Spring Bars and Loctite 220

[CPTL]

Watch geeks:

I'm considering a more permanent union between my Submariner's lugs and springbars. Before the flaming starts...background facts.

I put ole Subbie on a NATO nearly 2 years ago, and never got an inkling to put it back on the bracelet. I am going to be moving soon to the beach, and I expect surfing several times weekly, as opposed to the twice a year I've been managing since reaching the age of majority. I expect to wipeout often, and I plan to wear my watch.

I'm considering applying a bit of Loctite to the lug holes (I've got a D-Serial 16610, no lug holes) before setting the spring bar. My goal is to anchor the spring bars solidly so that they won't spring out...but I don't want to do anything permanent.

Questions:
1. I expect this procedure to be reversible with a little solvent. I expect I can use something that will dissolve the loctite and not the lugs, costing me at most a set of spring bars. Am I right?
2. What kind of loctite should I use? See question 1.
3. Will this even achieve the desired result?
4. Are there some springbars on steroids that I can buy that will fit the Sub...and save the ones that came with my Oyster?

I figure some of you have some solvent, adhesive, springbar, and steel knowledge. I'd appreciate whatever tips you've got.

[Tools]

Loctite may not work in this situation. It is an anaerobic which means that it 'cures" in the absence of air and the pivots of the springbars have plenty of movement so that the loctite will just make a mess and never really get hard..

Perhaps just a silicone sealant, or one of the lesser hold types of epoxy which should disolve with acetone..

[robsteve]

You could try the springbars for the Submariners with drilled lugs. They would probably be stronger. This is assuming you are using the Nato strap and can just thread the strap on and off the springbars. When it comes time to replace them, just cut them out with a set of side cut pliers.

Robert

[Balboa]

Loctite will not work in this application. It is designed for threaded connections that are not exposed to air.

It seems that most stress on a spring bar is applied perpendicular to its long axis. Extreme force could bend or even break one. Very little force would be applied to pull the spring bar pin from the lug holes.

Besides, one feature of a NATO strap is that the failure of one spring bar will not cause loss of the watch.

Seiko makes some great heavy duty 2.5mm spring bars for their divers, but I do not know if the pin size will fit a Rolex lug hole. Might be worth a look.

I don't think gluing the pin into the lug hole will add any strength or security, but it could make a big mess should you need to replace one.

Mark

[CPTL]

Originally Posted by Tools

Loctite may not work in this situation. It is an anaerobic which means that it 'cures" in the absence of air and the pivots of the springbars have plenty of movement so that the loctite will just make a mess and never really get hard..

Perhaps just a silicone sealant, or one of the lesser hold types of epoxy which should disolve with acetone..

Interesting...I'm not real knowledgeable about adhesives. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Rikki]

My suggestion is to buy a cheap casio to go surfing instead of trying to alter you rolex with adhesives. Plus being a diver and very familiar with sharks and barracudas they like really shiny things and your Rolex fits the bill and you could become bait as well as a surfer dude. HEHE Rik

[CPTL]

Well, I guess I'll just wear it as is. That's what insurance is for.

[mattmartin]

Better than loctite, get two stainless steel strap tubes for a Panerai, and cut them to be 20mm. They will distribute the stress across the length of the springbar and keep your strap from sliding the springbar out. I bought two 24mm. Citizen aqualand divers watch springbars from a parts house, and they came with two stainless steel tubes for the strap. I then took a dremel tool and cut them down to 20mm. They will fit a genuine rolex sub/SD springbar perfectly. My no-hole SD has the strongest springbars in the world....

[dmc]

Originally Posted by CPTL

Well, I guess I'll just wear it as is. That's what insurance is for.

If your surfing just give it a good tug to check the springbars, prior to going in the water.

The only time I remember a fairly new springbar letting go was in a Motorcycle Wreck. It didn't make much difference, when I found the watch I was glad the springbar let go.

Change them every couple of years and you should be more than good.

Enjoy the watch and stop worrying, if you can't stop worrying, buy a cheapo to wear in the water.