DIY Battery Change on Oil Filled? Updated to show the NEW 2!

[marchone]

No idea of what they use but I have seen a few posts of people using a product from 3M called Flourinert. Here is a post of someone putting this into a CW watch, with some description and devices he used:

http://www.christopherwardforum.com/vie ... php?t=4960

It seems too messy for me but surely cool and interesting. Check it out Seth, maybe this can help?

To my unscientific mind I wonder why Sinn couldn't isolate a battery chamber from the oil filled case holding the movement to facilitate battery changes. In theory like GS did with their 9F in the SBGX115/117.

Of course there's an enormous difference in WR between the two and that may be the design challenge.

[namor]

Carlo - thanks so much for that link. It was easy to find that guy's patent, and it was as I thought - he puts a small piece of closed cell foam (sponge) in the case, and it compresses and expands as the temperature changes.

The bad news is that Fluorinert 770 costs a lot; the smallest sample I can find is 250cc, and that's at $180 plus shipping.

[hobbit712]

I wonder how much expansion/compression would occur in a watch used only in normal situations. Not for diving or extreme temp changes. Does it become a non factor?

[andrema]

If you are going to keep it, why not just send it to Jack to have the oil removed and battery changed?

[namor]

I wonder how much expansion/compression would occur in a watch used only in normal situations. Not for diving or extreme temp changes. Does it become a non factor?

The engineers say it will change by 5% over the likely 100 degrees F it would be exposed to. But that is misleading in a way. If its filled at 70 degrees, then it will only expand for roughly 30 degrees on the upside, or contract somewhat more on the downside. Its the expansion that matters: remember why all those divers have HEVs on them. The pressure associated with a fluid expanding is significantly more problematic than that of a low density gas like helium. My thumbnail calculation is the watch probably takes 3-4 cc of oil, so it must realistically be able to contain 3.15-4.2 ccs without popping the crystal. Not a lot of difference, but that foam ought to make it a breeze.

[carlodwc]

Carlo - thanks so much for that link. It was easy to find that guy's patent, and it was as I thought - he puts a small piece of closed cell foam (sponge) in the case, and it compresses and expands as the temperature changes.

The bad news is that Fluorinert 770 costs a lot; the smallest sample I can find is 250cc, and that's at $180 plus shipping.

You are welcome Seth. I had no idea of the price of the liquid... but I have seen someone over at the Wallet Friendly Watch forum that has done several watches with Fluorinet, maybe a different type. In this post he says he has a gallon of it and shows his latest project:

http://walletfriendlywatchforum.com/rea ... 157,567182

His ID is Solex and he is a good guy. I don't know if he would be willing to talk to you about this to give suggestions etc. maybe or even do the filling himself. But maybe you can ask him.

[Sidheguitarist]

^^^That's an interesting idea. He's obviously one squared away dude when it comes to dinking around with watches, and he's already spent the dough for all the supplies.

[toxicavenger]

i would put a port on the case and use some astro-glide in it

[Sidheguitarist]

i would put a port on the case and use some astro-glide in it

Perfect. Shorty has his fancy ass Sinn LE on the way; I'm putting in my vote for the Ter-Bear Sinn UXXX with astroglide-filled case as the nexxxt LE. Comes with a ToxicA pube under the crystal (appears to float on the outside) and complete kit: box, papers and black rubber strap on.

[toxicavenger]

i would put a port on the case and use some astro-glide in it

Perfect. Shorty has his fancy ass Sinn LE on the way; I'm putting in my vote for the Ter-Bear Sinn UXXX with astroglide-filled case as the nexxxt LE. Comes with a ToxicA pube under the crystal (appears to float on the outside) and complete kit: box, papers and black rubber strap on.

that shit would rock, and the catch would be I can service it for you personally and you don't have to sent to schnitzeland to get it fixed.

[jjlwis2]

This seriously better be a joke....

[namor]

OK - Good news/bad news on this project.

The good news is its really fucking easy to do. As far as I can tell, the key is to disassemble before beginning:

s34.jpeg

Once you do this, and clean everything up, you're all set.
Use a small clear glass dish for this.
Replace battery, making sure the little plastic liner is placed to expose the negative lead in the back.
Fill the empty case completely with fluid, ensuring no bubbles are in it, and submerge it.
Place movement into fluid, let bubbles float to top, then place in case, still submerged.
Put a little sliver of closed cell foam in case back, after soaking it thoroughly in fluid.
Replace crown, and look to be sure second hand is ticking.
Finger tighten case back carefully while submerged, making sure it stays below fluid level.
Tighten caseback, wash off excess fluid, put on wrist.

So that was the good part. There is not a hint of air bubble in it, either:

s35.jpeg

The bad is that the original fill was silicone and it degraded the handset and dial lume beyond what I can live with (essentially no glow at all). So I'm shipping it to Germany anyway, using a German friend to reduce the shipping costs a bit.

[toxicavenger]

Congrats Seth. But why don't you just get IWW to relume the whole thing?

[kfalk]

Good work. My hands/markers don't have much lume left either. I like the creamy patina, so I'm going to go with the battery change and keep the dial and hands as is.

[marchone]

Bravo!

Bummer about the silicone degrading the lume. Was that the factory spec?

[andrema]

So it is the eBay watch...

[unixshrk]

So it is the eBay watch...

Looks to be

[carlodwc]

OK - Good news/bad news on this project.

The good news is its really fucking easy to do. As far as I can tell, the key is to disassemble before beginning:

s34.jpeg

Once you do this, and clean everything up, you're all set.
Use a small clear glass dish for this.
Replace battery, making sure the little plastic liner is placed to expose the negative lead in the back.
Fill the empty case completely with fluid, ensuring no bubbles are in it, and submerge it.
Place movement into fluid, let bubbles float to top, then place in case, still submerged.
Put a little sliver of closed cell foam in case back, after soaking it thoroughly in fluid.
Replace crown, and look to be sure second hand is ticking.
Finger tighten case back carefully while submerged, making sure it stays below fluid level.
Tighten caseback, wash off excess fluid, put on wrist.

So that was the good part. There is not a hint of air bubble in it, either:

s35.jpeg

The bad is that the original fill was silicone and it degraded the handset and dial lume beyond what I can live with (essentially no glow at all). So I'm shipping it to Germany anyway, using a German friend to reduce the shipping costs a bit.

Hey Seth, awesome!

I believe that the 3H on the dial indicate that the lume is Tritium, hence the lack of luminescence, probably. I bet the watch is more then 10 years old and therefore the Tritium paint has easily lost the lume, and it does not charge with a flashlight like Luminova...

[marchone]

Aha.

[jeckyll]

Excellent project documentation.

Too bad about the lume.

[BBK357]

I like the astroglide suggestion. Then if you need some just unwind the crown and shake some on your partners b-hole.

[CGSshorty]

I like the astroglide suggestion. Then if you need some just unwind the crown and shake some on your partners b-hole.

You should patent that. You'll make a fortune.

[james80]

Slogans anyone?

[andrema]

I like the astroglide suggestion. Then if you need some just unwind the crown and shake some on your partners b-hole.

You should patent that. You'll make a fortune.

"EZM2 - the ultimate Sin"

[namor]

Follow-up on this project: I shipped the watch to Sinn on Oct 27th. USPS tracking showed it at JFK customs on the 28th, then nothing. I filed a lost package insurance claim online on November 30th. USPS disavowed any responsibility (of course). I considered it a total loss at that point.

Today, Sinn emailed me that the watch just arrived and they'll send me an estimate on the work! A belated holiday present!