Flangeless, single shoulder spring bars and bracelet installation

[jimanchower]

My 16570 has drilled lugs and the 78790A bracelet with solid end links stamped 801. It's got 23-9291 spring bars (probably generic as seen on Ofrei).

My question is: What tool is best suited for installing a bracelet using this style of spring bar? It's easy enough to do with a soft strap that has some "give." I insert one end and then use something like a thin flathead screwdriver until the other end clears. But with the bracelet I have both pivot ends of the spring bar extending over the lugs and I need something like flat tweezers to compress them at the same time. Even then, it's almost impossible to avoid scratching the lugs as the ends of the spring bar are forced just enough for them to clear the lugs.

I have thought about using flanged spring bars for the bracelet and the flangeless, shoulderless 23-9291 spring bars for something like the Erika's strap but I feel like I'm missing something. Little help?

[racerx]

Or you could the spring bars designed for the watch/bracelet you have. JMHO.

[jimanchower]

Originally Posted by racerx

Or you could the spring bars designed for the watch/bracelet you have. JMHO.

Couldn't agree more, which is why I'm asking. Are the 23-9291 style spring bars not correct? Or are they correct and I just need to be nudged in the direction of a tool and/or technique to use them properly?

[racerx]

Flangeless is not correct. Not sure of the part number for the correct ones. Bergeon 7825 spring bar tweezers are what I use.

[waterman1]

Whatever you do, do not install shoulderless (flangeless) bars on a bracelet.

[jimanchower]

Originally Posted by racerx

Flangeless is not correct. Not sure of the part number for the correct ones. Bergeon 7825 spring bar tweezers are what I use.

Originally Posted by waterman1

Whatever you do, do not install shoulderless (flangeless) bars on a bracelet.

I'm thoroughly confused. And I can't post links until I have at least 10 posts under my belt which makes it harder to explain.

From other threads:

Originally Posted by Tools

All of the through hole cases use the same spring-bar, part number 23-9291.. There is another part number also (I think 9290) that has a slightly shorter pivot pin so it won't stick all the way out of a thin lug... They are 2mm thick.

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

Drilled lugs are suppose to be #23-9291

This matches with what "ofrei dot com slash page_155 dot html" says. Looking at another reference that only ever came with drilled lugs, "gmtmaster1675 dot com slash the-bracelet" shows a flangeless spring bar which is presumably correct.

It looks to me like these are the correct spring bars for my case and bracelet, and that the best way to install the OE bracelet with the OE springbars is to tape the lugs and use plastic tweezers or the blunt end of a skewer like we see at "youtube dot com slash 9z8tDnFsXH0?t=212"

... but I'm trying to learn so I'm happy if someone can tell me where I'm off target, if that's the case.

[jimanchower]

After taking some notes and measurements about spring bars, I put down a bit of household Scotch clear tape on the lugs, trimmed up the excess, and carefully worked the end link and spring bar into place with a flat tool. I have probably overthought this. I can accept that on a 20+ year old watch there's some degree of "just find what works."

[Old Expat Beast]

I usually nudge the springbar end into place with the corner of a credit card, even the ones with shoulders. I've never used tape, but many do.

[Tools]

Scroll down on this article. I show how it's done on one of my own Exp II's.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=111743

[CarlOver]

Flathead screwdriver….ohhhhhh.

[subtona]

This is what I have been using for years.

I’ve also used a credit card and a fingernail