145.022-69 Repair

click.tock · May 21, 2018

First post seeking for advice here at OF

I sent in my watch for repair as the chronograph was acting up. ThenIi push the top pusher it does nothing, the second hand runs when I ‘hold and push’ but goes back to zero when I release. The bottom pusher... is moot at this point. It clicks but I’m not sure whether or not it works.

This watch was mint, unpolished and everything about it is original. The watchmaker is telling me (and I appreciate that he reached out to me first) that the gaskets have worn off on the pushers and have become sticky. I have asked to use the original parts with the watch if at all possible. I am being told the the pushers needs to be replaced as the gaskets cannot be bought separately and if they try ti separate them they break. ‘Little trick omega does’ they say. The crown may have to be changed as well since there is a wiggle when it is turned.

Do I have any other options? Or am I s*** out of luck in being able to use the crown and pushers original to the watch?

click.tock · May 21, 2018

PS. Thanks in advance and here is a photo of the watch.

bags1971 · May 21, 2018

nice looking watch

gdupree · May 21, 2018

Replacing the crown & pushers is commonly required by watchmakers in my experience. My understanding is that it needs to be done so that it can pass a water pressure test, without which the watch makers can't offer any warranty on their work (and most refused to do the service without warranting the work, even if I told them I was OK with no warranty). I could hardly find a watch maker in my area that would work on my vintage 145.022-74 without replacing the crown & pushers. One watchmaker did tell me that he could replace the pusher gaskets without replacing the entire pusher, but he coincidentally quoted about double (no clue if this had anything to do with replacing the pusher gaskets. May have just been a coincidence.)

At the end of the day, I opted to replace my crown & pusher, and requested that the watch maker return my old original crown and pusher after the service... If I ever want to reinstall them, I can.

click.tock · May 21, 2018

Thank you @gdupree I am thinking this is gonna have to be the same route I will be taking. I am just curious if this is really the only way to do it. They’re waiting on my response before they order anything.

ChrisN · May 21, 2018

You can often replace these pusher seals with micro O rings. It depends on the pusher design but I think these are screw in as opposed to interference fit.

The interference fit ones should not be separated as the "stem" of the pusher is loctited to the pusher and you fit those by pressing the whole assembly in. I suppose if you really need to separate them, you could heat the pusher until the loctite breaks but there is not really any need. There is a well known watch blog where the watchmaker complains about these being poor quality as he keeps breaking them when he tries to separate them but, there is no need to do that in order to fit the pusher. Perhaps your watchmaker is confusing the two designs as the loctited interference fit design could be the "trick" he's referring to.

The screw in ones must be fitted after unscrewing the stem from the pusher so are not always loctited - depends on who fitted them before. Then screw the parts back together. As you've separated these, you can replace the O rings assuming all the rest is good and you can get to them. Of course, it may still not be as water resistant as a new pusher because of damage to the sealing surfaces.

Am sure Al will have some pictures and a better explanation.

Regards, Chris

click.tock · May 21, 2018

Thanks @ChrisN I will ask the right questions to the watchmaker. I am not so sure this watch has been serviced before to be honest. This group is awesome!

click.tock · May 23, 2018

@ChrisN Thanks for the advice. Watchmaker was able to use the same pushers and replaced the O rings. He was thinking I would be against non omega parts (including the gaskets). Glad we sorted it out! Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

ChrisN · May 23, 2018

Pleased it worked out. 👍

I know there was a thread on here recently where someone was questioning why we replace crowns and not just the seals. Unfortunately, replacing the seals doesn't read across to crowns as the construction is different and it's virtually impossible.

Cheers, Chris

teojjsg · May 24, 2018

The next time i send mine in, i will insist they replace gaskets instead of entire pushers or crown. Can OP kindly share what brand gaskets work for this? Thanks

Enchanted · May 24, 2018

Hi, also interested in knowing the gasket's brand. Thanks

ChrisN · May 24, 2018

They will just be the micro O rings that your watchmaker has in. You buy a selection in a divided plastic tray and they are different inner diameters and thicknesses. Measure up and select the appropriate ones. They are available at watchmaking supply companies.

Like I say, everything else must be good or you will need to replace the whole pusher but the water resistance check will confirm if all is well.

You can ask your watchmaker to do this but, don't be too insistent as that's likely to go down badly and he has to stand behind his work at the end.

