Problem Removing Movement

[jdrichard]

I am fixing a Vintage Solar Automatic with a Swiss movement and am having a hard time figuring out the last trick for removing the stem so I can remove the movement from the square steel case. It looks like you unscrew the leaver, but the screw would be on the other side of the movement which is not reachable without removing the movement. Good puzzle.OK this is the small part that is locked into the Stem and it looks like the screw would be on the other side.

HELP

 

 

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[oldhippy]

I would say its a two piece stem. You need to get behind the button and give it a good pull with a pair of watchmakers nippers. 

[jdrichard]

I would say its a two piece stem. You need to get behind the button and give it a good pull with a pair of watchmakers nippers. 

Very dangerous, would you not say. Should there not be much force here


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[oldhippy]

That is what I always used worked every time. 

[rogart63]

Looks to short to be a 2 piece stem. I think they screwed the crown on after?  If it's a 2 piece it much be a female stem on the movement . As a male would be to long.  

Edited March 9, 2019 by rogart63

[jdrichard]

Looks to short to be a 2 piece stem. I think they screwed the crown on after?  If it's a 2 piece it much be a female stem on the movement . As a male would be to long.  

Then it will be very difficult to remove.


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[nickelsilver]

Looks totally two piece to me. Pull hard.

[vinn3]

   I use leverage rather than pulling.  vin 

[Nucejoe]

I agree with vin, use of leverage is excellent idea If it turned out to be a two piece. Usually glue is used to secure stem- crown, which over the years chemically affects the stem and almost welds the two.

One or two pieces,  removing the crown is an approach worth giving a try, clean best and submerge the crown section in kerosene, diesel feul for couple days, you will be surprise by the ease the crown would unscrew, stem is to be kept fron turning, just insert a screw driver next to square section of stem. 

Few days of soaking in kerosene beats penetraring, no contest.

Regards

[Nucejoe]

 

See the pic, presss down the screws driver to get its wider section in between the crown and setm, then leverage.

[oldhippy]

You need to pull it out by having something on both sides of the button, so you have an even pull.  If you do not you, increase the risk of bending the pipe on the button or bending and breaking the stem.  

[VWatchie]

Please bear with me as I have zero experience in this situation. I just felt like sharing what I come to think of. What if the setting lever screw happens to be pretty loose? Perhaps placing some very small and high friction material (what that would be I have no idea and would perhaps be an even bigger problem) against the screw (which seems to be pointing up quite a bit) and try to turn it clockwise. Same technique as those rubber balls used to open screw down case backs. Perhaps it would loosen the screw enough to make it possible to pull the stem out. Oh well, in practice I doubt that it would work. Anyway, good luck!

Edited March 10, 2019 by VWatchie

[oldhippy]

That screw will be tight, it needs to be, and if it came loose, it would cause a problem with winding the spring and setting the hands. The winding parts from what we can see have no signs of rust, that includes the stem. I can tell you are very apprehensive about what I have suggested. It is the correct way to remove the movement.

[Watcher]

You turn the crown until the hole (arrowed) is uppermost and the movement should lift out leaving the outer half-stem in the tube. It works like that for many watches such as the Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox.

[jdrichard]

You turn the crown until the hole (arrowed) is uppermost and the movement should lift out leaving the outer half-stem in the tube. It works like that for many watches such as the Jaeger LeCoultre Memovox.

You and old hippy wine the prize. It was a two stem watch and when I aligned to hike upward, I was able to lever the movement and with a pull it came out. I think Old Hippy also had the right technique, I was just a bit reluctant to pull on the crown.With no crystal.


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