Anyone ever lose or drop a watch due to spring bar failure ?

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by V25V

There is no spring bar on the AP. Are you saying if somehow the screw were to back out and come off the strap? Yeah, I do not see that happening..... and you should have some loctite on it to be safe.

It is just the one spring bar on the buckle I think.

The screwed in bars are factory standard so should be fixed with loctite currently.

[V25V]

Originally Posted by Burlington

It is just the one spring bar on the buckle I think.

The screwed in bars are factory standard so should be fixed with loctite currently.

Correct, the tang has one but that's not just going to come loose on its own. Guess some freak occurrence could happen but there isn't much of any load on that pin, unless you were to wear it REALLY tight. I wouldn't worry about it and if you are going to lose sleep, don't wear it when you dive.


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[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by oldin

I have often wondered if repeated removal of straps will in fact weaken a spring bar more then usual and so us WIS types will experience more frequent spring bar failures??

Yes, and if you have the wrong spring bar it will not fit the lug holes correctly and they will release.

[Abdullah71601]

I have had spring bars fail several times, but always on a strap, never on a bracelet. I've had the second spring bar pop off on a NATO as well. I have several hundred dives on my 16600 with the bracelet and never once worried about it.

I would be more worried about loose screws. I lost a 5513 on an airborne operation in the early 80's that I attribute to a screw that kept backing out.

[GradyPhilpott]

I think Peter might have lost a watch that way once upon a time.

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[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I think Peter might have lost a watch that way once upon a time.

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I do understand the concern, and not trying to exaggerate my point but I prefer to focus on the untold hundreds of thousands of watches that have NOT been lost.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

I do understand the concern, and not trying to exaggerate my point but I prefer to focus on the untold hundreds of thousands of watches that have NOT been lost.

I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that there had been a difference of opinion at the time I posted that.

It's just that Peter has related a story about how he lost a Sub in the Red Sea once and I thought I'd just make mention of that fact, as it's a part of forum lore by now.

Carry on.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that there had been a difference of opinion at the time I posted that.

It's just that Peter has related a story about how he lost a Sub in the Red Sea once and I thought I'd just make mention of that fact, as it's a part of forum lore by now.

Carry on.

Yeah sorry, not my place to put you in between. I remember the story, but it had to do with a wench and body weight as I remember?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Yeah sorry, not my place to put you in between. I remember the story, but it had to do with a wench and body weight as I remember?

Big girl, was she?

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

I do understand the concern, and not trying to exaggerate my point but I prefer to focus on the untold hundreds of thousands of watches that have NOT been lost.

I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that there had been a difference of opinion at the time I posted that.

It's just that Peter has related a story about how he lost a Sub in the Red Sea once and I thought I'd just make mention of that fact, as it's a part of forum lore by now.

Carry on.

[Doc Savage]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

I do understand the concern, and not trying to exaggerate my point but I prefer to focus on the untold hundreds of thousands of watches that have NOT been lost.

That is like saying we shouldn't concern ourselves with automobile safety, instead focusing on the millions of people who don't die in car crashes every day.

We all know these failures are relatively rare, but it happens. And when it does happen, the results can be catastrophic. That's why you shouldn't whitewash it.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Doc Savage

That is like saying we shouldn't concern ourselves with automobile safety, instead focusing on the millions of people who don't die in car crashes every day.

We all know these failures are relatively rare, but it happens. And when it does happen, the results can be catastrophic. That's why you shouldn't whitewash it.

Catastrophic? It's a watch slipping off your wrist not a building collapse with dozens dead.

Both you guys need to relax a little.

[Doc Savage]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Catastrophic? It's a watch slipping off your wrist not a building collapse with dozens dead.



Both you guys need to relax a little.

It's catastrophic relative to the watch, silly. Don't be so dramatic.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Catastrophic? It's a watch slipping off your wrist not a building collapse with dozens dead.

Both you guys need to relax a little.

How dare you speak logically and with a level head...

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Big girl, was she?

typing faster then I was thinking story of my life LOL

[toxicavenger]

I have heard all the rumors. Spring bars fail because natos put to much pressure on them and natos also pull the flanges on spring bars which make them fail. I have yet to reproduce this. Am I saying it does not happen? No. I think with certain key elements it will not happen.

The main element is using the correct spring bars that fit your lug holes. NO not all watches come directly from the manufacture with the correct size. Next, change your spring bars ever so many years. They do get strained and weaken. That is a fact.

On other issue is some people use their straps like a ratchet strap. It is not a ratchet strap. You should be able to put the tip of your pinky finger under your strap. If you can not do this then your watch is to tight or to top heavy for your strap.

