pannie

Thanks for the encouraging words but I think I will be sending it to a modder to be fixed because it broke due the alignment of the movement and the case crown hole - so that needs to be corrected and I would like the cannon pinion fixed too.

Are there any suggestions of a modder I can use in the UK?

pannie

What method do you use to install the hands?

Hi,

I bought hand presses and a hand puller on eBay for about 6 pounds; I wouldn't suggest trying without them; then I gently held the end of the hand with tweezers and pressed down the centre when I was sure that is was aligned.

pannie

I posted a message last week because I planned to assemble a Marinda Militare with a Panerai Cali dial and gold hands, when this is how the build progressed...

Firstly I cleaned up the back of the dial

Then I removed the second pin from the movement because the cali dial doesn't accommodate seconds

I attached the dial - double sided tape because the dial dots hadn't arrived yet

I then attached the hands (twice because I didn't align them properly the first time)

Next I removed the crown stem, carefully, and slotted it in the case to be attached with 2 mounting screws

Next was to cut the crown stem to size (making sure it was too long first and then trimming gradually)

After getting it to the right size I wanted to set the time and wind it and then DISASTER struck! My crown stem snapped of after a single turn.

Now I am in trouble because part of the crown stem is still stuck in the movement!

My sad tale.

pannie

Hi,

Besides being taught by someone else, learning by doing is a good way to go. However it is sometimes also expensisve, depending on the skill of the teacher and the humbleness of the student . I applaud your effort and encourage you to keep going. To help you on your way a little info:

The first picture you posted is the dial side of the movement. ALL ETA 6497 movements have holes for the dial legs. If you hold the dial over the movement with 3 o'clock lined up with the stem and slowly lower you should find the holes in the movement plate. The 6497 is indeed set up to attach a seperate second hand to the fourth wheel pivot which protrudes beyond the plate leaving two options. Replace with a shorter pivot on the fourth wheel or cut it off. Once this is resolved the dial lined up correctly should lower flush to the movement. Now if you wanted to set the dial up to be used destro you would have two options. Cut the legs off and either use double sided tape to attach to the movement (a method recommended to you earlier) or resolder in new position (Something way beyond your skill level at this time). Fortunately I don't believe your one of us blessed with the specialness of being lefthanded and so have one less thing to worry about. One last note on cutting the stem, measure multiple times, cut once. And after cutting file flat and check threads.

______________

Don't be LEFT out

LeftyDNA

Thanks for the info and you're right I'm not a lefty so no destro required. I checked the movement last ight, found the holes through the movement that dont' match the current dial pins so they will be removed (I have ordered dial dots) and so will the seconds hand be removed. I am waiting for some tools to arrive but I will keep you posted on my progress.

pannie

I totally agree.

Even if you feel capable of doing the needed surgeries by yourself is better to let them be made by the hands of a professional...

M.

Okay, but I want to learn - I'm going to try and if I fail then I will replace what I break and sent it to a watchsmith.

pannie

Interesting...my guess is that someone cut and pasted the Wiki section describing how to do this, you got what you wanted without contributing or participating in this forum, and now your gone to where you came from.

Certainly the answers you got here don't contain enough info to help you out...

If someone did this, then that's not good news for RWG and I think underhanded.

RG

I don't plan to disappear, I would like to contribute to the forum and I will post pictures and lesson learned when I'm done. I had several known problems at the begining of this post and I now have solutions or work-arounds for each of my queries so I feel that I can progress and nobody emailed me a Wiki section. I realise this is a challenge and I would like to undertake it.

pannie

It may be more economical to simply pay someone to assemble the watch for you.

Assembling this watch from scratch, having to grind down pinions, cutting and fitting the stem, crystal install, casing, etc... is a lot for someone to take on who has no knowledge of watchsmithing.

If you can't sort out where the dial feet go on the movement, maybe your in over your head.

It's great to want to learn to do watch stuff on your own, but I think for a first project, your taking on far too much, and asking members to walk you through each and every process and procedure to get this job done, is a daunting task. It's also nice to have new members support the forum, vs only coming here to get the information they can't get at other forums and then disapearing.

As rmcsherry just pointed out, the holes for the dial are there.

RG

I accept what you are saying and I don't want to waste this forums time. I have the details I need and get started.

Thanks for all the assitance and replies.

If it's a 6497, the holes are there! Have a look at the sides of the movement, and you'll see the 2 screws (one either side) that clamp the dial feet.

Yes it's a 6497, I only have this picture and the one I posted earlier. Even if the holes are there (and I just haven't spotted them yet) what do I do with the two studs sticking out the back of the dial? I don't have my camera with me so I can't post a picture of the back of the dial.

What you are saying makes sense but there certainly are no holes that go all the way through the movement where the dial can be screwed on and the pins don't have holes in them to take screws. So I gues I wll have to glue it unless you have another suggestion?

Let me rephrase that - I'll look for dial dots to secure the dial - not glue.

the two large pins on the back of the dial,,,should fit right onto the movement,,,I mean, even if these are really long, they would just stick out of the back of the movement. There are two screws on back of the movement that hold the dial in place when you turn them to the right position. You will need a loupe but look to see if these are in the correct position, a small section of screw is missing, this should line up with the hole,,,so the dial feet can pass. After the dial is in, give the screw a turn. If these are not in the correct position, the dial will not rest on the movement. Some version of this movement have the screws for the dial on the side,,,,easy to check, there would be two small screws on the side of the movement.

Basically, the dial should be secure to the movement, if you had to you could glue or use these things called "dial dots" which glues it down.

What you are saying makes sense but there certainly are no holes that go all the way through the movement where the dial can be screwed on and the pins don't have holes in them to take screws. So I gues I wll have to glue it unless you have another suggestion?

Known problems:

The pins on the back of the dial are to long, should I remove them and how do I attach the dial to the movement?

I would guess the pins are ok,,,looks like you have a seconds pinion (fourth wheel, I believe) at 9 that needs to be shortend. I remember asking The Zigmeister how to do this,,,pretty much use tape the cover the whole movement, stick the pin so it is showing, then file it down using something like a Dremel. However, you can check this, put the dial on the movement and look under to see if it is resting on on something sticking out at 9 o'clock.

also,,you might want to check,,is that a 47mm case? that dial might be too small for it. See if the dial fits? Good luck,,these can be fun projects.

Thanks for the note about the seconds pinion but there are two large pins at the back of the dial that I though I will shorten with a Dremel and does the dial need to be stuck to the movement or will the hands and the pressure when in the case secure it?

The case is 44mm so the dial fits.

Cheers

pannie

I have purchased a Marina Militare case, dial, hands and movement all off eBay and I would like to undertake the assembly myself. I have purchased some of the tools that I need but I have discovered some gaps in my knowledge. If someone could offer some assistance or a tutorial of watch assembly that would be appraciated.

Known problems:

The pins on the back of the dial are to long, should I remove them and how do I attach the dial to the movement?

What is the best way to clean the case and crystal before assembly?

Should I wear gloves during assembly?

How far to I turn the screw to remove the crown and are the tips and trick to messuring the correct lenght of the crown stem?

Parts purchased:

Thanks.

pannie