Restoration of Vintage 1975 Timex Watch with M24/M25 Movement 

You'd be surprised by how many people say they service Timex, but don't actually do so like this. Yes, getting that one big top plate back on is absolutely the bottleneck of the process. Impressive work, sir, you're really doing it!

In 1975, parts came from Timex Besançon France, movement and bezel assembled in Taoyuan, Taiwan. In the emergence of the One-China policy 1979, I helped Timex build the production line for mechanical and electro-mechanical watches including M100 and M24/25 in Mactan Island, Philippines which became a major assembly plant of Timex that it is today. Every movement passes through and automatic vibrograph adjustment machine for proper timing of the balance wheel to specifications. Amazing watch still works. Takes me back to memories.

Department stores used to service watches. Cheap watch service like Timex consisted of soaking the movement in solvent then drying and reoiling. They did not take cheap movements apart because they're too hard to re-assemble quickly by hand. Watch cleaning only cost $4 while you shop so they had to do it fast.

I love watching experienced watchmakers do a Timex movement for the first time. They're commonly perceived as rubbish movements, but after working on them can't help but feel respect for their ingenious design. Inexpensive and serviceable without disassembly. If you fancy putting it back on the timegrapher there is actually a regulator on the balance wheel. I don't think the beat error can be adjusted though.

I’ll watch this vid a few more times to service my 1973. I remember my dad dropping his timex, band and all in ronson lighter fluid and hanging it on a mail for a day or two. Ran for 20 years!! Like they say, takes a …. Y’all know the rest . Awesome video

Simple means reliable. Nice job.

I can't get over how ingeniously efficent an ugly this movement is constructed! Good job getting it running

Wow! I never saw a watchmaker at work before. You make it look easy. Way back in the late 1950s, when watches were worth fixing, we knew the local watchmaker well. As kids, we were always breaking the strap or crystal, and she would fix it. My current watch is a 30 year old Timex digital, very accurate and reliable.

You my friend are literally a god. Well done!

First time I see someone servicing a Timex, very good job

I literally just disassembled it and can't for the life of me put it back together. Thank you for the video. Wish me luck haha

Enjoyed this thanks! Would have been interesting to see it on the timegrapher after a dip in lighter fluid 😆

My hat goes off to you sir! You are one lucky chap getting the train of wheels in first time. This is one of the cheapest (if not the cheapest) movement I have tackled myself and is infinitely more difficult that a standard Seiko or ETA. So difficult I got too frustrated trying to line up the bridge and it is still in bits.

The plate on in one go?? You sir, either have the steadiest hands in the universe or are the luckiest man in the world! Thank you for making this available!

First time I see somebody successfully messing with a Timex. Chapeau!

I was able to get my 1964 Timex Zorro watch running thanks to your video. It has the M24 movement and was missing the stem/crown. No jeweler or watchmaker would help. I was not asking them to repair it, just replace the stem. I found a source for the stem/crown and I did not take it completely apart like you did. I wound it up and slightly loosened the top balance screw and it started running! The watch means a lot to me because I received it as a gift from my parents in 1964 when I was 8 years old (I am 66). I may follow the Timex procedure and clean/lubricate it some time.

I actually like that dial quite a bit! Very nice work.

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed watching it. Great job! I restore those a lot so I would add some info I've gotten from my experience: The dial indicates it is a 1975 Marlin. The case is, however, probably from one of the 60s Marlins. You can see this by matching the case back (waterproof marked) with the dial (water-resistant printed). But anyway, it looks great now :) You CAN find the regulator near the balance. You can actually adjust timing. Very rough but it works. Something called oil cups (balance end-shakes, one on the bottom and one with the balance screw) has to be lubricated. That's a crucial part of oiling this movement (probably you did. I am just mentioning it because I didn't see it from the video). Btw, Timex movements, especially M22/M24/25, last ridiculously long. Many of them are still working without service. Once serviced, they will work for another decade. I don't think Timex had expected that LOL

Thank you for the video and for showing some love to vintage Timex. I have a 1988 auto winding date Timex apart right now. That dial is epic. When I was a kid one of their tv commercials had a watch strapped to an outboard boat motor under the water level and then they went for a ride. Well as a 10 year old I left my Timex in my jeans pocket and it got washed. No water inside but the hands fell off. I effectively told my mom "That's B.S!". So she shipped the watch to Timex and they replaced it albeit with a different model. Thanks again.

