vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Greetings all, Just attached an oyster bracelet to my new sub; which has lug holes. The head of the spring bar is only visible through one of the four lug holes. Is this a matter of taking a little material out of each lug hole? or is it a spring bar issue? Thanks for any advice, vlydog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Most reps (I'm assuming it's a rep) have holes that are to small so they will need to be drilled to size. If it's gen then maybe take a #55 drill bit in a pin-vise and clean out the offending hole as I suppose it's possible they might have some gunk or burrs inside hanging things up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Thanks J. Does Lowes or Home Depot carry the pin-vise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 I don't know if they would or not but you could check there and also at Sears. If, on the other hand, you need to actually drill them to size then that is a job best left to a mill or drill-press. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Strange that one spring bar head is visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 THat is strange. Is this a new rep or a "previously enjoyed" one? I'm thinking that the PT Sea Dweller is one of the few that come with proper sized holes out of the box, but I could be wrong. If new, then, we all know about the ridiculously high level of QC by illicit CN manufacturing operations! That would explain why 2 out of 4 were a bit "off", shall we say... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 This is a high quality sub case that was stowed away in a veteran members parts bin. All my genuine parts fit this case perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 It may have been drilled long ago (in relative rep time) and maybe just picked up some burrs inside along the way - who knows... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 should the bit enter through the outside of the lug pushing inward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Yes, it'd be pretty hard to go the other way with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 . I was having a similar problem on my 1680, all i did to solve it was champher the inside of the holes so that the spring bar could find it better and fully extend, By the way i have just cot some 1.3mm drill bits so if any one need lug holes drilling i would like to try them out, my are all drilled 1.5mm and that is a little larger but looks fine for a vintage look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWG Technical Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Remove the bracelet, then install all the spring bars, if the heads are visible, your problem is with the bracelet end links, if the head is not visible, the problem is with the case. It could be either or, this will identify the actual problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Remove the bracelet, then install all the spring bars, if the heads are visible, your problem is with the bracelet end links, if the head is not visible, the problem is with the case. It could be either or, this will identify the actual problem... Thank you kind sir! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
automatico Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 "Strange that one spring bar head is visible." Some lug holes are not drilled straight across the lugs but are drilled at an angle from under the opposite lug...this will cause the springbar pins to bind in the hole. You can stick a drill bit etc in the hole from the outside to tell if the holes are drilled straight or at an angle. After drilling one side, see if the drill bit lines up with the hole on the opposite lug, sometimes you can drill through both lugs in one shot. If the holes are drilled at an angle, you might have to drill the lug holes slightly oversize or polish the springbar pins down a little with Cratex etc. Be careful because oversize lug holes look bad and can make the lugs too thin around the holes. Also be careful not to taper the holes on the outside of the lugs. When you see a watch with tapered lug holes or a round edge case (DJ etc) with flat spots around the lug holes, it was usually caused by too much polishing around the holes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmb Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 A #55 bit w/knurled "holder" is in the mail... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Be careful because oversize lug holes look bad and can make the lugs too thin around the holes. Could not agree more with this statement. As for your situation, vly- How much tension is left in the spring bar? If you're using gen 2mm springbars, those should hold fairly sprung for many, many R+I's and are what I would recommend for use. Aftermarket springbars are usually quite weak and give way after compressing 3 or 4 times in the lugs during fitting. They fail pretty easily. If your springbars are retaining their tension after numerous fittings, then the procedure as outlined by Zigmeister is correct to ascertain the problem. Hopefully it's as easy as cleaning out the lug hole... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJo35 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Ok, clean out that lug hole (or get another springbar) and get that bracelet on there! ...but, what I'm really getting at is POST SOME PICS OF THAT GORGEOUS WATCH!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted April 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 @ Ubi. Gen spring bars are what I am using along with fresh and minty Gen 580 end-links. I an anxious to try the lug cleaning test but alas, I broke my spring bar tip whilst I was attaching the bracelet last evening. @ JoJo. The photos are forth coming. I just need a little time after work to snap a few and write a proper post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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