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Showing content with the highest reputation on 03/02/2021 in all areas

  1. If I had a sheriff's badge I would. That user is visiting from Westworld.
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  2. March 1, 2021 I finally got the '1655' project together and running. It turned out Ok but was a real hassle, not worth the time and trouble. I really just wanted to see if the shortcut modification would work with a bushing inside the 24 hour wheel to hold it in mesh along with the proper GMT CP, hour wheel etc to properly space the hands apart. Many of the quickie GMT kits did not have a 24H wheel bushing or correct H wheel, CP etc so they were a flop out of the box. So...what's next? I may remove the 'shortcut' GMT movement and put it in a 1603 case. I will have to remove the GMT canon pinion, hour wheel etc along with the modified minute wheel and put a new minute wheel post in the main plate...probably have to make one. I have a good 1603 case but the white dial with gold markers is faded and spotted...a 'tropic dial'. Ha! Have a blue dial with gold markers but it is worse, looks like someone laid it down by a blowtorch. Also have a 14k 16xx DJ bezel and gold crown plus a 14k signed buckle on a croc strap so it will make a nice knock around watch. Why go to all the trouble to begin with? The 1570/75 was a 'ruffy' (stem rusted in the main plate, rusty screws etc) and it needed a LOT of work anyway (c/o, rotor axle mainspring etc) so I decided to try the shortcut GMT conversion on it. I may put a swiss ETA 2846 with china GMT conversion in the '1655' case. Maybe not. Update March 4, 2021 "put a new minute wheel post in the main plate...probably have to make one" Could not find an 'affordable' minute wheel post (aka minute wheel stud) p/n 7888-1* so I planned to use a .5mm steel rod of some sort to make a minute wheel post. Could not find a suitable .5mm rod either so I bought a miniature drill bit set with a .5mm HSS drill bit in it. It has to be the type of bit made to insert into a pin vise so there will be some unfluted rod to make the post out of. Many mini-drill bit sets have the bit welded to an adapter leaving no length without flutes. *Found a 7888-1 but it was $20 (!!) plus shipping/handling making it over $30USD. Not for me. Followup 4-28-21 I posted this to show what an expen$ive, screwed up mess this can turn into today. A 1016, 5512, 5513, 1680 etc would be a LOT easier and cheaper if you want to use a genuine rlx 15xx movement. Saw these today on eBay... GMT parts needed for the 'shortcut' GMT modification not counting the non original modified minute wheel and non original 24 hour wheel... New Rolex 1565/1575 GMT 8030 Center Wheel with Cannon Pinion $215 133195881822 Used Rolex1575 GMT 8039 Double Tooth Hour Wheel (2.44mm) $485 284225493914 10-7-21 The USED hour wheel on eBay sold for $485! Someone really needed it. "Rolex 1575 GMT 8039 Hour Wheel With Double Toothing (2.44mm) Genuine Excellent." So... a 'shortcut' GMT movement would probably cost over $3000 today allowing $1000+ for genuine parts from eBay plus the non original 24H wheel and center wheel. Probably close to $1100 or $1200 for 'shortcut' parts...plus a complete rolex 1570/75 date movement plus c/o labor cost etc, plus a case, dial, hands, bracelet etc. IF the non original 'shortcut' parts worked first time around and mine did not without making a bushing for the 24H wheel. Not needed for the 'shortcut' modification but needed for a full conversion: new Rolex 1565/1575 GMT 8040 24 Hour Wheel $285 284225466968 From: Cal. 1570 GMT- tell me if I m wrong ? - The Rolex Area - RWG Here is most of what is needed to convert a 1565/75 to a 1565/75 GMT: #8038 - center second pinion 5.70mm #8037 - Cannon Pinion 3.39mm #8039 - double tooth hour wheel 2.44mm #8040 - 24hr wheel 1.41mm #8035 - Calendar Wheel nut #8036 - Date Jumper #8006 - Yoke for cam #8008 - spring for cam yoke #8011 - stud for cam #8030 - Center wheel with Cannon Pinion #8034 - Calendar Wheel #8011 - Stud for Cam #8037 - calendar spacer NOTE: I see the #7965 calendar spacer listed on eBay etc. for 1565/1575 GMT movements with high prices. #7965 calendar spacer shows to be made for Rolex 1565/75 date movements #8037 calendar spacer shows to be for 1565/1575 GMT movements Example: 1575 | 7956 | Date Indicator Calendar Seating Ring | eBay What is hard to find? All of it. What is hardest to find? #8037 calendar spacer #8034 - Calendar Wheel #8039 - double tooth hour wheel 2.44mm 8037 usually goes from $200 to $500 8034 usually $200 to $400 8039 used to be $200 or so...now close to $500 8034 calendar wheel aka 'date flipper' on eBay a few months back for $965 (!!) They must be getting hard to find. 8036 date jumper currently on eBay (7-27-21 item 184060183308) for $389 + $20 shipping This is the part that centers the date wheel in the window and keeps it in place, last one I bought new was $38 iirc. Updates: 10-7-21...the 'shortcut 1655' is still running fine with no problems. 10-19-22...I made a note above on #8037 GMT calendar spacer rings. The 'SC 1655' still runs fine but has been parked for a couple months. I'll leave it together if I can find a reasonably priced set of atfmkt hands for my other GMT project mentioned below. If not, I'll take the movement out, remove the 'shortcut' GMT parts, and put the movement back in the DJ it came out of. Then use the hands from it in the Phong project. As of August 2022, MQ '1655' hands are $380US delivered. I would not pay that much for hands for a relatively low $$ project like the shortcut watch but I also have a complete 1575 GMT movement and Phong case/dial, so maybe the MQ hands would be OK for it and leave the shortcut watch alone. Been mulling it over. I tried a set of '1655' hands made for an ETA 2836 on a rolex 1575 and there is too much difference in them to work. The GMT hand is not much of a problem because WSO has a pretty good '1655' 24 hour hand in their '1655' hand sets for genuine movements, but the H and M hands are not too hot...the lume slot is too long. For a 'no dot' sweep sec hand...they are available from many aftmkt suppliers. Example: Watch Hand Refills Regular, Medium and Long Post Style Sweep Second Hand (esslinger.com) Btw...it looks like I need to change my motto to: "No parts for you...never ever!"
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