Can you align the minute and hour hand by pushing them into place?

[burnsthewatchcollector]

Hey folks! Just made an account for a quick question. I've found a spec of something on my Seiko SKX011 dial and I've decided to remove the movement and dial from the case to clean it off. Another thing that's irritated me a bit since I recieved this watch is that hands aren't aligned properly. If the hour hand is at 12, the minute will be at 55-57. So I've decided to try and fix that while it's apart. If anyones wondering I do not have a handset removing tool. Thanks for any help in advance!

[Redwood]

there are many techniques and skills required just to remove the movement from the case.  Resetting the hands is not as straight forward as one might think especially if you have a day date chapter ring.

you will need to buy some tools and watch a few of Marks vids first 

[Chopin]

If you had a pair of small/fine screwdrivers you could use the tips to carefully remove the hands. Afterwards you can align them as you please and push them inside. Ideally you should also need a pair of tweezers.

You don't necessarily need special tools for this, if you're careful. The hardest part is to remove them, installing is easier.

Tip: use transparent plastic bags as protection for the dial and hands when "operating".

Also, watch some youtube videos. Here's one from Mark the forum owner.

 

[CaptCalvin]

If you tried just pushing on the hands to get them to sync better chances are when you push the minute hand the hour hand will just move accordingly. You'd just in essence be setting the time, but doing so through the hands like you would on many old clocks as opposed to setting through the crown. Hands would need to come off and refitted. 

[jdm]

4 hours ago, burnsthewatchcollector said:

If anyones wondering I do not have a handset removing tool. Thanks for any help in advance!

You may not even need it. Pull crown to set time position and hold it while gently adjusting the minute hand. Or use two wood or soft plastic sticks to hold hour while touching the minute. For minimal adjustment that is acceptable but for anything else get the basic tools, they are very affordable.

[CaptCalvin]

1 hour ago, jdm said:

You may not even need it. Pull crown to set time position and hold it while gently adjusting the minute hand. Or use two wood or soft plastic sticks to hold hour while touching the minute. For minimal adjustment that is acceptable but for anything else get the basic tools, they are very affordable.

Definitely hold the crown and don't hold the hour hand if you're going to try to take this shortcut. Depending on how tight the hands are you are liable to damage the tiny and delicate pinion leaves on the minute wheel that drive the hour wheel.

[Nucejoe]

No No.

[vinn3]

   NoNoNo; 

[AndyHull]

1 hour ago, vinn3 said:

   NoNoNo; 

+1

All I can say is... you might not break anything.... but there is a reasonably good chance you will strip some teeth, bend something, break something... scratch something...  or in some other way, have a bad day. 

[watchweasol]

Hi I think the straight answer is to remove the sweep hand and Min hand align the hour hand and then re fit the min and sweep hands do not force/move the hands in situ as Andy says could end up wit problems

[jdm]

26 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Hi I think the straight answer is to remove the sweep hand and Min hand align the hour hand and then re fit the min and sweep hands do not force/move the hands in situ as Andy says could end up wit problems

That is right by the book. But having worked on very, many watches identical to the OP's, I can tell that is not that easy to break the very robust 7S26 motion works. On the other hand (pun intended) I got a second hand tube snapped using a presto tool. I can't say if using levers would have made any difference. There is always a possibility that something breaks due to pre-existing fault, even when handling it the right way.

[burnsthewatchcollector]

Thanks for the help guys. I removed the spec of dust/dirt and left the hands be. If it keeps bothering me I'll pick up a cheap set of hand removers and give it a go. Cheers, Bradley.

[watchweasol]

Doing anything to a watch even opening it or removing the crystal carries a risk and its down to the person doing the job to take the greatest care when repairing or attempting to repair anything let alone watches

[vinn3]

6 hours ago, AndyHull said:

+1

All I can say is... you might not break anything.... but there is a reasonably good chance you will strip some teeth, bend something, break something... scratch something...  or in some other way, have a bad day. 

   what about bending or breaking a dial hand?