👍great job Glad to see a watchmaker who doesn’t look down on the working man’s watch

Thank you for taking on this challenge -- I have a few Timex watches to learn on too, and this showed me the way. You are very good at explaining the process of what you are doing and have the right attitude to trudge forward. Enjoyed.

“If I knock one out” 😂😂PML great work man so interesting to watch. Time to get my old Timex out I’ve had for 50+ years and gave a look

A dude that loves a challenge I think you might be able to do anything now

Best part: “…and when we look at the result… horrendous.” LOL.

Thank you! I am wanting to get one of my grandfathers watches working again for a Christmas present for my mother, and I was totally perplexed by this when I opened the back and saw only one screw! I’m so glad you made this video!

Watched the whole process, remarkable! Thanks again for another stellar watch video!

Thanks for the video JSG!!! With your help and video I just serviced my 1985 Timex! Your video and guidance are awesome. Thank you!!!

Ya done good. I’ve never seen a Timex on a timegrapher before. Timex should have called their movements “Aaargh.”

From what I have learned that little golden screw for the balancing wheel it acts like a regulator, If you stiffen it up it stiffens the balancing wheel preventing it from spinning if you loosen it just right you will have a great result on the time grapher

I have a watch with an almost identical movement. Thank you for not skipping any steps. By the way, Timex made a truly disposable version of this movement called the M104. This M24 is actually an improvement (the click spring doesn't self destruct over time).

I love your vids! This one covers the movement I happened to purchase as my first restoration project, so I was delighted to find it! I'm with you, this thing is flat out weird!

I've got the exact watch. Picked it up because I love the dial. Opened it up to service it and said no way. Good on you for servicing that one. I just put it in lighter fluid. Seems to be working just fine.

Bravo! I didn't think I was going to enjoy this video but I absolutely loved it! I have a Timex watch similar with the same movement that stopped working and now I may just try to take it apart. Thanks!

Glad to see someone else who took apart a timex. It's very rare to see someone who dares to disassemble a Timex lol

In France, when we have to make a cheap service without dismantling, we called this « révision à l’américaine »(A American-style service) , i’ve later learned that it comes from Timex and they’re lighter fluid technique

Omg, the spring on the wrong side REALLY grinded my gears 😂❤️ Champ!

Aced that nicely sir.

Another great strip down and assembly. I've ordered a couple of GMT watches from India to start me off on my watch making hobby. I'd love you to do a video on one of these. They cost nothing, but have a strong following.

Im quite impressed on how professional you took and put together your service has been

Love your channel because you do watches nobody else ever does.

Just serviced one of these today. Sometimes you are lucky with the plates, but today it was a 90 minute slog to get the plates lined up

AND the pallet pin! That's one large group!

Great job. Inspiring.

I think this is a great video! Interesting to see that Timex (in Taiwan?) had poised the balance by removing weight in several areas. Clear photography in good light and helpful explanation ... good work and good photography. Nice one! Richard

You inspired me to take a shot at one of these. Nice work! It's to bad it acted up on you like it dud with the timing. Keep up the good work my friend

That is remarkable great job!

Thank you for this video!

Bro I’m following along on my own movement and I can’t believe you forgot that spring… that just set me back a couple hours 😂

I wish I could do small watch repairing myself… I just discovered you’re channel! You got an new subscriber! 😛

Amazing reassembly

Great video.. Thanks for not "knocking one out" half way through. That really did make me LOL. It's really interesting how these Timex watches were made and yet work well enough and have lasted. It is similar with the ultra cheap quartz clock movements. Genius in their simplicity.

I don't believe it. I had one exactly like this when I was much younger. Same dial and numbers. I have tried to find a vintage one on ebay, to no avail. Loving this video, seeing my old watch, or at least one like it.

Great Video. Thanks!!

I have the exact movement and it runs but it's a bit tired… I had to take it apart and I put a little bit oil in it just to get it to work yeah it needs a huge cleaning but I can't do what you do… I'm here to say the video was really interesting and so are you. Your incredible. I wish I could do the work you do it looks so fun and rewarding. You're really really lucky. Thank you so much for showing me inside my watch it was fascinating.🤪

the manufacturing nerd in me loves these things.

