Luminox replacement parts?

[BasementBob]

Hi folks, just discovered this site tonight.  ( FYI, I posted this previously in the wrong forum.  Apologies....  )

I am mostly a newb, although I have experience with smallscale work from electronics.

I have recently gotten into watch building, not from scratch mind you, I buy the movements and just pick other parts as I find them...

I recently received a Luminox, with a Ronda 515 movement in it.

The movement runs slow with a brand new battery.  I figured for $20 from Esslinger, the easiest fix for me at my level of skill was a new movement, rather than disassembly,clean,lube,re-assemble.

So, I bought the movement. 

( Yes, TYVM, I know it's not hard to do a 515, but I could only find a video for the 715, and they are just a bit different. I'll tear the old one apart and clean it later for practice.)

While trying to remove the crown from the stem, I learned the quality of the loctite/cyanoacrylate/whatever that Luminox uses to fix their crowns to their stems.

*sigh*  You all know what I'm writing next.  *SNAP*

does anyone know where I can buy Luminox replacement crowns?

I have hopes that I can remove the stem fragment from the crown, but those hopes are quite small.  I only have about .020 - .030 thousandths of the stem protruding from the crown.

Yes, next time, remove O-rings, then apply heat, THEN unscrew the crown.

I'm Having problems uploading a photo of the crown, or I would for your amusement...  ( Is there a size limit? )

ANY help or ideas on parts sourcing, or safe temperatures to dis-associate that damn Luminox glue would be greatly appreciated!!

Thx,

Bob

[bjd1020]

Ebay.....if youre lucky.

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[BasementBob]

bjd1020,

I was afraid that was the only answer I was going to get...

 

Just FYI,

I removed the o-rings from the crown and boiled it for 15 minutes.

I was able to get one of my very fine nippers to grasp the stem, but still no luck.

I have an SMD air solderer for my electronics stuff. Also great for shrink tube!

Pumped that up to 400C and heated the crown for 5 minutes or so.

I let it cool overnight.

grabbed the stem with nippers again and it came right off.

Thanks!

[bjd1020]

Yeah. I redid a luminox.....had to replace the movemwnt which i got from eslinger. I then purchased a cheap chinese watch with fresh gas tubes and replaced each tube in the watch. Luminox and most other brand watches have a strict hold on their parts.

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[BasementBob]

By any chance do you remember where you got the watch with the new gas tubes?  I've seen tubes on ebay, but they are all HUGE.

[bjd1020]

Ebay....look for carnival tritium watch. The tubes are exact fit for luminox. They are held in with double sided tape so theyre pretty easy to remove and replace.

I think ive read somwwhere that inly a kilogram of tritium a year is mined or something like that.....its why its so expensive.

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