Deconstructing the Josh 1655...

[chiman12]

Chi-

If you're going for a 1675, don't forget to swap the crown to a 5.3mm!

You are correct R...completely blind-sided me on this one, because the tube thread diameter will be completely different...3.0mm versus 2.5mm.

[Ronin]

So to brain check:

1.) New 1655 from Josh can be converted to a 1675

--a.) Takes Gen or Replacement Crystal 25-116

--b.) Takes Gen or Replacement Bezel assembly

2.) Dial size is close enough to possibly shoe in a Gen or NDT/Yuki dial?

3.) Downsize to 5.3m Crown

Only lingering questions are movement options... 21J with Silver overlay, or 2846 w/overlay ???

[chiman12]

Ronin...

Cheap...21J and disable the quick set function so that it behaves like gen

Expensive...acquire used 2836 GMT movement and swap over GMT parts to 2846

[docdoc]

disable the quick set function so that it behaves like gen

Next question is how do you do this mod ?

Thans for this nice and detailed review of this 1655

[Star69]

so ... for converting this to an 1675 -

do i need the complete bezel assembly - or just the bezel ?

thx

Frank

[chiman12]

docdoc...I'll create a little tut shortly

star69...yes...you will need the complete bezel assembly...

[pr0digy30]

This is getting good.

[chiman12]

Chi-

If you're going for a 1675, don't forget to swap the crown to a 5.3mm!

SUCCESS!!! I used a combo of rep tube that I had handy and gen 5.3mm crown! Now I don't have to refill and retap the case!!

Now onto reshaping the 1655 case and getting a bezel assembly!

[Toadtorrent]

Wow...isn't this a fun one to watch. REALLY COOL!!! Can't wait for the tutorial...

[freddy333]

[lhooq]

Looking very good, C!

[ubiquitous]

Now that's what I'm talking about, ChiMan!

[Star69]

speaking of bezel assembly ... any other source than the rather expensive assemblys on ebay ?

cheers,

Frank

[chiman12]

@frank...the cheapest I found was on ewatchparts and it was a completely assembly (bezel, bezel insert, tension spacer, crystal retaining ring) for about $126.

So...$128(watch) +$126 (bezel assembly)+$130 (dial and hand set) - $40 (sale of 1655parts)...your into it for about $330 all in. Hopefully Josh doesn't put one out before I'm done

[Star69]

@frank...the cheapest I found was on ewatchparts and it was a completely assembly (bezel, bezel insert, tension spacer, crystal retaining ring) for about $126.

So...$128(watch) +$126 (bezel assembly)+$130 (dial and hand set) - $40 (sale of 1655parts)...your into it for about $330 all in. Hopefully Josh doesn't put one out before I'm done

thanks !

still a good price for a 1675 but maybe i should really ask Josh first if he has one comming

[pr0digy30]

Chi,

Not to threadjack... but how did you get the bezel off? Have one inbound that I want to swap out the crystal for a Clark, wish I could afford the gen crystal... but have no idea how I will get that bezel off.

Thanks!

[chiman12]

Chi,

Not to threadjack... but how did you get the bezel off? Have one inbound that I want to swap out the crystal for a Clark, wish I could afford the gen crystal... but have no idea how I will get that bezel off.

Thanks!

No worries!

I used a pocket knife blade, made sure it was in the groove between the mid-case and bezel, and gave the blade a whack with a small hobby hammer. Then I worked around prying the bezel off...

[chiman12]

Okay...here is how you convert a 2836 GMT into a 2846 GMT and also disable the GMT quick-set function to make the GMT into a 24 hr movement, just like the gen...

Here is a pic of the spare 2836 GMT movement that I will be using...

You need to remove the following to do the conversion:

1. Was the intermediate date wheel, but is converted to the intermediate GMT wheel. This wheel is slaved to the GMT wheel.

2. Date jumper maintaining plate

3. GMT wheel assembly...to be on the safe side, I also removed the cannon pinion and the hour wheel

4. Day corrector, which has been converted to a GMT corrector. The quickset for the GMT function.

You should have all the parts below, including the jumper plate (no pic)

Notice the subtile diffferences of the jumper plate. You must ensure that you use the correct one in order for the plate to clear the intermediate wheel. The top one is the correct one to use. You will notice a pronounced notch is cut out for the intermediate wheel...

Here is the pic of the 2846 that I will be using for the conversion. Pay particular attention to the wheels that are currently in place...

Now to replace all the parts on on the 2846 with GMT parts...

I disabled the quickset function by not installing the GMT corrector. But I did keep the quickset function for the date, for convenience. If you want to disable the date function to make the movement even more accurate, then you would just need to remove the double corrector...it looks like a "star" wheel that is right next to the GMT corrector

Let see if it works...12 noon

...and 6:00 PM or 18:00hrs

...and with a silver date wheel!!!...where's alligoat when you need him???

[pr0digy30]

Thanks for the info and the 2836-2846 Tute!

[Toadtorrent]

That's pretty cool. Help a Nooby here...why do you need to go 2836 to 2846...are they different ligne sizes??

[chiman12]

@ toad...the 2836 beats at 28.8K while the 2846 ticks away at 21.6k...the 2846 is closer to a true gen beat rate 19.8k. You really don't need to swap to a 2846, it really is for aesthetics...they are exactly the same size...

You're a noobie with over 5000 posts?? Audit!!!!

[asciwhite]

Is this the one I need for crystal replacement? Clark #25 - 116 It doesent say tropic though....

[Dizzy]

WOW thats pretty cool. I like the idea of a low beat GMT. Pretty cool stuff!

[docdoc]

nice tutorial thanks

[chiman12]

Is this the one I need for crystal replacement? Clark #25 - 116 It doesent say tropic though....

yup...that is the one...A! Btw...your looking for a cyclope...not a tropic...