Rolex 5513 Bezel question

[Jason71]

Many of you have seen my relumed 5513. It has the typical friction bezel like many of these watches with plexi crystals from this era. I have noticed that my two 1680s have bezels with a nice amount of tension on them so that you can set them either way bi-directionally and the bezel will stay in place. On my 5513, it is much looser and rotates much more freely. I know there is some sort of spring under the bezel, my question is whether or not the bezel can be tightened, and by what procedure?

It would be much nicer if I could tighten this bezel so that it would be useful during diving. I do not have too much fear of losing the bezel, because it SEEMS to be affixed securely.........but it just spins freely.

Thanks in advance for any help

[Paracentesis]

I can't answer your query, but why dive with a vintage watch? You have some modern dive watches, so by using a vintage instead you have everything to lose and nothing to gain, it seems to me.

[union special]

just need a new tension spring, or you can bend the one on there now a bit to increase the tension. a tension spring is about 20 bucks and just takes a few minutes to fix.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by Paracentesis

I can't answer your query, but why dive with a vintage watch? You have some modern dive watches, so by using a vintage instead you have everything to lose and nothing to gain, it seems to me.

For the sheer joy of it. My 14060M will remain my dive partner, but there is something nostalgic about diving with a 40 year old watch. In some ways, the 5513 is a superior dive tool since the plexiglass crystal might crack or chip but it shouldn't shatter with an impact.

I feel that I really have nothing to lose in this watch since it has been relumed and the dial/hands could be replaced. I will NEVER dive with my 1680 red sub with an original dial, hands, crystal, and insert. I would be very sad if it flooded.

It passed the 200m pressure test after the relume, so why not dive with it??

[rolexpawn]

The tension spring is what you need to adjust.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by rolexpawn

The tension spring is what you need to adjust.

Ok, so today I removed the bezel and bent the tension spring slightly. It didn't really seem to make a difference with the bezel spinning freely. Maybe it made a LITTLE difference. I don't know how much to bend it, or how.

Anyone have a picture or two??

[CaveDiver]

I have seen them bent like this. Your's bent this much?

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by CaveDiver

I have seen them bent like this. Your's bent this much?

I think I probably have it bent about that much. I am at a loss about what to do to get it a bit tighter. I know it is possible since my 1680s and my Tudor subs are tighter.