Tube on Panerai Crown for Handwind, Flush to Watchcase!

[P_Diddy]

I have done a search and can't find anything on how to perform the following Mod before anyone Jumps in on this thread!

Thanks to HD on his wonderful CG tutorial where I have plagiarised the following photos for illustration purposes.

Both PAMs are handwind movement and there appears to be some inconsistencies in manufacturing by the factories.

The "bit" I'm referring to it the part of the tube that the thread sits in.

The 1st pic shows the tube protruding from the watchcase 'too much'

The 2nd pic shows the tube flush to the watchcase, "perfect"

QUESTION for all you modders out there, how can I modify that part of the tube so the Crown sits FLUSH against the watch case?

Before anyone says its not possible for Crown to be flush to watchcase for PAMs then please take a look at any of the Getat MM PAMs, about as flush to the watchcase work as you can get.

All discussion and tips would be welcomed.

This will be my first steps in modding

[Rolexman]

Don't want to spoil your modding plans but spacing #1 is the correct spacing

[P_Diddy]

#1

#2

My watch looks exactly the same as #2 and the Crown is BANG in the middle between watch case and inner edge of Crown guard.

THERE IS MORE GAP THAN IT SHOULD BE, genuine PAM the gap is no more 25% whilst the Rep PAM gap is 50%, visually BIG gap!

I 'handled' 3 genuine PAM handwind including a PAM 111.

All three handwind PAMs had a SMALL gap between watch case and Crown, for all intended purposes it was 'almost 'flush.

There was NO discernible gap and I also had a go at handwinding the genuine PAM movement and it feels so smooth like turning the crown to set the time compared to ratcheting feeling when winding Asian Unitas movements. Also when the gen PAM movement is fully wound its like a fully tightened screw, IMPOSSIBLE to turn anymore you would need to to HERCULES to turn it anymore when its fully wound!

Anyway I digress and THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE GAP between watchcase and Crown for Genuine PAM handwind.

After studying the 3 genuine handwind PAMs I conclude for Rep PAM handwinds the the top of the tube PROTRUDES too much from watch case and the Crown does not sit enough over the top of the tube. In fact the top of the gen tube is 50% shorter and a different shape more like a hexagonal short nut if that makes sense!

Crown on rep PAM 111 NOT close to being FLUSH

Any other advice other than 'matched tube and Crown"/

It seems the problem that the Crown does not "sit enough" over the top of tube when the Crown is depressed in?

is it possible that the stem is too long or the rep tube is too long [i.e the bit that sticks out from end of watch case]

the gen PAM tube is way shorter and sticks out 50% less than the Rep tube

Advice and comments please

Don't want to spoil your modding plans but spacing #1 is the correct spacing

Edited April 3, 2011 by P_Diddy

[Rolexman]

My watch looks exactly the same as #2 and the Crown is BANG in the middle between watch case and inner edge of Crown guard.

THERE IS MORE GAP THAN IT SHOULD BE, genuine PAM the gap is no more 25% whilst the Rep PAM gap is 50%, visually BIG gap!

I 'handled' 3 genuine PAM handwind including a PAM 111.

All three handwind PAMs had a SMALL gap between watch case and Crown, for all intended purposes it was 'almost 'flush.

There was NO discernible gap and I also had a go at handwinding the genuine PAM movement and it feels so smooth like turning the crown to set the time compared to ratcheting feeling when winding Asian Unitas movements. Also when the gen PAM movement is fully wound its like a fully tightened screw, IMPOSSIBLE to turn anymore you would need to to HERCULES to turn it anymore when its fully wound!

Anyway I digress and THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE GAP between watchcase and Crown for Genuine PAM handwind.

After studying the 3 genuine handwind PAMs I conclude for Rep PAM handwinds the the top of the tube PROTRUDES too much from watch case and the Crown does not sit enough over the top of the tube. In fact the top of the gen tube is 50% shorter and a different shape more like a hexagonal short nut if that makes sense!

Crown on rep PAM 111 NOT close to being FLUSH

Any other advice other than 'matched tube and Crown"/

It seems the problem that the Crown does not "sit enough" over the top of tube when the Crown is depressed in?

is it possible that the stem is too long or the rep tube is too long [i.e the bit that sticks out from end of watch case]

the gen PAM tube is way shorter and sticks out 50% less than the Rep tube

Advice and comments please

OK, I understand. Easy mod.

Grind away the tube untill you're satisfied with the spacing. Therefor you need to remove the CG, crown and movement. You can best use a dremel with a sandpaper grinding plate at a low rpm. After that you need to do the same to the 'feet' of the CG zo that the lever comes closer to the case. Than you need to reinstall the movement and shorten the stem. Voila,

Good luck and let us know how it turnd out!