Aero_Dave Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 OK guys, so is there a trick to figuring out how long a stem needs to be, before cutting it? I have a new movement coming in and I'll need to cut the stem to the proper length. Do you just keep taking a little bit off, testing the crown screwed-in and repeat until you get it right? Thanks, Dave... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSTEEL Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Correct, and most of the time its down to experience, and eye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanuq Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Good luck buddy, every time I take the stem out of my watch and (attempt to) reinsert it, I pooch the keyless works. Every . Fricken . Time If it can't be done with a hammer and axe, I don't attempt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Nanuq, I feel your pain buddy! Although I have gotten a lot better at it and the last 3 or 4 times have gone OK! Buy dead cheap basket cases to practise on. Keyless goes twang? Dead movement is deader - no big deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aero_Dave Posted January 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Wow guys, don't jinx me now. So far, I've been practicing on a movement with calendar issues and so far, I can put the stem in without tweaking the keyless works. Dave... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 If you are removing and changing like for like you can just use the old stem, but if it is a case that you have to cut then make sure you cut it too long, fit, test, refit test and repeat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt.watch.obsessive Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 If you have a metal file, get it close with the cutters and then file for a clean finish and greater control. For the keyless, there was a good tip posted a week or two back. I addition to spinning the crown as you put it back in, leave the movement loose in the case so it can be perfectly aligned when reinserting the stem. Then do the case clamps. This assumes the alignment is not going to be perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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