Great video. I have the same movement except its a 73 model year. After seeing your video I think I can try my hand at servicing it. Thank youy sir.

I have a few of those cheap watches dating back from the 70ies. (Timex and Kelton) I like their design and marketing history and even their ugly movement (I really enjoy the Dynabeat) . Many people hate those watches for not being "fixable". And not being SWISS made. I am astonished by the job you could do on this one, and to see that they can be serviced. Thank you for sharing , I think I'm gonna watch this many times again. Too bad I gave up on trying to service watches but some are pros (you) others are not.(me!).

Thanks for this video. I just bought a handful of old Timex watches on eBay to get started practicing on my new hobby. Having no idea what I was getting into I was thinking I should have looked for some other brand to start with. However, this video has inspired my confidence a bit. I suppose if I can get this this "one bridge design" back together... well, all the better for my future endeavors.

Such a nice video. I have no experience fixing watches, so have no idea what you’re talking about most of the time, but this was interesting anyway. You have a great way of presenting and filming.

Love it

Well done.

Timex actually had service manuals for these watches so clearly they intended that these watches should be serviced. I have a Timex with an M24 that still goes really well even though it's nearly 60 years old.

This type of watches are called “tel maşa” in Turkish. Which can be roughly translated as “tin fork”. They are called like this probably because of the pin pallet escapement.

Very interesting design, the definition of a workhorse movement.

New to the channel. Have not seem anything else. But you have my subscription after seeing you attempt this tragedy of a repair of a watch. Timex "marlins" and "viscounts" have made me a good bit of money. This particular watch, lightly serviced, cleaned, with a nice band installed, and listed right will bring an average of $150 USD on ebay. There is a popular niche market there. So, though it may be a simple, Toss away watch, if you can smartly do the above things to it and source your processes smartly, you can get a good profit on it. I have about 150 of this styled watch needing restoration. Just haven't found rhe time to do it:/ Much love mate

I have a timex watch l bought in 1989, with a similar movement. It's repairable, but not many watch repairmen know how to fix these types of watches, nevermind assembling it.

Wow great watch! Im fascina ted by the Design Challenge that had to be overcome to achieve such a simplified thus interesting running (thanks to you) movement. Ive seen a couple of other videos about this kind of movement, and I think this my favorite. Quite a short one due to the extream luck of you (in the other 2 cases they had to put hours and several attempts to align all together. Hehe in any case, great Content and keep it up!! Gettings from México.

This is an excellent video! I tried to shoot this service months ago and gave up in frustration!

That was fun. thanks

Great Job very nice video Thanks

I put some Rodico on the side of the balance wheel to hold it in place while I take the v-conic screw out to oil it, then you can adjust the end-shake when you put the screw back in. But honestly, I never take Timex apart like you did. Easy enough to remove the hands and dial, and clean/dry/oil the movement as one piece.

Great video, thanks. The original service manual for the M24/M25, together with the jewelled M74/M75 version of the movement are available for download as a PDF - or at least they were about 9 year's ago.

I just went over my entire floor with a magnifying glass looking for that little pallet fork😂. She is gone.

There is a BCC documentary about the Dundee factory you can watch here on youtube. We believe that they used jigs to put the movements together when you watch the documentary there you can have a glimpse of one of them, so we think. I also would love to talk to the ppl who worked there or to put my hands on one of those jigs. After a little bit of practice and after reading the service manual you can put the main plate back a lot easier than the first time. You are a lucky man if you survive the first service without a nervous breakdown. You did it very well though! I started with M21s I wasnt so lucky / or good and I sacrificed a few HSs on the altar of knowledge. To adjust the beat error I move the impulse pin into position by rotating the HS collet when only the balance wheel is inbetween the two main plates. (this is the risky part hence the destroyed HSs) I dont think that timex ever said that you should put the movement into lighter fluid, they provided a service manual. Lighter fluid actually could work/does work but only if there is no stubborn dirt and those oil cups for the balance wheel many times have rust in them lighter fluid would not remove. You also cannot inspect the parts without a complete disassembly. In the other hand if lighter fluid makes it work who cares? :) You still need to lubricate it and fill the balance oil cups, just like it is written in the service manual which is readily available for download if you look for it. This is a well made video I love. Well done! Subscribed.

