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Trouble with spring bars

perks713
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Before I some how break something I wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on some spring bars I'm having trouble removing.

I can’t see anything to actually grip onto. I believe the bracelet has been on the watch since mid-late 70s.

The bar itself does seem to have a sliding ‘sleeve’ you can push to expose more of the bar.

62CE5301-169A-4F5E-96CB-0C573C33DE86.png CF97C96F-3E72-430A-919F-83CF9169C471.png E0A90D3F-4D5F-48AB-A039-663035EC9FB2.png


If anyone has ideas on how to better photograph the bars let me know.
 
sleepyastronaut
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If those are the type I'm thinking of, the shoulder of the bar presses right up against the lugs, and there's no other surface to gain purchase. Try spring bar tool heads of different widths to get in between there.
 
perks713
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I guess they could also be fixed bars?

5C0415A5-9DA6-4200-A965-B8D778B4EEC8.png


The bracelet is from JB Champion. It’s in a Timex watch, they may not have intended for it to be removable.
 
140dave
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perks713 perks713
The bracelet is from JB Champion. It’s in a Timex watch, they may not have intended for it to be removable.

Or it is those darn shoulder-less spring bars, they are a real pain to remove but the fine tip on a bergeon usually can get in there if so.
 
Dan S
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I can't really tell from those photos, but someone may have used shoulderless spring-bars, which should only be used on watches with drilled holes through the lugs.
 
perks713
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I may just need to bring it to a professional. I’ll try a few more tip heads later today.

Its not a valuable watch (financially) but was my fathers. I’m more likely to use the bracelet than the actual watch though so figured if I could get it off and cleaned up, it should fit the FOIS nicely.

B8682CF6-5710-4DC9-8D43-4775A1870460.jpeg
 
redpcar
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Are you wanting to save the bracelet?
Definitely will need some new spring bars
 
perks713
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redpcar redpcar
Are you wanting to save the bracelet?
Definitely will need some new spring bars
Yeah I want to keep the bracelet. The spring bars will be promptly tossed in the bin 😀

I’d work on slicing through the spring bar if I was 100% confident they’re actually removable. My mom is coming up in a few days and has a second of these watches, I’m hoping the spring bars are a little easier to remove, which would give me confidence just cutting these ones.
 
Dgercp
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Just bring it to a local watch guy, he can remove it and give you a proper set of spring bars and maybe charge you $5.
 
MtV
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Dgercp Dgercp
Just bring it to a local watch guy, he can remove it and give you a proper set of spring bars and maybe charge you $5.

I wouldn’t bet on the bill being just 5$, if he actually has to drill them out he might well charge a bit more than that. Either way, it’s certainly the safest method.
 
precisionhrlgy
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If they truly can’t be removed the safest way would be to cut them out with a saw. I’d like to know this guy that works for $5…
 
perks713
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precisionhrlgy ATracyWatches
If they truly can’t be removed the safest way would be to cut them out with a saw. I’d like to know this guy that works for $5…
Haha me too, though a guy I’ve worked with likely wouldn’t charge too much. I’m hoping the second watch will shed some light when it gets here. I don’t want to prevent the watch from being useable either so if they end up being fixed bars I probably won’t cut them, the cost to then get a bar installed and welded(?) on probably makes this way more of a project than i want to sign up for.

the watch needs a service either way (day/date change isn’t smooth) so I’ll end up needing to talk to the watchmaker at some point.
 
precisionhrlgy
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perks713 perks713
Haha me too, though a guy I’ve worked with likely wouldn’t charge too much. I’m hoping the second watch will shed some light when it gets here. I don’t want to prevent the watch from being useable either so if they end up being fixed bars I probably won’t cut them, the cost to then get a bar installed and welded(?) on probably makes this way more of a project than i want to sign up for.

the watch needs a service either way (day/date change isn’t smooth) so I’ll end up needing to talk to the watchmaker at some point.
I highly doubt they are fixed bars…
 
MtV
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perks713 perks713
Haha me too, though a guy I’ve worked with likely wouldn’t charge too much. I’m hoping the second watch will shed some light when it gets here. I don’t want to prevent the watch from being useable either so if they end up being fixed bars I probably won’t cut them, the cost to then get a bar installed and welded(?) on probably makes this way more of a project than i want to sign up for.

the watch needs a service either way (day/date change isn’t smooth) so I’ll end up needing to talk to the watchmaker at some point.

Not an expert on fixed bars - I don’t own a single example - but if they were, how would the bracelet have been attached and why would they be recessed where they enter the case?
 
perks713
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I would be shocked if they were fixed. I think there’s enough of a hole that you can see that tells me they’re spring bars. I just hesitate because it was my dads watch. I don’t want to make it unusable.

I don’t know what Timex was up to in the 70s, I don’t see any clear indication that the bracelet would have been clamped down after being attached, but I just couldn’t tell anything for sure.
 
gtcarrera
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Tienes que apretar el pasador hacia abajo y a la vez bajarlo con un destornillador afilado, insiste que sale
 
JimInOz
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I think it would be best to have a watchmaker use a slotting file to cut one end of the springbar . There looks to be enough clearance between the lug and the end piece. Slotting files come in various thicknesses, 0.5mm for example.

Any decent watchmakers will have one or two in their tool kit.
 
precisionhrlgy
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JimInOz JimInOz
I think it would be best to have a watchmaker use a slotting file to cut one end of the springbar . There looks to be enough clearance between the lug and the end piece. Slotting files come in various thicknesses, 0.5mm for example.

Any decent watchmakers will have one or two in their tool kit.
I’d personally recommend a piercing saw.
 
JimInOz
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I agree, forgot about that.

PS1.JPG


Blades can be even thinner.

PS2.JPG
 
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