A watch question for Todd (82-T/A [At Work]) (Page 2/2)
82-T/A [At Work] JUN 18, 01:18 AM
Sorry man, I totally missed this post. I have no idea why I didn't see it, I mean... my name is in the subject.

I found an image of the back...



That little slot is where you can use the tool that you found a picture of. These are really cheap. If you can wait... you can get those from AliExpress for a couple of bucks... like, less than $5 shipped. If you don't want to buy that though, pretty much any thin flat-head screwdriver should be able to pop it out. The only thing is though that a metal screwdriver will usually mar or damage the caseback. So if you have really heavy plastic pry-tools (like for taking apart a tablet to repair it), you can use that.

Putting the caseback back on is usually as simple as pressing it on with both thumbs. If it's not going on, you may need to bend it a little (to make the outside of the case back bow outward. Or, you can use a case-press (which you can also get on AliExpress or Amazon.com for about ~$10.

The battery, you'll see which one you need once you've removed the case back. Really hard to see without a magnifying glass as we get older. They're very expensive if you get them from say, the local pharmacy or convenience store. Best to buy them from Amazon... usually you can get a 10-pack of whatever it is for a few dollars. They'll generally charge you like $5 bucks for one at the convenience store.
Patrick JUN 18, 01:21 AM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

The battery, you'll see which one you need once you've removed the case back.



You're late to the party.
82-T/A [At Work] JUN 19, 08:31 AM

quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

It's been a long time since I have worn an hourmeter on my wrist, but if I could find an older windup Timex (especially a late 60s very early 70s US mil issue Timex) I would probably wear one daily.







Hey MJ... I have at least a dozen of those (non-military issued ones). You're welcome to one of them... but I haven't built my workshop yet, though I expect I'm a couple of months away. Once I get everything unpacked after I build it, I will send you one. The problem with those old Timex watches is that they were considered "throw-aways." Like the dollar-watches of the 30s, they typically don't have any jewels, and rely on metal pivots. These wear over time, and then the tolerance gets so sloppy that the gears don't mesh properly and the watch will stop. You can't view this without magnification, as in... it's not obvious when just looking at the movement with the naked eye, but it's enough to prevent the watch from continuing to run.

I have at least a dozen that I can't get running simply because the movements are too worn out. But I do have several that run, so I'll give you one. They don't really have any value at all because of this.

Some later Timex watches started using Hong-Kong assembled Swiss movements, and those were automatics and also had jewels in them... they're much more easily rebuildable and last longer.
Patrick JUN 22, 11:35 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Ordered a couple of Energizer CR2016 batteries off eBay, coming from back east...



Order placed late Friday, mailed on Monday, arrived today (Thursday) via Canada Post (in a regular letter envelope). Not bad, I guess.

Put the battery in... and the watch sprang to life. The toughest part was snapping the back of the watch in place. Glad I've got strong thumbs!

It's been quite a few years since I've worn a watch. I was therefore a little shocked when I looked at it... and I could barely make out the numbers without my reading glasses on. Damn!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-23-2023).]

82-T/A [At Work] JUN 27, 07:54 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Order placed late Friday, mailed on Monday, arrived today (Thursday) via Canada Post (in a regular letter envelope). Not bad, I guess.

Put the battery in... and the watch sprang to life. The toughest part was snapping the back of the watch in place. Glad I've got strong thumbs!

It's been quite a few years since I've worn a watch. I was therefore a little shocked when I looked at it... and I could barely make out the numbers without my reading glasses on. Damn!





Yeah, the tight case-back is usually because it's the only way to maintain water resistance with the little gasket there. It's probably a 3-bar/atm is my guess. They sell case-back presses, if you ever wanted to get into fixing watches and stuff, haha. But generally when you push in the middle, it causes the sides to flare out, which makes it even harder to push in, so you did it correctly by pushing on the two sides. Sometimes I take the case back and bend it a little by pushing on the inside in my palm (which moves the edges a bit more in), and then I can snap it in.
bonaduce JUN 27, 03:39 PM
Damn, now you guys got me thinking of getting my blue angels watch repaired. Bought it as a wedding gift to myself 25 years ago and never even wore it. Battery went dead, New one installed and still dead, that was 5 years ago.
Patrick JUN 27, 11:46 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:

...so you did it correctly by pushing on the two sides.



I didn't really know what I was doing... but I started at one end and pushed down on both sides with my thumbs, and then pushed the middle on both sides, and then pushed the final end on both sides. I was very happy to hear the extra loud "SNAP" at the end!
MidEngineManiac JUN 28, 12:24 AM

quote
Originally posted by bonaduce:

Damn, now you guys got me thinking of getting my blue angels watch repaired. Bought it as a wedding gift to myself 25 years ago and never even wore it. Battery went dead, New one installed and still dead, that was 5 years ago.



These guys got me SMH....not quite sure exactly when it happened, but a magnifying glass and tac light are now permanent fixtures on my desk for reading fine print. They dont reside in the junk drawer anymore. Work on a watch ? rrrriiiiiigggghhhhtttttt.....

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 06-28-2023).]