Case back removal

[enz0]

Hi everyone

Having some issues opening this caseback. I've tried with the rubber ball and it won't budge. Can't find a slot on the caseback so I don't think it's a snap on and I'm fairly certain it's not a front loader. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

[Malocchio]

Haven't tried myself but some people epoxy a nut to the caseback and open with a wrench.

[gpraceman]

24 minutes ago, Malocchio said:

Haven't tried myself but some people epoxy a nut to the caseback and open with a wrench.

Hadn't heard of epoxy, but I've used super glue to open a caseback like that.  Superglue a nut to it.  Wrench it to loosen.  Use acetone to remove the super glue.

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 hours ago, enz0 said:

Hi everyone

Having some issues opening this caseback. I've tried with the rubber ball and it won't budge. Can't find a slot on the caseback so I don't think it's a snap on and I'm fairly certain it's not a front loader. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!

Enso not all casebacks have an openning notch. The usual method for removing stubborn screwdown casebacks is cyanoacrylate glue, just regular superglue. Thin set fast , thick is slower to cure but has a stronger bond. Glue a 16mm nut onto the back, i clamp it up so it gets a tight hold, it hasn't failed me yet. A word of warning from experience, one of my first attempts removing a back like you are showing ended jn disaster, it was a false screwdown on a lucerne watch, i completely trashed it trying to twist it off lol. Just make sure there is definitely a join between the case and back.

[AndyGSi]

There looks to be a notch here just to the right of the crown and the ST of STEEL.

[Nucejoe]

You need a decagonal case back wrench.

Edited August 23, 2024 by Nucejoe
spelling

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

You need a decagonal case back wrench.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

I've removed one of those with a cheap three jaw caseback tool, using the widest bits & with a bit of clingfilm over the case first to reduce the chance of scratches.

I had to hold the case itself in some slipjoint pipe grips to get enough force on it!

(Gripping the case in the strap lug slots with a folded microfiber cloth over the grips first).

[enz0]

On 8/23/2024 at 3:58 PM, gpraceman said:

Hadn't heard of epoxy, but I've used super glue to open a caseback like that.  Superglue a nut to it.  Wrench it to loosen.  Use acetone to remove the super glue.

Thanks for the response, I have considered trying that but I wasn't so sure how to actually get the super glue off after

[enz0]

On 8/23/2024 at 4:25 PM, Neverenoughwatches said:

Enso not all casebacks have an openning notch. The usual method for removing stubborn screwdown casebacks is cyanoacrylate glue, just regular superglue. Thin set fast , thick is slower to cure but has a stronger bond. Glue a 16mm nut onto the back, i clamp it up so it gets a tight hold, it hasn't failed me yet. A word of warning from experience, one of my first attempts removing a back like you are showing ended jn disaster, it was a false screwdown on a lucerne watch, i completely trashed it trying to twist it off lol. Just make sure there is definitely a join between the case and back.

Thank you for the advice! I wanted to ask everyone before trying the superglue method in case there was something I wasn't doing right. I've checked everywhere and it seems like it's a screw on caseback. It's also labelled as a "wateeproof" watch

[enz0]

On 8/23/2024 at 4:38 PM, AndyGSi said:

There looks to be a notch here just to the right of the crown and the ST of STEEL.

I cleaned around it and checked again but definitely no slot

[tomh207]

9 minutes ago, enz0 said:

Thanks for the response, I have considered trying that but I wasn't so sure how to actually get the super glue off after

Leave it to soak in acetone, that will soften the glue or you can use heat but that can be a bit more risky depending on how you approach it.

 

Tom

[AndyGSi]

1 minute ago, enz0 said:

I cleaned around it and checked again but definitely no slot

There isn't always a slot even with removable backs.

[Nucejoe]

19 hours ago, rjenkinsgb said:

I've removed one of those with a cheap three jaw caseback tool, using the wirjenkinsgddest bits & with a bit of clingfilm over the case first to reduce the chance of scratches.

Hi @rjenkinsgb 

Yes possible to remove with three jaw tool,specially if the case back has previously been removed/ replaced , and your safety precaution  sounds good.  

These types of case back is well built and specially designed to press a copper O ring washer to acheive  full water tightness. The problem with them  is once you open the case back, the previously pressed copper washer in there would not further get pressed and must be replaced with a new one, which are hard to find.

Rgds

 

[VWatchie]

On 8/23/2024 at 4:44 PM, rjenkinsgb said:

a cheap three jaw caseback tool

I assume you mean a Jaxa tool, no?

On 8/23/2024 at 9:04 AM, Nucejoe said:

You need a decagonal case back wrench.

Are those tools general purpose? That is, will they work with, for example, both Breitling and Enicar cases?

Edited September 14, 2024 by VWatchie

[rjenkinsgb]

9 hours ago, VWatchie said:

I assume you mean a Jaxa tool, no?

Yes - having searched that name, that's what I have got! (Or a clone). I never saw the name for them before..