Tip on how to open a completely locked up watch case back

[Max]

I bought a nice vintage chronograph watch with a 7733. Nothing fancy but the watch was just appealing to me and a good start in jumping into the topic of servicing a chronograph. So far I did only one, which was a Heuer pocket watch.

So I wanted to open the case back with a very trusty old stainless steel opener called Vari-Matic.  It did not open, when I tried to clamp the case into a vice and use force with both hands... the HANDLE of the steel opening tool was breaking away! Watch still closed !

I was desperate and after a while chatting with a friend working on cars he explained me that he was wielding nuts to cracked parts to use a ratchet..hmmm..ok wielding might not be feasible but i was trying it with superglue. I took a 23 sized nut sanded it flat an glued it on the back using superglue and let it sit for a couple of hours over night.

This is how it looks like:

Next i clamped everything in my large vise and used the ratchet:

Voila it was open:

And the best thing was that i did not even need massive heat to remove the superglue but dropped the nut and caseback into acetone for about 3 hours and it was gone. No residue just wiping of the back. See the pic below.....now i can service this watch.

I hope this helps someone if he has no other option beside damaging the watch - give it a try - it worked perfectly.

 

Am I nuts or are there others out there doing this?

 

[ro63rto]

Lots of us have used this method at one time or other

[yankeedog]

If at first you don't succeed , get a bigger hammer. I love it.

[noirrac1j]

 

Beautiful job, I've done it myself several times. You get -1 demerit  for leaving out one important detail.....You neglected to post a picture of the movement!

J

[tonystime]

Way to go. 

[Pip]

Yes, a useful technique when you can’t get your hands on a big Bertha opener. The trick is to use the biggest nut that will attach to the caseback, I learned that the hard way!


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[ChrisWheeler]

My procedure is usually: 

1: Rubber ball

2: Case back opening tool

3: Supergluing a nut onto the caseback!

[chrisdt]

Did you try with a case back spanner?

[chrisdt]

Perhaps next time I change the oil in my car I will Superglue a watch case back to the sump plug

On a serious note 'Mole' grips or locking plier grips (end of jaws down) have never failed me.

Edited October 27, 2018 by chrisdt
spelling

[transporter]

i have one question, where did you get your case holding vice/clamp, ive never seen one like that, I like the way each side is a different size to fit between lugs

[Nucejoe]

Lucky professional back openers are not extinct, All remains to do then is to ask borrow his muscles        .

Oiling around the rim and letting set overnight is known to have been effective, in which case even he  can open the back. 

Regards joe

 

[Max]

On 10/28/2018 at 9:18 PM, transporter said:

i have one question, where did you get your case holding vice/clamp, ive never seen one like that, I like the way each side is a different size to fit between lugs

Sorry for my late reply. I have this beauty from an old watchmaker. Its a bergeon tool

bergeon case holder 4077 is one size, there are different sizes available. But if you google it you will find it.

Greetings

Max

[ecodec]

Hi, well done. A large Snap On socket with the end ground flat works as well !!. Thanks and regards, Mike.