Spring link repair

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JwRosenthal

·Nov 27, 2020

I remember seeing a how-to on repairing a stretchy link bracelet and can’t seem to find it.
Just got a Zodiac with rivet stretchy link and two of the links have weak springs (it retracts weakly when slack but stays stretched when wearing). The springs still have a little life so they aren’t gone- just weak.

 

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MRC

·Nov 27, 2020

The usual response is to send it to Michael Young in Hong Kong. However if you have the tooling to remove the rivets and reinstall new ones it would depend on what form the rivets are. If I had the tools (and skills) I might have converted my Rolex 6636 to solid, but I relied on MY. My experience is that if some have gone soft then the rest won't be far behind, so replace the lot.

 

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redpcar

·Nov 27, 2020

I've done it several times by carefully opening the folds and slipping in a fresh Z spring. Rivet removal scares me.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Nov 27, 2020

redpcar

I've done it several times by carefully opening the folds and slipping in a fresh Z spring. Rivet removal scares me.

I have had the links unfolded to install additional links in my other bracelet- so that part doesn’t scare me. Where do I get a Z spring?

 

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redpcar

·Nov 27, 2020

😲
ummm.
I get mine from salvaged bracelets.

 

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wsfarrell

·Nov 27, 2020

Are these Z springs?

@mcgyver made these a while back for 1039-style bracelets. If not, maybe @redpcar could post a photo of a Z spring.

 

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redpcar

·Nov 27, 2020

Memory was that it was a "Z", turns out it's a "W"

 

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Vitezi

·Nov 27, 2020

wsfarrell

Are these Z springs?

In a pinch I've made these by modifying heavy duty (high capacity) staples like these:

The staples were just about the right width and thickness. Snip off the sharp legs to the right height and gently bend the top into a curve.
https://omegaforums.net/threads/stretched-bracelet-repairable.74151/#post-939112