verbal Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 The plan: Buy a genuine ETA 7750 from the Bay and replace it with my -allmost dead- Asian 7750. Seems to be such a simple plan, the movements are interchangable so it could be a walk in the park for a not so well educated watchsmith like myself... The theory: Unscrew caseback, remove stem, remove movement, remove hands, remove dial, swap datewheels, place dial, place hands, put it all together, shoot some pictures and show off on RWG.. The practice: The caseback and stem were easy, getting the movement out even more, getting the hands off isn't that hard...... unless..... one of the chrono hands is too tight and the damn thing simply breaks in two.... At that point I wished I'd never tried.. The result: I'm left with perfectly fine Ti case with a perfectly fine Ti Bracelet and a Useless movement .... I'll just go cry for a while and put myself together after a few drinks.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I'm left with perfectly fine Ti case with a perfectly fine Ti Bracelet and a Useless movement .... Damn, I feel for you. That could have been me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris5264 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Well, that does suck, but isn't it just a matter of getting some new hands? Here is my list of things I've destroyed with this habit. dials, hands various parts of movements like the keyless works or balance wheel. crowns case tubes and that is just a list that comes to mind. so far, I don't think I totally messed up a crystal yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005SUBMARINER Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 i can swap movements , crowns & crown tubes , dials etc .. but when it comes to pulling & re-installing hands thats when i screw up a lot !!! theres gotta be a trade secret to installing hands man ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finepics Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Of course you could always lash out £10 (or about the same in $) with Cousins or O.Frei (O.frei has a huge range of hands) on a set of Omega Moonwatch sub hands (the sub hands are the same shape) and you might have it on your wrist in no time!!! You would need to call Cousins/O.Frei and check the Omega hand post size (which for the Valjoux 7750 is 0.18mm). If the Omega hands do not fit then O.Frei has generic hands (almost the right shape) at the bottom of the page here: http://www.ofrei.com/page965.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 You are not an idiot. You gave it a good try and once you settle down, you will research and fiind replacement hands. Then, things will look a lot better and you can chaulk one up for experiance. Good luck. Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 but when it comes to pulling & re-installing hands thats when i screw up a lot !!! Are you using a hand-removing tool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verbal Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 You are not an idiot. You gave it a good try and once you settle down, you will research and fiind replacement hands. Then, things will look a lot better and you can chaulk one up for experiance. Good luck. Usil Thanks , but I do feel stupid, I've had some practice on an old 3rd gen PO which went fine, but then again, these hands are a bit bigger. I think I'll stress my bank account some more and go for a new GST and keep the parts for spare.. Anyone experienced enough to help me out on the next attempt.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verbal Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Are you using a hand-removing tool? I also used a hand removing tool, that's the easy part (theoretically) but putting them back... man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005SUBMARINER Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Are you using a hand-removing tool? yes i use a hand setting tools & a hand puller but i guess i need much more practice in that area .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryaku Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I also used a hand removing tool, that's the easy part (theoretically) but putting them back... man... Yep, that's the hardest part of the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryaku Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 How did you suppose to solve the date wheel issue? How can you replace it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsons Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 (edited) I have yet to remove or install hands but I ran across this tip (I believe at RWG) that should make installation a heck of a lot easier. Illustration below. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The way i found most convient to install the hand, is to take piece of paper fold it in middle put the hand on the fold, pickup the paper, and fiddle a bit so that the ... nevermind check the image...then hover the hole over the pinion, and use a hand setting tool to pres the hand. A second tip by Edge: http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=4855&hl= Edited August 17, 2006 by Jetsons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 So, what is the trick to putting them back on? Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 So, what is the trick to putting them back on? Scotch Tape (Sellotape) apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linder Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 (edited) If the answer is tape, duct tape is the best! Edited August 17, 2006 by Linder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verbal Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 If the answer is tape, duct tape is the best! Why not fixate the hands at 12h00 with glue and wear it one minute a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finepics Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Did no-one notice I posted the solution!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usil Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Yes, I was busy composing my question while you posted it. Usil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Did no-one notice I posted the solution!!! Um, be careful where you put them exclamation marks. Yes, we noticed, but we were discussing how to put the hands back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finepics Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Sorry chaps - feeling a little unloved today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Sorry chaps - feeling a little unloved today! *hugs* Better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazz Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I use a cotton bud that has had one side cut off, so it is like a little straw. Makes it very easy to maneuver the hands and leaves no marks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finepics Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 *hugs* Better? Look out for a little suprise tomorrow!! You shall go to the ball!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kasigi Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Look out for a little suprise tomorrow!! You shall go to the ball!! We'll see, but I'm leaving at around 08:00 so unless the early bird is out, I won't be catching the worm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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