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mwillems · 6 May 2008, 09:36 PM

Here's something that has always bugged me. How tight do I wind the crown? Not tight enough and it leaks when I immerse it. Too tight and it either breaks or the rubber seal works out quickly.

Any tips? This is of some importance to me since my current Rolex is three seconds slow every day so I do need to adjust often. Plus I travel across time zones quite often...

SPACE-DWELLER · 6 May 2008, 09:39 PM

You should screw in the winding crown until you feel resistance and then stop. No force should be used. Kind of like screwing on the cap on a tube of toothpaste.

mwillems · 6 May 2008, 09:50 PM

OK. Then I have been screwing them in a bit too tight with previous watches. Oh well, now I know - thanks!

oneillba · 6 May 2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwillems

OK. Then I have been screwing them in a bit too tight with previous watches. Oh well, now I know - thanks!

I used to overly tighten mine too under the same premise. If a little bit is good then more must be better. Almost sounds like a personal problem, doesn't it?

Tools · 7 May 2008, 01:53 AM

If your watch leaks when you immerse it unless you tighten the crown tight, you have a problem with the inner seal.

The primary safeguard and waterproof seal is an O-ring inside the tube that hugs the stem shaft. The gasket in the crown is the secondary safeguard and your Rolex should be waterproof to immersion even if the crown is unscrewed.

Take it in and get the inner seals replaced...

MrClean · 7 May 2008, 02:19 AM

especially the AD ones, seem to like to show me how strong they were - the crowns almost need a pair of pliers to unscrew - never understood that

i just snug mine - i'm not diving down to 4000m with it anytime soon, a snug fit is easier on the threads and serves to seal it from air borne moisture

Terry Newton · 7 May 2008, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneillba

I used to overly tighten mine too under the same premise. If a little bit is good then more must be better. Almost sounds like a personal problem, doesn't it?

Sound's like the way I used to drink and do drugs.

Terry Newton

DSJ · 7 May 2008, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry Newton

Sound's like the way I used to drink and do drugs.

Terry Newton

Not to beat a dead horse that has been dead for decades, but adjusted for inflation, how many Submariners do you think you threw away into your body in the form of drugs?

JostheBoss · 6 May 2008, 09:58 PM

My crown tempts me to turn it just that extra degree or so every time because its ever so slightly off vertical! But I have to restrain myself, as you can either make the rubbers perish quickly or worse, damage the threads so that the stem will need replacement.

Light finger pressure is all that is needed because as long as there is contact with the O-rings, the seal is made. Any additional pressure may cut the rubbers or warp their shape, which results in a breach in the waterproof-ness.

Turn the crown lightly until it comes to a stop, then give it a small extra squeeze...and that's that.

ROLEX MAN · 6 May 2008, 10:27 PM

never to tight, you'll feel when it right!

SPACE-DWELLER · 6 May 2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLEX MAN

Oh and don't use pliers

At least that would fix a misaligned coronet.

ROLEX MAN · 6 May 2008, 10:28 PM

Oh and don't use pliers

gha · 7 May 2008, 05:23 AM

Do Not Use needle nose pliers....gha

Bobareno · 7 May 2008, 05:26 AM

Vise Grips are also a NO NO!

Mrdi · 7 May 2008, 06:09 AM

I use a Rolex crown socket (Mac Tools), and a torque wrench.
Tighten to .0043 NM
Click.

6 May 2008, 09:36 PM	#1
mwillems Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oakville, Canada Posts: 32	Crown: how tight to wind? Here's something that has always bugged me. How tight do I wind the crown? Not tight enough and it leaks when I immerse it. Too tight and it either breaks or the rubber seal works out quickly. Any tips? This is of some importance to me since my current Rolex is three seconds slow every day so I do need to adjust often. Plus I travel across time zones quite often...

6 May 2008, 09:39 PM	#2
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	You should screw in the winding crown until you feel resistance and then stop. No force should be used. Kind of like screwing on the cap on a tube of toothpaste. __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

7 May 2008, 01:53 AM	#5
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	If your watch leaks when you immerse it unless you tighten the crown tight, you have a problem with the inner seal. The primary safeguard and waterproof seal is an O-ring inside the tube that hugs the stem shaft. The gasket in the crown is the secondary safeguard and your Rolex should be waterproof to immersion even if the crown is unscrewed. Take it in and get the inner seals replaced... __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

7 May 2008, 02:19 AM	#6
MrClean Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Larry Location: Virginia Watch: tudor 7928 Posts: 200	every watchmaker that have handled my watches especially the AD ones, seem to like to show me how strong they were - the crowns almost need a pair of pliers to unscrew - never understood that i just snug mine - i'm not diving down to 4000m with it anytime soon, a snug fit is easier on the threads and serves to seal it from air borne moisture

6 May 2008, 09:58 PM	#9
JostheBoss "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Jos Location: South Africa Watch: SS GMT IIc Posts: 741	My crown tempts me to turn it just that extra degree or so every time because its ever so slightly off vertical! But I have to restrain myself, as you can either make the rubbers perish quickly or worse, damage the threads so that the stem will need replacement. Light finger pressure is all that is needed because as long as there is contact with the O-rings, the seal is made. Any additional pressure may cut the rubbers or warp their shape, which results in a breach in the waterproof-ness. Turn the crown lightly until it comes to a stop, then give it a small extra squeeze...and that's that. __________________ Life isn't what it is...it's what it looks like

6 May 2008, 09:50 PM	#3
mwillems Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oakville, Canada Posts: 32	OK. Then I have been screwing them in a bit too tight with previous watches. Oh well, now I know - thanks!

6 May 2008, 10:27 PM	#10
ROLEX MAN 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Martin Location: Home and Away Watch: you? "YES PLEASE"! Posts: 3,719	never to tight, you'll feel when it right! __________________ *it's not just about telling the time...* *happy rolexing...* I'm just a man with a passion

6 May 2008, 10:28 PM	#12
ROLEX MAN 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Martin Location: Home and Away Watch: you? "YES PLEASE"! Posts: 3,719	Oh and don't use pliers __________________ *it's not just about telling the time...* *happy rolexing...* I'm just a man with a passion

7 May 2008, 05:23 AM	#13
gha "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: gha Location: Canada Watch: Rolex DateJust Posts: 664	Do Not Use needle nose pliers....gha

7 May 2008, 05:26 AM	#14
Bobareno Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 739	Vise Grips are also a NO NO!

7 May 2008, 06:09 AM	#15
Mrdi Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Posts: 3,478	I use a Rolex crown socket (Mac Tools), and a torque wrench. Tighten to .0043 NM Click.

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