(Yes, I could've PM'd Todd, but why not share the knowledge!)
Todd, I've got a watch here that my dearly departed husky found in an open grass field about ten years ago. I'd like to fire it up and use it.
It's a black Vestal DOLBY (DBY003-01), all stainless steel (not the plastic version). Rather large, and weighs quite a bit.
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Two questions.
How is the back cover popped off to access the battery?
What can be used (besides the "proper" tool) to push out the pins in order to re-size the bracelet? It has the type of pins that push out in one direction only (indicated by an arrow on the back side of the links), and look like they have a "slot" on one end.
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Any advice would be appreciated!
Oh, just for fun... here's a blurb I found online for this watch.
quote
Product description A big, thick, man-wrist calls for a watch like the Vestal Dolby Metal Watch. This retro-style watch sports more 70s style than a pron mustache or a slick polyester disco shirt, and is tougher than a muscle car thanks to its all-stainless-steel construction. An extra-large digital display allows you to confidently answer when asked the time by cute young things with flipped-back hair and short track shorts.
And by the way, I welcome advice from anyone. I addressed this to Todd simply because I'm aware that watches are a hobby of his.
For the pins, I simply use a finishing nail. Tap the tip of the nail on one side and the "crimped" end of the pin pops out just enough to remove it with needle nose pliers.
[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 06-15-2023).]
Hmmm... I tried pushing a straightened paperclip into several of the pins, but none would budge. Perhaps I could get better leverage if I was to hammer a very small finishing nail all the way through a piece of 1/4" plywood, so that it's poking out the other side. Then flip the plywood over so that the finishing nail is sticking straight up... and then while holding the bracelet, push one of the pins against the now vertical finishing nail, which is prevented from moving by whatever hard surface the plywood has been placed onto. Worth a shot! I'll report back after I've tried it.
Yeah, I discovered that when I was trying with the paperclip. So... when I was looking for a small finishing nail, I came across a stray thumbnail. (There's an awful lot of "stray" stuff at my place!) I pushed the thumbnail through half of a wooden clothes peg. That was now my tool. I then put the watch and bracelet on its side on a short piece of 2x4 that already had a bunch of small holes drilled in it. I located one of the pins in the bracelet over a hole, and then used a small hammer and my thumbnail tool to punch the pin out. I couldn't push it out very far, as the stem of the thumbnail was larger than the hole that the pin was in... but I was able to push it out just far enough to be able to grab it with needle-nose pliers. So thanks for the advice!
I now need to get the back off so as to change the battery. There's a spot to pry the back off, but I've yet to discover something appropriate here (so far) that I can use. I need one of these (pictured below), but I'm not going to buy a special tool for one or two uses. I'm a Fiero owner!
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[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 06-15-2023).]
Why is it that every 'how to..' thing on PFF OT invariably involves a hammer?
Due to our many insecurities (associated with liking/owning/driving/fixing a Fiero), I believe PFF members wish to overcome this shame by imagining we're a god, like Thor... wielding a mighty hammer!
I now need to get the back off so as to change the battery. There's a spot to pry the back off, but I've yet to discover something appropriate here (so far) that I can use.
Okay, got the back off. Used a small jewelers slotted screwdriver. Didn't bend the tip too much.
Ordered a couple of Energizer CR2016 batteries off eBay, coming from back east for a fraction of what they'd cost locally. With a battery expiry date of 2031, might as well have a spare. Could take a week to arrive, but I've had the watch sitting here for ten years. I can wait a few more days.
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.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 06-17-2023).]
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.
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.
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).]
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.
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.
...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!
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).]
The toughest part was snapping the back of the watch in place. Glad I've got strong thumbs!
