polexpete Posted May 25, 2009 Report Posted May 25, 2009 Hi guys, know you all been hanging out to know if a gen 7753 can be used in a rep case Tricompax Navitimer... first you need a 7753 with a gen dial. Rep dial date window is too small.... Gen dial is too big for case so you have to sand around 1.2mm off the edge. This is a pretty beat up dial i'm using on this project to see if it can be done..... Dial fits perfect.... After putting on hands fit spacer from A7750.... And voila a Franken Tricompax... we almost Problem is the stem alignment in the case is around 1.2mm too low... So i gotta remove the tube, re-drill the case and re-place the tube. The crown will cover the old hole which i will fill somehow... Watch this space, i hope it can be done.... Here are the twins... Cheers P.
b16a2 Posted May 25, 2009 Report Posted May 25, 2009 Unbelievable! What amazing work, this is the most impressive franken I have seen! Are you looknig to source a dial in better condition now that you know it works, or will that one stay in there?
andreww Posted May 25, 2009 Report Posted May 25, 2009 Great work! The only problem that i can see is that by raising the crown, it may interfere with the bezel. As I look at mine, there really isn't much room to move there.
chefcook Posted May 25, 2009 Report Posted May 25, 2009 What about using a 12-9-6 Navitimer case? That should be a little flatter than the rep 3-6-9 case...
importr Posted May 25, 2009 Report Posted May 25, 2009 I admire your determination with this project, it has the potential to be a very very good Frankentimer! May I suggest you use Quick-Steel or Chemical Metal to seal up the hole left after you re-drill the crown tube? The other task is to find a decent dial. Not an easy feat in itself!
sander Posted May 26, 2009 Report Posted May 26, 2009 Looks pretty good P! For some reason the state of the dial doesn't bother me. It gives it a vintage look which I actually like. Did the rep hands fit the gen movement?
hackR Posted May 26, 2009 Report Posted May 26, 2009 P - bravo...amazing work...thanks for sharing...i look forward to seeing how this goes...Rob
polexpete Posted May 26, 2009 Author Report Posted May 26, 2009 Thanks guys, much appreciate the feedback and advice. Yes i will look for another dial but not too worried, as sander says it has a good vintage look, unless Importr you wanna sell me that awesome Arabic.... And yes i reckon Quick-Steel or Chemical Metal will do the trick. Andreww, yeah could be a problem raising the crown the alternative is as Chefcook says try the 6-9-12 case or use a smaller crown if they exist. Rep hands are the usual 7750 size. Hour/minute no problem. Subdials 2 out of 3 were perfect one needed a touch of cement. Large second hand needed broaching... Will keep you posted Cheers P.
andreww Posted May 26, 2009 Report Posted May 26, 2009 Andreww, yeah could be a problem raising the crown the alternative is as Chefcook says try the 6-9-12 case or use a smaller crown if they exist. My first notion would be to try the 6-9-12 case. You already have one, so no pain if it doesn't work. After all, the 3-6-9 case had to have been made deeper to accommodate the transfer module. Seem to me that thats pretty close to the amount that you need to adjust your crown/stem. I'd start there.
polexpete Posted May 27, 2009 Author Report Posted May 27, 2009 My first notion would be to try the 6-9-12 case. You already have one, so no pain if it doesn't work. After all, the 3-6-9 case had to have been made deeper to accommodate the transfer module. Seem to me that thats pretty close to the amount that you need to adjust your crown/stem. I'd start there. Hey Andreww, yes i haven't tried the 6-9-12 case as the only one i ever had was used for my other Navi. I have a plethora of 3-6-9 cases and non of the other. I'm away at the moment but will try the other case as soon as i get home. Fingers crossed it will make the job so much easier... Cheers P.
polexpete Posted May 28, 2009 Author Report Posted May 28, 2009 Ok big news, it works! The 6-9-12 case is the key to the gen tricompax movement being used. Here's the pics... Thanks guys couldn't have done it without your help, hope it inspires you to do the same... Cheers P
sander Posted May 28, 2009 Report Posted May 28, 2009 Thanks guys couldn't have done it without your help, hope it inspires you to do the same... Cheers P I'm not really a breitling guy......but you project really inspired me to build one myself! Thanks for your time!
db1 Posted May 28, 2009 Report Posted May 28, 2009 this is beautiful !! this project really DOES set a new standard to franken tri-compax navitimers
Guest asim Posted May 28, 2009 Report Posted May 28, 2009 wow!!! it has been done? great work! really well done!
hackR Posted May 28, 2009 Report Posted May 28, 2009 Peter -- excellent, amazing work!!!... may i be one of the first ones to say: "how much do you want for it?"
andreww Posted May 28, 2009 Report Posted May 28, 2009 To sum things up, I guess what you will need to do this properly is... - Gen tricompax dial - Rep Navitimer Serie Speciale case (or the two-tone 6-9-12 case) - Rep Tricompax caseback - Gen ETA 7753 movement Now, if you could just find a gen Navitimer datewheel you'd be off to the races. As a side note, the 7753 movement has no quick set date via the crown. You must advance the time to set the date, so this beauty would be best kept on a winder Great job polexpete, I had always wanted to do this myself but never knew that it would work for sure. Unfortunately, now that the price of 7753's have skyrocketed, a franken like this is likely well out of my budget. Should have been collecting the pieces years ago
Guest asim Posted May 28, 2009 Report Posted May 28, 2009 really really stunning, i tried the gen at work today and i am falling in love. this is the last time i must look at this!!!
polexpete Posted May 29, 2009 Author Report Posted May 29, 2009 To sum things up, I guess what you will need to do this properly is... - Gen tricompax dial - Rep Navitimer Serie Speciale case (or the two-tone 6-9-12 case) - Rep Tricompax caseback - Gen ETA 7753 movement Now, if you could just find a gen Navitimer datewheel you'd be off to the races. As a side note, the 7753 movement has no quick set date via the crown. You must advance the time to set the date, so this beauty would be best kept on a winder Great job polexpete, I had always wanted to do this myself but never knew that it would work for sure. Unfortunately, now that the price of 7753's have skyrocketed, a franken like this is likely well out of my budget. Should have been collecting the pieces years ago Thanks guys for all your advice and encouragement. Andreww thanks for the summary and yes 7753's are hard to find these days and expensive but worth it if you get hold of one Now i have to obtain another Rep Navitimer Serie Speciale to put my 6-9-12 back together so if anyone has one dead or alive i'll take off of your hands. And i'm also after a gen tricompax dial is excellent condition... Cheers P.
tmg Posted May 29, 2009 Report Posted May 29, 2009 Wow, great effort as usual P -it turned out great!
polexpete Posted May 29, 2009 Author Report Posted May 29, 2009 Wow, great effort as usual P -it turned out great! Hey TMG good to see you over here. Thanks mate, you better get yourself a Navi so our collections stay the same... Cheers P.
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