Help with screw / Bracelet

[mfm22]

Need some help , having trouble unscrewing a link -

the watch is an Explorer 1 [ basically new ] - I sourced and installed a 1/2 link a few weeks ago .

Went to take said link out and it's a battle ? - I have the Bergeon screw driver 1.60mm.

the only possible problem can be the loctite - I used 222 pink / purple it's designated as Low strength - I used sparingly - a touch on the female threads .

Tried the Hairdryer method - worked for one screw but not for the other

In my attempt to unscrew the screw heads are getting a bit beat up

I was selling this and it has killed that deal, must be fate telling me to keep this one

[exador]

Soldering iron.

[kieselguhr]

Harbor freight heat gun.

[miamiclay]

Bic lighter

[mfm22]

I wonder, that hair dryer has worked before, gets things pretty hot !

[77T]

Originally Posted by mfm22

I wonder, that hair dryer has worked before, gets things pretty hot !

Things get hot on the surface but heat takes a while to migrate deeper into the metal. So the one screw that came out got the amount needed to melt the loctite. But the other one didn’t.

As long as you have the bracelet off the head, a hairdryer/heatgun is good enough. But be careful to grip the bracelet with protected fingers or silicone tipped tongs. Easy to burn your fingers.


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[Tools]

Hair dryer is not the tool to use.

[joli160]

Gas cigarette lighter will do the trick, it will create some soot but that can be washed off easy

[ddubb]

If you don’t want to use direct flame, try hot water. Fill a coffee mug with really hot water and then dip the bracelet into the water and keep it there for a bit. Once the bracelet/screw has had a chance to soak up the heat try removing the screw again. Be careful, the bracelet will be hot.

When you go to unscrew, give a good amount of downward pressure on the screwdriver. That’ll help to keep the screwdriver in the screw head slot and hopefully keep it from damaging the slot more.

Then once you’ve removed it, go get a new screw from your AD, since it sounds like this one is already toast.

[Annan]

Turn the screw forcefully to the right first and then to the left to loosen. Often times this will break things loose.

[mfm22]

Thanks , will try these tips -
* Note I have read a few thread that mention how the Bergeon screwdrivers are not the best choice - I agree they are not square at tip - too thin and slip out easily

[Horology.life]

A hollow ground 1.6 screw driver will save the screw heads. And plenty of heat should loosen the loctite

[SearChart]

Blue flame (butane) torch from a cigar/cigarette lighter, you can smell the loctite burn once it is good. Then it should be easy.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by ddubb

If you don’t want to use direct flame, try hot water. Fill a coffee mug with really hot water and then dip the bracelet into the water and keep it there for a bit. Once the bracelet/screw has had a chance to soak up the heat try removing the screw again. Be careful, the bracelet will be hot.

When you go to unscrew, give a good amount of downward pressure on the screwdriver. That’ll help to keep the screwdriver in the screw head slot and hopefully keep it from damaging the slot more.

Then once you’ve removed it, go get a new screw from your AD, since it sounds like this one is already toast.

Even boiling water will not be hot enough. I don't see why anyone would not want to use a direct flame, it is what Rolex watchmakers use and cannot harm it if you aim at the right spot.

[ddubb]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Even boiling water will not be hot enough. I don't see why anyone would not want to use a direct flame, it is what Rolex watchmakers use and cannot harm it if you aim at the right spot.

Ah, thanks for the recommendation. Personally the hot water always worked for me, I’m a little nervous to take a flame directly to the bracelet :-)

[stylinleems]

Purchase the Esslinger Rolex screwdriver, thread and link below:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=659862

Fits the screw heads perfectly, best one I have used!! (when comparing to the Panerai 1.6mm, Bergeon 7965-160 etc.)

[bob78h]

Get a hollow ground screwdriver. I purchased the Horotec 'T' shape ones from Esslinger, fits the Bergeon handle perfectly. No longer have any trouble with screws getting chewed up. Also, strange that you need to heat it up. I use Loctite 222 and never needed heat, I thought that was only needed for the higher strength versions...

[Jim Smyth]

I have the Horofix hollow ground tip in 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7mm. You will never bugger up another screw if you use the correct screwdriver. You can use the other screwdriver if your careful and experienced but for most of us the hollow ground one gives us a slight advantage.

[vesnyder]

Is the Loc-tite required? I have been taking my band apart for a long time and never used any thing on the threads and have never had any issues with the screws backing out. After reading these issues I do not think I will start.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

Is the Loc-tite required? I have been taking my band apart for a long time and never used any thing on the threads and have never had any issues with the screws backing out. After reading these issues I do not think I will start.

They come with loctite from the factory. Yes it is required, unless you want to lose a screw and let the watch fall

[japenney]

Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 1hr.

Just take it to a watchmaker. You clearly do not have the proper heat source or screwdriver.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

Is the Loc-tite required? I have been taking my band apart for a long time and never used any thing on the threads and have never had any issues with the screws backing out. After reading these issues I do not think I will start.

It's not required for a home DIYer, but it is a safer option.

The screw-bars are not bolts and do not have anything to torque against as a traditional bolt would. They are floating studs and the only thing that holds them in place are the threads that you cannot actually tighten into without damaging the root - think of pushing a wedge into a hole to widen it. Overtightening will crack the link.

The loc-tite is the only thing that holds the stud/screw-bar in position. It's your friend.

[Rogoal]

Originally Posted by Tools

Hair dryer is not the tool to use.

Just curious, would this hurt the watch? I’ve Personally used one at low heat and it did the trick. Screw became loose without stripping anything.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Rogoal

Just curious, would this hurt the watch? I’ve Personally used one at low heat and it did the trick. Screw became loose without stripping anything.

Frequently a screwbar can be unscrewed without any heat, so I would say that when a hairdryer works it is because there was a very small amount of Loctite, or none at all, present.

Hairdryers cannot be finely directed at the threads of the screw in question, so it's a bit like a firehose approach when a garden hose is the tool needed.

If the bracelet is off the watch head, no damage except that you are heating the whole thing up to a blistering temp. If the head is attached you are cooking the dial, lume, gaskets, and expanding all the temp sensitive parts.

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by Tools

Hair dryer is not the tool to use.

Probably not the best but it works great for me. I've had it with AD "watchmakers" with their fancy link warmers who strip the crap out of the heads while simultaneously gouging the links.

[roadrunner117]

Originally Posted by vipereaper30

Probably not the best but it works great for me.

Same here. I cover the watch head completely with a folded up face towel, to try and minimize any chance of the watch head getting hot.

[vipereaper30]

Originally Posted by SearChart

I don't see why anyone would not want to use a direct flame, it is what Rolex watchmakers use and cannot harm it if you aim at the right spot.

I'll try this next time...just aim for the threaded end of the screw and link?

I'm assuming this is also safe on gold?

[Laszlo]

Before torching I would just try hot water... let it sit for a bit. Hot water does wonders and it's fairly safe.

[itsjknight]

hair dryer works fine just need to get it so hot that you can't hold it... use a washcloth.

I would not use a lighter or a torch. Also pickup the horotec 1.7mm hollow ground screwdriver. The bergeon screwdrivers are crap.

[DTap]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

Is the Loc-tite required? I have been taking my band apart for a long time and never used any thing on the threads and have never had any issues with the screws backing out. After reading these issues I do not think I will start.

I was told by an adthey ship with red, Ive never had any issues, so would use blue or softer if any which is the “temporary” style. However someone certainly knows more than me.