Here is some proof showing I tried to make spring bars to fail.
https://youtu.be/7HR348Kka0s

https://youtu.be/4m6ngyM8mCA
Why the correct spring bars are important
https://youtu.be/nShuqq0KFuk

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

I have heard all the rumors. Spring bars fail because natos put to much pressure on them and natos also pull the flanges on spring bars which make them fail. I have yet to reproduce this. Am I saying it does not happen? No. I think with certain key elements it will not happen.

The main element is using the correct spring bars that fit your lug holes. NO not all watches come directly from the manufacture with the correct size. Next, change your spring bars ever so many years. They do get strained and weaken. That is a fact.

On other issue is some people use their straps like a ratchet strap. It is not a ratchet strap. You should be able to put the tip of your pinky finger under your strap. If you can not do this then your watch is to tight or to top heavy for your strap.

Here is some proof showing I tried to make spring bars to fail.

Excellent advice!

[joli160]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

I have heard all the rumors. Spring bars fail because natos put to much pressure on them and natos also pull the flanges on spring bars which make them fail. I have yet to reproduce this. Am I saying it does not happen? No. I think with certain key elements it will not happen.

The main element is using the correct spring bars that fit your lug holes. NO not all watches come directly from the manufacture with the correct size. Next, change your spring bars ever so many years. They do get strained and weaken. That is a fact.

On other issue is some people use their straps like a ratchet strap. It is not a ratchet strap. You should be able to put the tip of your pinky finger under your strap. If you can not do this then your watch is to tight or to top heavy for your strap.

Here is some proof showing I tried to make spring bars to fail.
https://youtu.be/7HR348Kka0s

https://youtu.be/4m6ngyM8mCA
Why the correct spring bars are important
https://youtu.be/nShuqq0KFuk

Nothing beats a destructive test

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

I have heard all the rumors. Spring bars fail because natos put to much pressure on them and natos also pull the flanges on spring bars which make them fail. I have yet to reproduce this. Am I saying it does not happen? No. I think with certain key elements it will not happen.

The main element is using the correct spring bars that fit your lug holes. NO not all watches come directly from the manufacture with the correct size. Next, change your spring bars ever so many years. They do get strained and weaken. That is a fact.

On other issue is some people use their straps like a ratchet strap. It is not a ratchet strap. You should be able to put the tip of your pinky finger under your strap. If you can not do this then your watch is to tight or to top heavy for your strap.

Here is some proof showing I tried to make spring bars to fail.

Cool videos, though I'd fire you for your lack of safety sense with that wire wheel (yikes!). I've had bars pop on straps and NATO several times. Every time was a snag on something in the woods when the strap was saturated from rain or sweat. It's a pretty limited sample, but I wouldn't dive a watch on nylon for that reason.

In Peter's story, his bracelet broke loose in the Red Sea when someone was pulling him out of the sea, into the boat, by his watch. Hanging a grown man from his watch will probably break any strap or bracelet.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Cool videos, though I'd fire you for your lack of safety sense with that wire wheel (yikes!). I've had bars pop on straps and NATO several times. Every time was a snag on something in the woods when the strap was saturated from rain or sweat. It's a pretty limited sample, but I wouldn't dive a watch on nylon for that reason.

In Peter's story, his bracelet broke loose in the Red Sea when someone was pulling him out of the sea, into the boat, by his watch. Hanging a grown man from his watch will probably break any strap or bracelet.

It is a brass wire wheel at low rpms the most it would do is rub my hand a little in the brief interaction I had with it.

Question what watch did you have the spring bars pop on?

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Doc Savage

It's catastrophic relative to the watch, silly. Don't be so dramatic.

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

No wait, it's just my watch. It's not even catastrophic for the watch.

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

It is a brass wire wheel at low rpms the most it would do is rub my hand a little in the brief interaction I had with it.

Question what watch did you have the spring bars pop on?

Several Seiko's.

[toxicavenger]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!

No wait, it's just my watch. It's not even catastrophic for the watch.



Several Seiko's.

If you let me know the model number I will tell you the correct spring bars for them. And NO the Seiko Fat bars are not made for every Seiko.

[shaunylw]

I have never personally had an issue with spring bar failure or screw failures. I did have a buddy that i sold a BLNR to nearly lose it in Bandon dunes playing golf. A screw backed out of the bracelet and he said the watch fell right off his wrist into tall grass. As soon as he got back i took every pin out of the bracelet and put loctite in. He's an animal and super rough on everything he wears LOL. A week after i handed him the BLNR it looked like it had been through a small battle.