com/
Main FTP site is located at http://www.home.earthlink.net/~atmosman/earthpdf.html

Copyright © 1995-2017 Michael P. Murray & Mike's Clock Clinic

Created in October of 1998 and last updated January 01, 2017.