I have developed a method of checking and adjusting the 3133 movement which seems to solve at least some of the problems, so here are a few notes on the approach I use when presented with a 3133 movement whose chrono functions are not operating correctly. Please note I am not a trained watchmaker. This is just a common-sense (I hope!) engineer's approach.
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B. Chrono minute recorder not working, chrono seconds hand reaches about 57-58 seconds and watch stops.
Probable cause - sliding gear cam incorrectly set or a problem with the minute counter wheel itself.
1. First, try to adjust the sliding gear cam. The paddle on the chrono seconds wheel should only just engage a tooth on the sliding gear. If the adjustment is too deep, the watch will stop when the chrono seconds hand reaches 57-58 seconds. If not deep enough, the paddle will miss the gear and the minute counter will not move on.
2. If that fails to solve the problem, further dismantling is necessary. Remove the movement from the case.
3. Remove the minute counter hand (carefully! - use a proper puller or you will damage the dial, the hand or the pinion!).
4. Remove the flyback hammer and the chrono seconds and chrono minute bridge (the 'V' shaped one with '3133' on it).
5. Remove the brake lever, which you will find sitting over the chrono minute counter. You will need to ease off its spring, which hooks round the screw with three slots which holds the sliding gear in place. No need to remove the spring - just disengage the end that presses on the pin on the brake lever.
6. Carefully remove the minute counter wheel. Replace the V bridge to hold the chrono seconds wheel in place. You may need to loosen the set-screw of the jumper spring and push it out of the way. Careful - it is very delicate.
7. Start the chrono and observe the sliding gear. Note - you have disengaged the spring, so you will have to manually hold the sliding gear against its cam.
If the paddle successfully engages and rotates the gear, the gear is OK. If not, you will need to remove it. To do this, remove the screw with three slots. The three slots indicate that it is a left-hand thread.. Investigate the gear bearings and make sure the gear is running freely - clean and lube if necessary, then re-install and check again.
8. If the sliding gear is operating correctly, the problem lies with the intermediate gear or the minute counter itself. I have never encountered a problem with the intermediate gear, but there seems to be a quite common problem with the minute counter itself, often, I suspect, occasioned by careless removal of the hand or gear at some stage. Hence my dire warning above.
9. Examine the chrono minute counter wheel and its extended pinion. You may well find that the pinion is bent. This results either in friction or in the chrono minute hand binding on the dial. If it's not bent, it's probably dirty. (Edit - an indication that the pinion is bent can be noted after removing the hand. If the pinion is not sitting centrally in its hole in the dial - it's probably bent, causing the bush of the hand to bind on the rim of the hole in the dial.)
10. Gently straighten the pinion if necessary and give it a polish. Clean its bearings and lubricate.
11. Remove the V bridge again and re-install the minute counter wheel (Careful! - don't go and bend the thing again!). Re-install the brake lever. Don't forget to re-engage the spring. Re-install the V bridge. Check for operation. It should now work. If it doesn't, try again.
12. If you moved the jumper spring, you will now have to re-set it. Adjust it so the 'V' sits snugly between two teeth of the counter wheel and slips over to 'snap' down as the wheel turns.
13. Re-install the chrono minute hand. Aligning it with the '30' is not easy - a fiddly job! Again, proper tools help.
14. Check again. If the watch stops again, check the chrono minute hand. Is it bent and binding on the dial...?
15. If all is well, re-install the hammer. Check everything again. If it all works properly, you are done. Pour a glass of something, give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy your 3133.