How to tighten a crown?

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Submitted by plainsmen on

So I was cleaning a watch and needed to unscrew the crown.  Used a tweezers to hold onto the stem and it unscrewed relatively easy.

Now I can't get it to tighten enough for the watch to function again and I'm worried if i Loctite it or something I'lll screw it up for good.

Don't have a screwdriver little enough to get the stem out... maybe if I flatten the head of a needle or something.

Anyway... I'm horrible and hamhandedly breaking stuff when I get frustrated... not on purpose.... more like HULK SMASH... I'm to much of the old school.... oh if it won't tighted just tork on it harder!

How do I tighten this thing?!

 

 

geezer_D
Posted March 9, 2011 - 10:11am

 Loctite blue will work OK.  If you need to once again remove the crown from the stem, the application of a small amount of heat like an alcohol lamp will be sufficient to loosen the loctite.  Use a very small amount of Loctite at the movement end threads of the stem just enought to engage the threads of the crown so as not to coat the entire thread.

shooter144
Posted March 9, 2011 - 9:42pm

DONT USE RED LOCKTITE !!!!!!!!!!!!! Every one has some lying around if they fix stuff...stem will break before the red lets go...

And no I havent done this lol but I have broke 5/16 grade 5 bolts before red let go....

I am having much difficulty with the 57 unk waterproof.. cant get to the stem to hold it....

geezer_D
Posted March 9, 2011 - 10:21pm

 shooter, is your trouble getting the crown to hold on the stem?   Or is the stem not holding in the movement?      Yeah, and amen to the red loctite.  Unless you are bolting together bridge girders it's too strong for much else.

shooter144
Posted March 9, 2011 - 10:33pm

the crown is on the stem, mvmt inside a waterproof case and the dial blocks all access to the stem....

need to remove the crown so I can remove the mvmt from case....but I cant access the stem to hold it.

GVP
Posted March 10, 2011 - 7:34am

 Shooter

The waterproof ones that have the movement removed from the front usually have split stems similar to the picture below, a bit like a key and key hole. You do not bneed to remove the crown. Simpy pull out to time set positing and  you may get a glimpse of it with a loupe, turn it so you can see the slots and then pull the movement out..

 

FifthAvenueRes…
Posted March 10, 2011 - 7:52am

If the Dial and Movement come out through the face (waterproof case) the Stem is 2 piece, or should be. Pull to set position, turn back slightly and pul, it should come apart.

shooter144
Posted March 10, 2011 - 4:26pm

Thank you both for the lesson..I'll give it a shot.

shooter144
Posted August 3, 2011 - 9:30pm

Thanx to all, the diagram from GJ is what it is, came apart easily.

Watch Repair