I took a watch in to an AD to have the double-ended screws tightened as I was struggling with two screwdrivers. Moral of the story is of course to always have the proper tool.
Anyway, chap returns with the watch and a loose screw head, which appeared to shear off when he was tightening it. God knows how I’m supposed to remove it now and fit a new one. And I hope to God it doesn’t fall off my wrist.
Anyone had a similar experience and found a way of removing it?
Thanks
I think there is a metal melting compound paste you can buy. But be very carefull that it won't melt the stainless bracelet.?
Is there a small bit of the shank that you could get a sharp screwdriver into and gently hammer to make a slot?
Or a pair of tweezers after soaking in penetrating fluid overnight?
How many spare links do you have? Unless this is the last link, remove the two links held together by the buggered screw and replace with two others. Even if you have to buy two more links it may be the easiest solution.
Without sounding snarky, shouldn’t the AD make it right?
Depending on how brave you are.
A few years ago I fixed a Ti/SS Panerai braclet. These are notorious for falling apart, due to their design where the Titanium inserts and held on with two screws to the Steel spine (apart from the end link which is titanium, and the spine screws into that)
The previous owner had been kind enough to superglue the heads onto the screws that had sheared :S, so i decided to order about 40 replacement screws and replace all of them so I was 100% sure I could wear the bracelet without falling apart.
This became a six month endeavour of working one one link at a time to avoid getting fustrated (and buying a few spare links to replace the one I did destroy)
Process was:
1. Glue bracelet down to bench with no-more nails tape (plastic not foam kind)
2(a). For screws where there thread still protruded from the bracleet, I cut a slot into the head so I could get purchase with a 1mm screw driver
Heat from a butane torch to breakdown the loctite, and very carefully backed remaining thread out.
2(b). For screw where the head was sheared within the thread, and impossible to cut a slot in, I used these these - https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/P.../IF145-118?o=1
Heat used again to break down any loctite, need to maintain pressure and keep the extractor inline with the remain thread while slowly backing out.
Both techniques involved alot of swearing, and the sacrfice of one link to the bracelet gods.
worked out eventually, had a perfect bracelet that I knew wouldn't fall apart :)
Saved by the watchmaker at Gassan’s in Schiphol. Didn’t realise they had one but around F gates there’s a friendly chap sitting at his workbench in a Gassan store. With the aid of his loupe, a steady and a fine drill he managed to delicately “cut” a grove into the screw and popped it out in less than a minute. Wouldn’t take anything for it either.
Star of the day!
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Well done Old Hooky. Someone always makes everything look easy - lol.
Endo - let me take my hat off. I love that arduous persistence.
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Where are my manners? Thanks all, but especially Endo for a great reply. Really appreciated it.
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I've been in your situation before! It involved sending the blasted thing back to the US for the company's warranty department sorting it out (luckily their services were for free, but still a bit of a customs headache and not inexpensive postal costs!).Originally Posted by endo
The tools you've linked to look like they would have done a good job though, having unsuccessfully cut in a channel to get a screwdriver in, buying a screw extractor set (the drill type) and buying specialist extractor pliers (that obviously won't work with a flush head, yet I failed to think that through before importing)...
May I ask the diameter of the heads of these tools you've linked? I can't find dimensions anywhere on their site or elsewhere.
Last edited by hughtrimble; 1st August 2019 at 20:08.
Happy to heip where I can :)
Good question, had to get the calipers out to measure them.
They are doublesided heads so there’s a few different sizes
2.0mm x2, 1.5mm, 1.4mm x2, 1.3mm, 1.2mm
Only caveat, even with these extractors, when you’re fighting loctite or galling a lot of swearing is involved!
Last edited by endo; 1st August 2019 at 21:58.
Brilliant. They sound like they'll be handy to have around given those dimensions, many thanks.
One would like to think so.
I don't Know if they come small enough but L/H drill bits are good for extracting stuck screws. As you drill in and they bite they will often undo the screw there and then. If they don't you still have a hole to use to try to.extract the screw.
I'm guessing this was the MKII? I can't believe a so-called watchmaker managed to chuff the screw. I know they're fiddly but even I managed to adjust it without too much fuss.
I meant to respond yesterday and suggest drilling out, but also suggest that the first guy pay for it. I know accidents happen, but that's too much.
Glad it got sorted in the end
Glad you got that sorted.
As to bodging repairs is a pet hate, not seen it on a watch before but did have it on a motorcycle years ago which was far more annoying
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Morning all
Yes, it was the MKII, and a Dutch AD of some repute cocked it up. They didn't have any suitable screws and I didn't have the other links with me so I couldn't fix the problem there and then. Fortunately I'm back today and can get it sorted before the next trip away.
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