Seiko 6309-704x Winding Stem and Crown Rebuild

[HouseofGeorge]

Hi Fellow Watch Enthusiasts,

Hope you've all been keeping well. I was wondering if there's a Seiko Expert out there that can provide instructions on how to rebuild a winding stem and crown for a 6309-7049. I haven't done one before so I really have no clue. Any advice would be helpful.

 

I do have the rubber gasket and the question is, do I just squeeze in the gasket into the crown and it will sit in place? Or, do I have to prise or turn something in the crown to free up access? The winding stem I guess I can put some loctite and thread it in but which loctite product?

 

Thank you so much in advance and apologies for the noob question.

Regards,

Jesse

[VWatchie]

1 hour ago, HouseofGeorge said:

The winding stem I guess I can put some loctite and thread it in but which loctite product?

I've used "Loctite 222 Low Strength" with good results. The advantage is that it will be easier to remove the crown when it's time to replace it, of course. I guess "Loctite 290 Medium to High Strength" would be fine too. Other than that I'm afraid I can't help you with.

[bklake]

Note where the o-ring is situated now.  It is possible to insert it too far.  Dig out the old o-ring.  You have the male portion of the stem removed.  That is good because it makes removal and installation of the o-ring much easier. 

Next issue.  I don's see a seat washer between the spring and female end of the stem.  I think the proper name for it is "spring seat", I'll have to dig out my notes.  It may work without the washer but not correctly.  It works much better with a washer in there.  I had one without the washer that felt like it was cutting metal every time I screwed it in.  Put a washer on it and it worked perfectly. 

I made a jig to hold the crown.  It is very simple, a block of wood with a 7mm hole in it.  I don't have a 7mm drill bit so it is probably the closest size bit from my index drill bit set.  It holds the crown steady while mashing down the spring and seat washer.  Lack of this simple jig is the number 1 cause of the missing washer.  I also put a dab of thick sticky grease on the washer to hold it in place during assembly. 

I can't keep all the Loctite numbers straight in my mind.  I use the purple, low strength stuff.  It the end of the threaded portion properly prepared and is reasonably flat, i.e. no burrs, it will hold fine on its own.  Loctite is just insurance. 

[bklake]

I will add, if the gasket is old and hard it will probably come out in chunks.  I use a curved dental pick to get them out but don't scratch the metal.  Gently hook the gasket and fish it out.  After you get the old gasket out, clean the gasket groove with solvent and Q-tips.  Make sure there are no crumbs or goo left in there.  The new gasket should be pliable enough to go in.  I use a little silicone grease to help it in.  VTA (Vintage Time Australia) gaskets are the best you can get and lucky for you, the seller is local. 

Your crown looks like a new replacement, maybe after market?  If it is genuine Seiko, the gasket is surely old and hard by now, they haven't made them for 30 years.  If it is one of the Philippine crowns, the gasket is crap.  You are doing the right thing by replacing it with a good part.  The rest of the crown is good in my experience.  I've used a couple of them.  

I'm not a watchmaker but I have a collection of Seiko that use this crown and I like to keep them water tight because they are always in the water.

[HouseofGeorge]

23 hours ago, VWatchie said:

I've used "Loctite 222 Low Strength" with good results. The advantage is that it will be easier to remove the crown when it's time to replace it, of course. I guess "Loctite 290 Medium to High Strength" would be fine too. Other than that I'm afraid I can't help you with.

Thank you VWatchie. I'll try those for sure. Just getting things ready for when I finally start my restoration of my Seiko 6309-7049.

[HouseofGeorge]

22 hours ago, bklake said:

Note where the o-ring is situated now.  It is possible to insert it too far.  Dig out the old o-ring.  You have the male portion of the stem removed.  That is good because it makes removal and installation of the o-ring much easier. 

Next issue.  I don's see a seat washer between the spring and female end of the stem.  I think the proper name for it is "spring seat", I'll have to dig out my notes.  It may work without the washer but not correctly.  It works much better with a washer in there.  I had one without the washer that felt like it was cutting metal every time I screwed it in.  Put a washer on it and it worked perfectly. 

I made a jig to hold the crown.  It is very simple, a block of wood with a 7mm hole in it.  I don't have a 7mm drill bit so it is probably the closest size bit from my index drill bit set.  It holds the crown steady while mashing down the spring and seat washer.  Lack of this simple jig is the number 1 cause of the missing washer.  I also put a dab of thick sticky grease on the washer to hold it in place during assembly. 

I can't keep all the Loctite numbers straight in my mind.  I use the purple, low strength stuff.  It the end of the threaded portion properly prepared and is reasonably flat, i.e. no burrs, it will hold fine on its own.  Loctite is just insurance. 

This is gold advice bklake. Thank you so much. I'll try to source a Spring Seat or Seat Washer but chances may be slim. The previous watchmaker may have lost it during installation or just didn't have it as it's aftermarket. What a shame.

[HouseofGeorge]

22 hours ago, bklake said:

I will add, if the gasket is old and hard it will probably come out in chunks.  I use a curved dental pick to get them out but don't scratch the metal.  Gently hook the gasket and fish it out.  After you get the old gasket out, clean the gasket groove with solvent and Q-tips.  Make sure there are no crumbs or goo left in there.  The new gasket should be pliable enough to go in.  I use a little silicone grease to help it in.  VTA (Vintage Time Australia) gaskets are the best you can get and lucky for you, the seller is local. 

Your crown looks like a new replacement, maybe after market?  If it is genuine Seiko, the gasket is surely old and hard by now, they haven't made them for 30 years.  If it is one of the Philippine crowns, the gasket is crap.  You are doing the right thing by replacing it with a good part.  The rest of the crown is good in my experience.  I've used a couple of them.  

I'm not a watchmaker but I have a collection of Seiko that use this crown and I like to keep them water tight because they are always in the water.

@bklakeI've poked inside the crown to check on the gasket and can say that it's still pliable and not a jellied mess. I think it would be easy to pull out and clean the crown entirely.

As for the gasket, I've got them set aside for this restoration and the bonus bit is I got them from VTA, so woohoo!

I'm not a watchmaker by trade but just a hobbyist who loves to tinker with watches. With this project though, I'd like to give it the most meticulous attention as this watch is going to be a keeper.

Thanks again. 

[bklake]

It is called a Stem Spring Rest.  Part number 0997521. It shows as available at Julesborel.com and about $5 US.  Probably not the best choice for you due to shipping costs.  Adrian at VTA may be able to help.  There is an ebay seller from the UK that makes these.  Dave-eb.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/154289345980?hash=item23ec5c95bc:g:7mMAAOSwGnxbaX~e 

[HouseofGeorge]

16 hours ago, bklake said:

It is called a Stem Spring Rest.  Part number 0997521. It shows as available at Julesborel.com and about $5 US.  Probably not the best choice for you due to shipping costs.  Adrian at VTA may be able to help.  There is an ebay seller from the UK that makes these.  Dave-eb.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/154289345980?hash=item23ec5c95bc:g:7mMAAOSwGnxbaX~e 

Cool. Thanks so much for those tips. I've contacted Dave yesterday as referred to by Guy but no response so far. I'll reach out to Adrian and try my luck otherwise it's Dave via eBay. Cheers.