That was fun, and I like that you included having to take a Mulligan on the spring. I'll be the turd in the punchbowl and say that I admired the simple brutal nature of that watch's mechanism.

Ignore the error guys, I meant to say the Uk factory was in Dundee, not Aberdeen!

I have this exact watch it was my grandfathers and he gave it to me I have it on a black nato now

I've done a coupe of these now too and must also consider myself lucky that they were uneventful. No problems getting the train of wheels back together, though your tape method didn't work out for me and I knocked it apart. I found I could just very carefully keep a finger on the bottom plate while flipping the movement holder over to put in the screws. What was difficult is inserting the detent springs on day/date calendar models and installing the dials so as not to foul the calendar. Ideally the springs stay in place and don't need to be reinstalled, but ultrasonic cleaning might kick them loose. At this point I've assembled a Timex train of wheels 7-8 times and have a good feel for it.

Handsome wrist watch 😊 thank you for calibration of it maybe you can adjust it more !

I got one of these Timex watches from the 70s with the M24 MOVEMENT, it doesn't run properly and honestly though I love it very much I didn't think of getting it serviced. But an interesting movement no doubt.

Sisyphus finally reached the apex!

Just subscribed to your RU-vid channel 😀!! I am such a fan of these automatic, and mechanical watches ⌚️ of days gone by. Timex has seemed to lose their "Takes a Licking and Keeps On Ticking". It's said by some that these early Timex's were designed as a throwaway watch, but I somewhat disagree. They may be, but I think that they were designed to be serviced. This is to the financially minded. Your friend, Jeff!!

I need to get my 1967 Timex Marlin serviced...

I have a self wind from 74 which is very similar to this one, but the barrel is attached to the rotor assembly. When I was taking it apart I forgot to let down the mainspring and it sort of exploded. This is the first watch I'm trying to service. I guess I should have found something easier, but this was the cheapest thing on ebay I could find.

Would love to see you take on the next step up in a timex. I have a early timex self-wind. And to find out that the rotor is lose. There are no numbers on the dial.

WOW very kool great info.,,1st class AAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++ again great video I liked it a lot keep up the great work.

Very nice video, do you have a video on your cleaning method and cleaning products you use.

Yes Thank You for the video. I have one of these. I think I will just upgrade my movement instead.

I think you have done this before. No beginners luck. Nice job, interesting video.

Thanks for that, ya I've seen those before and they ARE a nightmare!. For a better result, the screw on the balance apparently should not be tightened all the way down. It would be a cleaning fluid job for me!. Well done. Adrian

Great video and VERY informative... BUT... I'm glad you and I are not brain surgeons with how both of our hands shake when we do this stuff. :) Do you have a video of how to replace the balance wheel on one of these. I have an M25 that has a bad one, so looking to see how that gets replaced.

Nice work! I have an old Timex Military Sprite with the M24 movement. I've been working up the nerve to give it a more thorough service than a Naptha bath...would be one of the first I've tried. What size mainspring winder did you end up using?

I came here looking for advice on adjusting beat error, half an hr later.. ah. Haha! Regardless really enjoyed the take down, thanks.

The beat error is substantially reduced when it's running attached to the propeller of a speeding motor boat. Seriously, these things actually tended to "wear in" before they wore out. Most kept pretty decent time... and could go a few days before adjusting the time. Most people actually just set the time when they wound the watch as part of their daily routine.

Спасибо за видео.

Maybe some oil on the balance pivots may take the sting out of the beat error? Question is; will oil help or hinder the balance staff V Conic pivot friction? These are little devils to even theorise about but are very very clever designs and manufactures. Very interesting engineering project analysis for metal/ product design students and professionals alike. Good inspirational video youve done... great to watch. Ill watch all your others. Dave

27:50 In another video I watched a bit of Timex advertising was shown where they boasted of down to .001 second accuracy. Which converts to +-130 seconds a day if you convert it, considering number rounding. So it's running within factory specification!

my dad was a pharmacist with a gold timex. he might have kept it wound and running nonstop for 45 years.it might be here.

Want to try and fix a 1957 m22 movement 😆 I just got my grandfather's watch and let's just say it's not running very well at -26mins a day, plus the crown is difficult to pull out sometimes needing to turn it forward and backwards a few times before it will pull out

The case is correct but the back is wrong it came off of a 1966 Timex. Nice work getting that back together.