As another example, most people don't want new crowns and as it's your watch you can have what you like but it's a risk any of us run that you come back with a watch full of water and complain. I like my own watches to be water resistant so regularly fit new crowns to my watches but if you don't want one then I have to trust that as an enthusiast you'll be careful with it afterwards. "Normal" people😁 seem to prefer a new crown if it means they can just use the watch and not worry.

Regards, Chris

jimmyd13 · May 24, 2018

This is a -69 or -71? Original pushers and crowns are still available for these .. what's the problem? Replace both pushers and crown. If you are really concerned, ask for the old parts to be returned.

click.tock · May 25, 2018

Like @ChrisN said. They were just generic parts that he already had in house in his inventory. I have a feeling if I asked the ‘brand’ of the gaskets I would come across as an ‘interesting person’

@jimmyd13 No problem at all. I just prefer to have all the parts original to this particular watch. This is the cleanest example I have seen of a 69. The 220 bezel has no scratch or marks on it at all. Even the bracelet is clean. It’s the little things i guess. I have no intention of swimming with it or using it in the rain. I have other watches for that. Watch is running perfectly and he tells me the movement looks excellent and is lubricated where it needs to be lubricated. Didn’t recommend an overhaul at this time. Maybe I can have it all changed when the time comes. Or not.

jimmyd13 · May 26, 2018

Em1a2
Like @ChrisN said. They were just generic parts that he already had in house in his inventory. I have a feeling if I asked the ‘brand’ of the gaskets I would come across as an ‘interesting person’

@jimmyd13 No problem at all. I just prefer to have all the parts original to this particular watch. This is the cleanest example I have seen of a 69. The 220 bezel has no scratch or marks on it at all. Even the bracelet is clean. It’s the little things i guess. I have no intention of swimming with it or using it in the rain. I have other watches for that. Watch is running perfectly and he tells me the movement looks excellent and is lubricated where it needs to be lubricated. Didn’t recommend an overhaul at this time. Maybe I can have it all changed when the time comes. Or not.

Just so there's no misunderstanding (I have the same watch, last serviced about 18 months ago), it's not that similar parts are available, original correct parts are still available for this watch.

ChrisN · May 26, 2018

It is @Em1a2 s watch though, and there are many people on here who prize originality over everything else even with what could be regarded as typical service parts. For me, if @Em1a2 wants to keep his original pushers, it would be better to make the watch water resistant again rather than leave it to suffer from water ingress. If his watchmaker confirmed the water resistance then, to me, that's fine.

I don't have any axe to grind here but, I generally replace pushers on my watches, where they are available as OEM parts - in this case, modern Omega manufacture. If they are really original to the period, then the O rings are probably not good anymore.

If they aren't available, I'd put new O rings on but, for anyone doing this, at least fit Swiss rings, rather than Chinese for example, as you have some guarantee that they will have been designed and manufactured to a good specification.

Apart from the cost involved in new pushers, I suppose there is also the issue of just creating more landfill as well, that some people might consider important.

All I'm saying is there is more than one way to look at this.

Regards, Chris

hitrandrei · Feb 8, 2019

Hi here i am attempting to fit new crown and pusher gasket / o-rings without buying new ones.

https://omegaforums.net/threads/cha...peedmaster-mark-iv-update.82270/#post-1158430

Archer · Feb 9, 2019

Generally speaking, the reason people want to keep the "original"* parts is because the parts Omega sells now look different from what was originally installed on the watch. In this case the pushers and crown that Omega sells right now are the same as the ones used on the watch originally, so for a 71 trying to save the original parts doesn't make a lot of sense.

* note that most would have no idea if they are actually the "original" pushers and crown that were on the watch when it was made, because if was serviced 5 years one from purchase, these parts would have been replaced anyway.

Cheers, Al

Neek · Feb 9, 2019

I was in the same position on my -71, and I just replaced the crystal, pushers and crown and kept the originals just in case a future buyer wants them. I thought it would be more important to ensure the water resistance as far as future potential damage.

athom · Feb 10, 2019

Great looking !

145.022-69 Repair

click.tock

click.tock

bags1971

gdupree

click.tock

ChrisN

click.tock

click.tock

ChrisN

teojjsg

Enchanted

ChrisN

jimmyd13

click.tock

jimmyd13

ChrisN

hitrandrei

Archer

Neek

athom

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