So I’ve been using this auto winder watch box for over a year now, and honestly I kinda ignored basic maintenance until last month. Big mistake, because the damn thing started making this grinding noise like a coffee bean grinder. Scared me to death since it wasn’t cheap! Thought I’d have to buy a new one until I figured out some dead simple tricks.
The dust apocalypse nobody tells you about
First thing I did was pull the winder out of my dresser. Whoa buddy – the back vents looked like a stuffed animal exploded inside! Grabbed my old makeup brush (clean one, obviously) and went to town on those vents. Puffed out gray clouds like chimney smoke. Lesson learned: dust bunny infestations kill motors way faster than I thought.
While I was cleaning, I noticed the power cord looked like my cat used it as a chew toy. Turns out I’d been kinking it bad against the wall outlet. Straightened it out like uncrimping a garden hose. Plugged it back in and the grinding stopped. Felt like a caveman discovering electricity.
The watch positioning screw-up
Next disaster zone? How I loaded my watches. Been just slamming them in willy-nilly like loading a dishwasher. Checked the manual (actually opened it for once) and realized I needed spacer blocks. Cut up some foam packing material into little squares. Shoved ’em between watches so they’d stop rattling around like maracas. Makes sense now – loose watches mean extra work for the winder motor.
The battery secret
Oh this one’s golden. Read some online forum about backup batteries dying after months plugged in. Unplugged the unit completely, watched all the lights go dark. Left it overnight to drain residual power. Plugged back in next morning and suddenly it sounded smoother than a buttered jazz record. Apparently power cycling does magic.
My goof-proof routine now:
- Brush vents every Sunday while coffee brews
- Position watches tight like sardines using foam bits
- Full power reset every 60 days
- Check cord monthly for cat damage
Two months into this new routine and the old clunker purrs like a kitten. Almost killed it with neglect but saved it with about 10 minutes of maintenance a month. Go figure.
