Adding length to stem

JwRosenthal
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Greetings all,

My watch handy friend (not a watchmaker) replaced a crown and tube on a vintage inexpensive automatic diver I had where the screw down crown was stripped. The old tube pressed out fine, new tube installed and when we were cutting the original stem to fit the new crown, we took a little bit too much off 🤦

When you unscrew the crown it pops out into the wind potion fine, pull to set is fine, but when you push it back in, it won’t engage back to the wind position unless you really give it a shove to the point that it hits the threads- and at that it takes a couple times of hard quick pushing for it to engage. Then it screws back down fine.

I remember reading about adding solder or something like that to the end of the stem to add a little length so the crown fits further up on the stem. How many threads are enough to hold the crown properly, is this a viable fix, or do I need to start hunting for a new stem?

Thanks.
 
Dan S
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I have seen stem extenders. I'm sure that true watchmakers scoff at them.
 
JwRosenthal
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Dan S Dan S
I have seen stem extenders. I'm sure that true watchmakers scoff at them.
I saw those online. Looked like those are for when broken inside the case. This just needs about 1/2mm I assume (key word ass-u-me) inside the crown to get it to sit further back.
 
SC1
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Nothing to add here except that title, jesus that title... pretty sure I heard my wife utter that title on our wedding night.
 
Dan S
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I saw those online. Looked like those are for when broken inside the case. This just needs about 1/2mm I assume (key word ass-u-me) inside the crown to get it to sit further back.

Yeah, I think you would probably need to cut the existing stem back further to use an extender.
 
JimInOz
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Watch stem extenders look like a good solution at first, but there are limitations on clearances etc that must be factored in.

I'd be going for a new stem.

What caliber is it?
 
redpcar
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Al might not approve but I drop a small piece of solder inside the crown tube. Just for very small adjustments, I SWEAR.
 
JwRosenthal
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JimInOz JimInOz
Watch stem extenders look like a good solution at first, but there are limitations on clearances etc that must be factored in.

I'd be going for a new stem.

What caliber is it?
Can’t even remember at the moment, it’s an Orator diver and they tended to use decent movements like Eta or ASchild not rare- just a pita.

E989DB3B-EEA1-467C-8866-FA1AE3487FC5.jpeg
 
JwRosenthal
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redpcar redpcar
Al might not approve but I drop a small piece of solder inside the crown tube. Just for very small adjustments, I SWEAR.
So you are suggesting rather than adding solder to the end of the stem, just drop some unmelted solder into the top of the crown to take up space? It could work….would that work with the spring loaded mechanism in fhere?
 
redpcar
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oh, it works.
Small diameter solder. Cut off a small amount and drop it in. It crushes down. Go with small amounts

upload_2023-2-19_22-9-44.png
 
X350 XJR
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redpcar redpcar
oh, it works.
Small diameter solder. Cut off a small amount and drop it in. It crushes down. Go with small amounts

upload_2023-2-19_22-9-44.png

I've used a bit if rubber o-ring...
 
RevZMan123
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redpcar redpcar
oh, it works.
Small diameter solder. Cut off a small amount and drop it in. It crushes down. Go with small amounts

upload_2023-2-19_22-9-44.png

You heard the man, STUFF IT IN.
 
iamvr
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I had this issue twice. My WM added some finely ground powdery stuff on the end of the stem that goes into the crown to add some marginal extra length, just enough for it to engage.
 
Vercingetorix
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New stem,stem extender or loctite. Dropping something in the crown will forever make it shorter and if they are not available anymore……
 
JwRosenthal
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Vercingetorix Vercingetorix
New stem,stem extender or loctite. Dropping something in the crown will forever make it shorter and if they are not available anymore……
It’s just a generic crown and tube stolen off another watch. But I get your your point.
 
Vercingetorix
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
It’s just a generic crown and tube stolen off another watch. But I get your your point.
Must follow the Hippocratic oath.
 
JwRosenthal
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Vercingetorix Vercingetorix
I think you are confusing doctors with insurance companies.
Indeed- or hospital admin. Both my parents were MD’s- hence I joke, but nothing but respect.
 
josiahg52
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I was thinking of a piece of stem instead of solder or anything else. It would have to be of a very small diameter but it wouldn't necessarily be permanent. It might be, though. Note, I'm no watchmaker, or even a novice. I just like thinking about how things work.
 
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