Newbie needing help

[oldhorse]

Hello all. I am a brand new member interested in watch repair as a hobby as I own several watches in need of repair. Reviewing this site I see a great wealth of knowledge and information. My current project is a simple one (I think). I need to find a stem and crown for my Timex Expedition Chronograph. Any and all information would be welcome and I look forward to being a part of this forum. I hope I did this introduction correctly as I'm new at all this.

[manodeoro]

Hi [emoji4] do you still have the original crown ?
Cause finding a stem alone will be easier than finding a new crown + stem

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[oldhippy]

Have you tried ebay?

[ecodec]

Yes, you are fine oldhorse. Good luck with your search. Regards, Mike.

[oldhorse]

Thanks for your replies. I do still have the crown and have searched everywhere I know including E Bay with no luck. I was hoping someone on the forum might have one or a source of one.

[manodeoro]

Thanks for your replies. I do still have the crown and have searched everywhere I know including E Bay with no luck. I was hoping someone on the forum might have one or a source of one.

Do you know which movement is inside ?

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[oldhorse]

I'm not sure if this is the movement number or not but they're the only numbers on it:

m921

C.04

[manodeoro]

I'm not sure if this is the movement number or not but they're the only numbers on it:
m921
C.04

M921 ... discontinued Timex quartz movement ...

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[oldhorse]

In that its discontinued does that mean my chances of finding a stem are virtually nil? I'm attaching pictures as a final attempt to find one. Thank you all again for the information though.

 

[manodeoro]

Reading here "https://www.ablogtowatch.com/timex-archive-metropolis-allied-chrono-watches/" it seems the Timex Archive Allied Chrono has a M921 movement inside.
You could contact Timex to confirm.

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[manodeoro]

In that its discontinued does that mean my chances of finding a stem are virtually nil? I'm attaching pictures as a final attempt to find one. Thank you all again for the information though.
 

.jpg.9f546767895dd6838ec4bc3bf791a8ed.jpg]

Is there some threads on the part of the stem that goes in the movement ?
If YES you could try to use a 1/1 stem extension to repair.
1 - check the diameter of the thread and order the accurate 1/1 stem extension
2 - unscrew the broken part from the crown
3 - check the total length of the complete stem (2 parts)
4 - screw the stem extension to the part that goes in the movement ... secure it with some Hypo cement
5 - cut the repaired stem to the length you have measured
6 - screw it in the crown
7 - cross fingers and pull the stem in the movement
If you're a little lucky it could work.


Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[JoeM]

Welcome to the forum.

[manodeoro]

@oldhorse ... did it helped or not ?

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[oldhorse]

Manodeoro...sorry for the slow reply - I've been away for awhile. There are no threads left on the broken piece so I'm afraid that won't work but thank you for a very good suggestion! Much appreciated. As reported in other posts I received no help fro Timex except for the suggestion to send it in for repair...they won't sell individual parts. I can try a tiny dab of jb weld to glue the two pieces back together but I have no high hopes of that holding at all. I still feel someone somewhere must have one, maybe in a watch that is otherwise not working...I keep checking ebay but no luck. Thank you all again!

[manodeoro]

No problem@oldhorse [emoji4]
Would you post a close pic of the 2 parts showing the "cut side" ?

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[manodeoro]

BTW ... I'm 200% certain that glue won't work [emoji19]

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[oldhorse]

I'll try to post those pics tomorrow if possible...thanks.

[oldhorse]

I took a new photo but it's no closer than the one I previously posted.

[manodeoro]

The solution really depends if it's possible or not to unscrew the stem from the crown.
I really don't know [emoji848]
Maybe@oldhippy could confirm if YES or NO ?
If you can unscrew the part of the stem that remains in the crown then there could a solution ... I'll post a sketch showing how you could try to repair.

Envoyé de mon Moto G (5) Plus en utilisant Tapatalk

[oldhorse]

I'm on vacation now but I think I can unscrew it. Thank you for all your help...I look forward to you sketch.

 

[manodeoro]

So here is my idea about how to repair (try to) that stem.

If want to state that I have NEVER done that so I'm just speculating that it could work.

If @oldhippy could chime in here and say what he think about that ... if it seems possible or if I'm really stupid 

 

STEP 01 - unscrew the part of the stem that remains in the crown mandatory so if you cant no need to read further

 

STEP 02 - place the 2 parts of the stem so that they touch each other and measure the total length "L" - you should also  measure the diameter "A" of the threaded part

 

STEP 03 - order a 1:1 stem extension (non swiss) from cousinsuk - assuming you can fond one with the "A" diameter

 

STEP 04 - gently sand/grind the part of the stem that goes in the movement so that you can fit it in the female side of the stem extension with just a little force

 

STEP 05 - place a little bit of silver solder paste inside the female part of the stem extension and push the sanded part of the crown inside ... check that the 2 parts form a straight line

 

STEP 06 - heat the "stem extension / stem" assembly with a jeweller soldering torch ... search "jewelery silver soldering" on the web to know which torch to use and how to use it

 

STEP 07 - wait for the soldering to cool then measure the "L" length and cut the threaded side of the assembly

 

STEP 08 - apply some blue loctite on the thread and screw it in the crown - cross your fingers - insert the "new" stem in the movement (you could prefer to uncross your fingers to proceed ) and ... if you're a little lucky ... enjoy your watch

[oldhippy]

I don’t want to burst your bubble and you asked for my view. Unless you have a lot of experience, it will be extremely hard to pull this off. It looks good on paper but to get it just right I don’t think it will work. Silver solder is quite soft and you will not have the space for the solder to have a solid grip.

Why don’t you put it to the side and keep checking for a spare stem.  

[manodeoro]

2 hours ago, oldhippy said:

 

I don’t want to burst your bubble and you asked for my view. Unless you have a lot of experience, it will be extremely hard to pull this off. It looks good on paper but to get it just right I don’t think it will work. Silver solder is quite soft and you will not have the space for the solder to have a solid grip.

Why don’t you put it to the side and keep checking for a spare stem.  

I've never tried silver soldering but I've asked a friend who uses for juwellery and she told me it's pretty solid, that's what I thought about it.

But I have asked for your advice so no problem at all about bursting my bubble ... I'm like champagne so I have many bubbles 

 

Maybe @oldhorse could try my experimental method using some "5mns epoxy" instead of silver soldering ?

I have used "5mns epoxy" to repair a broken screw-in crown that had fallen into parts (inside threads where rotten) on my father-in-law really old automatic watch.

I wont tell you the brand and model because you could call me a criminal or really kill me ...  my father-in-law didn't want to pay $$$ for a "vintage part" and did not want a service part so he asked me to try.

The repair process was a little tricky not to glue the inside spring and the inside sliding part but I achieved to do it and, though I used a really tiny amount of expoxy,  it worked pretty well and still holds firm after a little more than one year of use.

 

About putting it to the side ... Why not 

But may I say that @oldhorse has nothing to loose trying that DIY, unless if you think there's a risk to dammage the watch doing this of course.

If that "trick" works, even if only for a few months, it will be better than having his Timex sitting in a drawer (or elsewhere) waiting for him to bring it to live again.

And, of course, it's only a temporary "pis aller" and not paradoxycal with continuing to search for a complete spare stem.