Jump to content

Opening a Tissot "UFO" - (use key 275 T)


MrBeam

Recommended Posts

Hi guys, I'm back with another case that I'm having trouble opening.

I have this really nice Tissot from the 70's, with the text (use key 275 T) on the back. I understand that this model requires the crystal to come off then remove the dial. It should be friction fit.

The trouble is that the "bezel" around the crystal makes it really hard to get a grip with a crystal lift. Does this bezel come off like a regular one? Last time I used force on something a broke a crown. So I want to be sure before starting to "experiment". Thanks!

 

IMG_20200911_104849655.thumb.jpg.c7a60e11bfdae9fc5d8e8b9c50dcf0a8.jpgIMG_20200911_104900803.thumb.jpg.5c4b3021bc40f7e97d7fae7d49a3e322.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

275T is an old bakelite bezel removing tool, unfortunately I'm not at my shop so I could take a picture right now., but these go quite often at Tradera and Ebay so a quick search would give you a general ide of these..
I can add a link
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TISSOT-Seastar-Seven-Vintage-Bakelite-Watch-Case-Bezel-Removing-Tool-Set-/283797633911

Edited by HSL
Added link
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, HSL said:

275T is an old bakelite bezel removing tool, unfortunately I'm not at my shop so I could take a picture right now., but these go quite often at Tradera and Ebay so a quick search would give you a general ide of these..
I can add a link
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TISSOT-Seastar-Seven-Vintage-Bakelite-Watch-Case-Bezel-Removing-Tool-Set-/283797633911

I see, so there is a tool to remove the bezel! Do you think there is a more manual way of prying it loose or do I have to find one of those?

Could the crystal lift work on the bezel perhaps?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, clockboy said:

A new one for me. It might be a split stem. However the bezal might lever come off which will expose more of the crystal. 

I've read somewhere that these usually don't have a split stem. Last time I made that mistake I broke the crown. That's why I'm doing more research this time ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MrBeam said:

I've read somewhere that these usually don't have a split stem. Last time I made that mistake I broke the crown. That's why I'm doing more research this time ;)

I know for a fact that Tissot has produced some front loaders with one piece stems.  I  had a  Sea Star Seven front loader on which the dial feet were a friction fit into the movement so once the crystal was out of the way the dial could be lifted off. The  keyless works then had to be disassembled to remove the stem so that the movement could come out the front. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, Marc said:

I know for a fact that Tissot has produced some front loaders with one piece stems.  I  had a  Sea Star Seven front loader on which the dial feet were a friction fit into the movement so once the crystal was out of the way the dial could be lifted off. The  keyless works then had to be disassembled to remove the stem so that the movement could come out the front. 

I think it was your answer I've read :)
You wouldn't know if there is a safe DIY way to remove the bezel? If not I will have to purchase one of those keys.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, MrBeam said:

You wouldn't know if there is a safe DIY way to remove the bezel? If not I will have to purchase one of those keys.

Not with any certainty I'm afraid. If it was mine I would be inclined to do a bit of careful exploration with a case back knife to see if it could be safely lifted.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Removing the bezel was no problem, a little push and it was off!

New problem, the glass is armoured. Thus rendering my glass lift useless.

IMG_20200919_224329431.thumb.jpg.a2a58030b7a6156cad3a9d54d472fbbc.jpg

I wonder, how does the Tissot key actually work? I'm having a hard time seeing that it would open the glass better than my lift.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

37 minutes ago, MrBeam said:

I wonder, how does the Tissot key actually work? I'm having a hard time seeing that it would open the glass better than my lift.

The two tools has the same function, the Tissot tool just sqeezes the crystal with three bacelite blocks. 
 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, HSL said:

 

The two tools has the same function, the Tissot tool just sqeezes the crystal with three bacelite blocks. 
 

But I've learned that using a crystal lift on a tension ring crystal is not good practice. Because of the risk of breaking the crystal. Is this wrong?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The chances to break it is greater since the "Claws" of the ordinary crystal lift will not spread the tension in the same way as if you used something that sqeezes over a bigger area. 
There are more universal tools out there but the price usually is higher but they are also better.
On this site you can see two other usefull tools , the air pump (will mosty not work on crystals with tension ring) and the Crystal wrench. The crystal wrench is the tool of choise for these jobbs.

http://thewatchspotblog.com/?p=2495

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...


  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Following on from my question about identifying screws in the AS2063 movement that basically fell out of the case in bits, I’m pleased to report that I’ve got it all back together, and the movement is running pretty well.    But… There’s something wrong with the keyless works and hand setting. It’s fine in winding and quickset date position - these work - but in hand setting position winding the crown turns the whole gear train.  I don’t really understand how it’s meant to work. It doesn’t have a traditional friction fit cannon pinion.  The second wheel is unusual with a pair of smaller pinions on it, which seem to interact with the barrel and the motion works.    Could this be the problem? I must admit I just cleaned it and popped it in place when reassembling the gear train. I’ve lubricated the pivots but didn’t do anything to the extra bits on the second wheel.    Does this make sense and is anyone able to figure out what I’m doing wrong? Thanks in advance, as always.    ETA - the parts list calls it the Great Wheel, not second wheel. 
    • You're thinking metal to jewel in general I guess. Maybe it would be a good idea to peg the pallet staff jewel hole on the main plate after the epilame treatment. I think that could work as it is my impression that the epilame doesn't sit very hard, but I could be wrong about that so feel free to educate me. I didn't remember that 9501 was thixotropic (thanks for the link). That would mean it's even runnier during impact (lower viscosity) so perhaps it's time I get some fresh grease as mine seems a bit too runny. What I have seen is a whitish surface after washing but it goes away if I scrub the surface with a brush in a degreaser (Horosolv). I don't think it embeds itself in the metal but sticks very hard to the metal. I don't worry too much about the cleaning solution. I just want perfectly clean parts and my solution can be replaced for little money (ELMA RED 1:9). Anyway, I quite often need "to strip back and rebuild" and scrubbing parts by hand isn't exactly the most stimulating part of a service. Just got confirmation that Moebius 9501 has a lower viscosity (68 cSt at 20° C) than 9504 (305 cSt at 20°). The viscosity of Molykote DX is 285-315 cSt at -25° to +125° C. I was surprised to see that the viscosity of Moebius 9010 (thin oil!) is higher (150 cSt at 20°) than my 9501 grease!
    • I’ve had a couple movements where it is clear the previous watchmaker was diligent with lubrication but the old epilam had turned to a fine white powder covering the pallet fork and keyless parts, which can’t be good for parts. I’m spare with epi since I don’t know how long it takes to degrade to that state…
    • I have read some suggestions that it can cause wear , particularly on the fork horns of a fully treated pallet fork. I've had half a kilo of steriac acid powder on a shelf for almost a year now, might have a little play today with a heater and a jar.  I think its because it gets into their cleaning solutions Mike. Theirs or anyone else's that services the watch next time, or if they need to strip back and rebuild. Could preclean but thats all time for a pro. I thought the idea was for the epilame to create a barrier, a wall between the lubrication and anything else, so the lube cant spread.
    • As I'm only cleaning watches in small numbers at home, I pre-clean any significant deposits of old grease and oil before using the cleaning solutions. I scrape off deposits with pegwood and Rodico, and if really dirty, wash parts in naphtha with a brush.  So I'm happy using DX, but can understand why it's avoided by the pros.
×
×
  • Create New...