Removing Crown from vintage 1803

[azuaro]

Hello members:
I need to replace the post on a WG Presidential 1803 that has the 1556 movement...This movement does not have a PRESS pin like other Rolex and I believe I will need to remove some screws/parts...
Does anyone know what screws I need to remove or loosen up or what do I need to do to pull out the crown/stem?
Note: (Please see attached pic on 1556 movement)
Best regards,
AZ

[KY..]

You will need a good jewelers micro-screwdriver since there is no push release.
The small screw inside the hole above the “A” in “Rolex SA” is holding the crown stem.
Turn counterclockwise ~1 turn only and stop and it should release the stem.
Same as video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xasm3GFL7mM

[azuaro]

Thank so very much for your assistance KY, I was able to pull it out with no issues and replaced the case tube and crown gasket in no time...
The video was outstanding, Marshall restoring that Rolex Explorer explained the procedure with much detail and the videotaping was awesome; I enjoyed the video and will watch it again soon...Thanks for sharing it!
Once again, thank you for your time and courtesies.
Best regards,
AZ

[KY..]

You’re welcome, glad it worked out…

[DL4567]

Question.... relevant to the above, and hoping someone can please chime in.

I recently came into having an 1803 President, and am still getting used to setting it. Yesterday I went to change the time and continued to pull on the crown once it was already in setting position (Pos 1), thinking there was another step. (not used to having watches that don't stop ticking once the crown is fully out).

Anyway I was in a hurry and didn't think to try turning it to see if the hands would turn, so tried going to crown position 2 that doesn't exist on this watch. Didn't pull crazy hard of course, just the normal force of Pos 1 --> Pos 2 on a typical watch.

Everything seems fine, I set the time and screwed the crown back in, but like many of us do with our precious timepieces, my brain is obsessing whether or not I may have hurt anything by pulling on the crown too much. This watch was recently serviced and a new crown installed just 2 months ago. Someone please put my mind at ease... this watch means a lot to me. Thanks in advance!

[crowncollection]

If it will set your fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GTS Dean]

Originally Posted by KY..

You will need a good jewelers micro-screwdriver since there is no push release.
The small screw inside the hole above the “A” in “Rolex SA” is holding the crown stem.
Turn counterclockwise ~1 turn only and stop and it should release the stem.
Same as video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xasm3GFL7mM

That is a fantastic video!

[DL4567]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

If it will set your fine

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for your response. Being new to the forum, I appreciate anyone's input and see there are some extremely knowledgeable people here.

I watched a couple cleaning and disassembly videos on the 1556, trying to understand how the mechanism works. Is it just the little knob on the boomerang shaped piece (top-left pic) that sits in the lower part of the crown stem (top-right pic), that does all the work of keeping the crown from pulling out? (and changing setting modes of course). Is it safe to say you'd have to pull this pretty hard, waaay harder than normal, to have any negative effect?