HELP! Damaged spring bar
Wondering if anyone had any suggestions on removing a damaged spring bar so that I can switch out a watch bracelet?
I'd like to breathe some new life into one of my oldest watches, but unfortunately one of the spring bars appears to have rusted away the grooves, making it impossible to grip using spring bar tools.
Any advice? I've seen things about breaking the spring bar or using dental floss, but I'm not sure how to do either...? I can try to take a few pictures if that's helpful, of course. Thanks all!
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Jonathan
I like watches, wine and whisky, photography and travel, beer and coffee, and definitely cinema and cooking. But I love my family most of all.
Member since
Last active: 11 hrs ago
6.30” / 16.00 cm
Both sides are toast? I would think with a small enough spring bar tool and a little patience and finesse you should be able to push one in while pushing down on it.
I had a 1969 King Seiko Superior chronometer with this issue, I had to get a pliers basically to carefully pull the spring bar out which was stuck solid. I damaged the bracelet in the process but not the case. I didn't care about the bracelet as It was useless and I wanted a leather strap put on so it didn't matter to me
Both sides are toast? I would think with a small enough spring bar tool and a little patience and finesse you should be able to push one in while pushing down on it.
Yeah, unfortunately so: it's a very tight bracelet: good for the fit but bad for removal. Even if one side was right, I'd need to get both to remove it
I had a 1969 King Seiko Superior chronometer with this issue, I had to get a pliers basically to carefully pull the spring bar out which was stuck solid. I damaged the bracelet in the process but not the case. I didn't care about the bracelet as It was useless and I wanted a leather strap put on so it didn't matter to me
It might come to it, but I'm hoping not to. The bracelet is still great, so I would like the option down the road. But I may have little choice.
What did you actually do? Just grip close to the lugs and twist, basically?
Replacement spring bars are cheap, break it if an emergency
Thin pair of wire cutters. Been there done that many times.
Let time work for you. A dab of penetrating oil allowed to soak in overnight should make any removal effort you end up choosing a little easier. I've used wire cutters as others have suggested but if the springbar is rusted into the lug hole then the penetrating oil can't hurt. BTW I've mostly stopped repurposing used springbars as the savings are miniscule and the hazards large.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure that I'll be able to fit a Wirecutter in there or use the dental floss methods. The entry to the springbars is absurdly small 😕