Seiko 6105 crown gasket service

[tIB]

Ive asked this at a Seiko forum but I know there's plenty of experience here too...

 

As I have it the recently discovered servicing technique on these is that you stuff the crown full of gaskets and work it until the recessed washer pops, remove the washer, switch the gasket out, dish the washer and push it back into place, levelling out the washer in the process?

First attempt did not go to plan... I tried using a plastic pusher to manipulate the gaskets in the crown... Wasn't strong enough and I was struggling to even get the gaskets in up until it broke.

 

Rethink consists of making/using actual tools: I don't have a staking set, so I've got the old man fashioning a metal pusher, essentially a 2.45mm OD tube with 1.6mm ID with a 6mm press the other end. Also got him on a dishing block/conical stake (sorry I'm terrible with terms) and a holder for the crown while I'm working on it...

 

I figure that's enough to do the process described above? Push with the metal pusher, dish the washer with the conical stake, press back in with wider flat press (drilled centre so it doesn't catch on the tap). 

 

Plan is to stuff, press by hand and repeat? If that doesn't work by hand I've a drill press I could attach the pusher to for a little more leverage if needed. (Obviously I don't want to go too mad with that, and hopefully can avoid it altogether...)

 

Sounds like a plan? I'd welcome any advice here, since I really don't want to wreck a crown. Having replaced all the other seals though id really like to sort these too. I welcome any input/advice from those who have been there and done it... Thanks!

[AndyGSi]

I've just got a piece of tube I place over the stem and hit to deform the washer until it comes out.

I then flatten the washer so it's almost flat, replace the gasket, press the washer back with a slightly larger tube to finish flattening it.

Edited yesterday at 06:46 PM by AndyGSi

[tIB]

38 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

I've just got a piece of tube I place over the stem and hit to deform the washer until it comes out.

I then flatten the washer so it's almost flat, replace the gasket, press the washer back with a slightly larger tube to finish flattening it.

Oh that's interesting - I'd read these were really tricky to service with damage prior to the gasket stuffing discovery, but that sounds fairly straightforward... I guess I have a fall back option, cheers!

[AndyGSi]

I also put kapton tape on the crown before putting it in one of the holes in the plastic to support it.

[tIB]

14 minutes ago, AndyGSi said:

I also put kapton tape on the crown before putting it in one of the holes in the plastic to support it.

Ah, good one. I've got the crown going into a hole in steel to support it - maybe I'd be better off using plastic thinking about it...

[thor447]

A good material to protect the crown is vinyl flooring.  I got some free samples from my local supply store.  They are only a couple of inches wide, and are hard enough to take the pressure of pressing in gaskets during disassembly, as well as flattening the washer during assembly.  It has a slight amount of give and is soft enough to not scratch or deform the crown when flattening the washer.

[tIB]

2 hours ago, thor447 said:

A good material to protect the crown is vinyl flooring.  I got some free samples from my local supply store.  They are only a couple of inches wide, and are hard enough to take the pressure of pressing in gaskets during disassembly, as well as flattening the washer during assembly.  It has a slight amount of give and is soft enough to not scratch or deform the crown when flattening the washer.

Ooh, I have some of that somewhere too, thanks. I'm thinking attaching to my crystal press might be a safer idea than using a drill press, assuming its too tricky to do by hand/without leverage... less margin for error there you'd think...

[AndyGSi]

I just resort to old faithful and hit it with a hammer.