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Loose spring bars?

K
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I recently bought a Zuludiver sail-cloth style strap for my 1863 Speedy and it came with a quick release spring bar. While I love the strap, I think it may be a bit loose in comparison to the OEM spring bar. I’m having a hard time figuring out if the play is between the strap and spring bar or the spring bar and lug hole. Anyone ever had similar issues with quick release straps?

Is this particularly bad for the lug holes? Will it cause the lug holes to deform over time?

Thanks!
Edited:
 
dstfno
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Omega uses slightly thicker spring bars. 0.05mm thicker if I’m correct. And no, using smaller ones won’t damage your watch 😀
 
Evitzee
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I've used quick release springbars on Speedmasters, never had a problem with looseness. If the strap hole for the springbar is too big it will always cause a perception of looseness, especially if the strap isn't quite wide enough to fit snugly between the lugs.
 
aphexafx
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I would generically advise you to ditch the quick-release spring bars and reuse your Omega spring bars, which have slightly larger pins/tips than the generic 0.8 mm, as mentioned above. They are also of much higher quality and almost certainly more rigid. Additionally, Omega is specific about using longer spring bars for rubber and fabric straps. That is actually a very good idea.

If you want Omega's specified part numbers for spring bars, just mention the lug width on your Speedy.
 
K
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I got this strap from WatchGecko. I don’t think I can remove the quick release spring bar that it shipped with. It seems to be working okay for the time being.

aphexafx aphexafx
I would generically advise you to ditch the quick-release spring bars and reuse your Omega spring bars, which have slightly larger pins/tips than the generic 0.8 mm, as mentioned above. They are also of much higher quality and almost certainly more rigid. Additionally, Omega is specific about using longer spring bars for rubber and fabric straps. That is actually a very good idea.

If you want Omega's specified part numbers for spring bars, just mention the lug width on your Speedy.
 
aphexafx
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YY77 YY77
This movement in a Speedy can only be 20mm lugs or am I wrong?

Probably correct, but I'm not sure. OP, if that's the case then you would ideally want to use the following Omega spring bars for your watch:

068ST2207 for 20 mm metal bracelets and other rigid end links
068ST2208 for 20 mm rubber, fabric, and other soft straps
 
aphexafx
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K k12123
I got this strap from WatchGecko. I don’t think I can remove the quick release spring bar that it shipped with. It seems to be working okay for the time being.

No worries. You can get away with almost anything, but using the correct pin/tip size is always advised. 😀

If you change your mind, you can remove the quick release spring bars with wire cutters.
 
M
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I wouldnt recommend using spring bars with ends that don’t fill the majority of the lug holes. It may take a while to notice, but the additional movement this allows will certainly wear something out prematurely. I would expect the spring bars to have a slightly higher chance of failure in this situation
 
watchyouwant
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Sounds like a First World problem..... You can buy millions of springbars. You find anything. Just measure correctly and search. Omega buys them too. So, if you want to save money, measure/search/buy elsewhere.
 
Dan S
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You can certainly remove the quick release spring bars if you want to use the strap with conventional bars. You will destroy the spring bars in the process.
 
aphexafx
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watchyouwant watchyouwant
Sounds like a First World problem..... You can buy millions of springbars. You find anything. Just measure correctly and search. Omega buys them too. So, if you want to save money, measure/search/buy elsewhere.

There is no problem, First World or otherwise. The OP was asking why his generic QR spring bars felt less rigid on his Speedy. As to Omega's spring bars vs. generic, you're on your own. Omega doesn't make them. But they do specify them. The spring bars specified by Omega and other luxury brands are, in fact, more rigid than generic crimped/folded end spring bars. If anyone wants to find the same type/style outside of Omega, then they should do so.
 
OmegaOwner2019
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I had the same problem with a lot of bands with quick-release spring bars.

I actually looked it up. A lot of the cheapo quick-release spring bars have ends that are just under 1.8mm, like a tiny fraction of mm thinner. Omega lug holes are mostly 1.8mm.

For example, the Barton strap I bought actually wiggled a little bit after I installed it. The other thing is that the cheapo quick-release bars are also a little shorter too.
All in all, I think there is a risk of the quick-release bar eroding your lug holes, and potentially snapping out of the lug holes because they are shorter.

I just pulled them out and installed 21mm OEM bars. You can buy them at the AD.
 
K
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What do you use to pull them out?

OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
I had the same problem with a lot of bands with quick-release spring bars.

I actually looked it up. A lot of the cheapo quick-release spring bars have ends that are just under 1.8mm, like a tiny fraction of mm thinner. Omega lug holes are mostly 1.8mm.

For example, the Barton strap I bought actually wiggled a little bit after I installed it. The other thing is that the cheapo quick-release bars are also a little shorter too.
All in all, I think there is a risk of the quick-release bar eroding your lug holes, and potentially snapping out of the lug holes because they are shorter.

I just pulled them out and installed 21mm OEM bars. You can buy them at the AD.
 
OmegaOwner2019
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You slowly wiggle it out of the pull tab hole for the quick-release spring bar.

No special tools required.

Or I guess you can just break the pull tab of the spring bar, and then take it out.
 
aphexafx
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OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
I actually looked it up. A lot of the cheapo quick-release spring bars have ends that are just under 1.8mm, like a tiny fraction of mm thinner. Omega lug holes are mostly 1.8mm.

Most generic spring bars have 0.8 mm pins. Most, if not all, modern Omega lugs are drilled to accept spring bars with 0.9 mm pins. Omega's spring bars have 0.9 mm pins.

OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
All in all, I think there is a risk of the quick-release bar eroding your lug holes, and potentially snapping out of the lug holes because they are shorter.

Yup, agreed. That's why using spring bars with the correct pin diameter is advisable.

OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
I just pulled them out and installed 21mm OEM bars. You can buy them at the AD.

Yup, as already mentioned, for a soft fabric or rubber strap, on 20 mm lugs, Omega specifies their larger spring bar p/n 068ST2208. This bar can be installed by seating one pin first and then compressing the spring bar to clear the second lug. The extra compression provides higher tension and is more secure, which is why it's a good idea.

OmegaOwner2019 OmegaOwner2019
Or I guess you can just break the pull tab of the spring bar, and then take it out.

Yup. Again, that's the easiest option.

61aaxcy5skl-_ac_ul480_fmwebp_ql65_-jpg.1394508


OP, QR spring bars suck. Again, it's advisable to ditch them and use the spring bars that Omega specifies, for the reasons above. Anyway, the (probably) smaller pins and the looser design of the QR spring bars are why you've noticed less rigidity in your strap when installed.

Enjoy your new strap!
Edited:
 
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