Screws coming loose

[casadecamporolex]

Been wearing the brand since 1974, figure around 18,000 days. Bought for myself many different references.
Along the way, my wife has celebrated our magic moments together gifting me with other Rolexes.
Now, significantly in 2017, the watch given me for my retirement was an early release SS Skydweller with blue dial. First anyone had ever seen.
Got the watch at a party in Los Angeles on a Friday, went to the beach all day Saturday and while sitting in a bar in Santa Monica that evening, luckily felt a bracelet screw nearly out. Fortune favors the good because pure luck averted disaster. Went to Geary’s next day for re-tightening.
Don’t say it can’t.
It did.

[Rolexforthewin]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Make sure you buy the right strength (# 242 in red bottle). Apply, using a small amount on the end of a toothpick to the hole in link, where screw ends, not the screw itself. Do this, and no worries ever again.

Kat


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I use the 222 in the red bottle. Not sure how much difference there is between them. Any idea?

[Jonny8]

Originally Posted by Ravager135

This is more common than you think.

I had this happen on my Explorer II roughly 3-4 years after purchasing it. I would not have noticed had the safety clasp not snagged itself on the screw as it was working itself out.

Generally when ADs size bracelets I have not seen them use Loctite even though Rolex does. I size all my own bracelets regardless of where I purchase a watch from for this reason. I also ensure that all the screws are firm and tight with my screwdriver. A screw working itself out could in theory happen with any link, but I would suspect a link adjusted by an AD and not filled with Loctite would certainly be more prone.

Other users here have provided the correct Loctite recommendation. When I change or remove a link, I put a small drop in the female end of the link and screw from the top down. This will usually force a small amount of Loctite out the other side. I then tighten or ensure every adjustable link screw is tightened before washing with soap and warm water. This also takes the squeak out of a new Rolex bracelet. Two or three rinses in warm, soapy water handles that immediately. I have not had a single screw ever work itself out since I have begun doing this.

I was told not to get the screws wet for 24 hours after application of loctite, and therefore don’t wash the excess off until the next day.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Jonny8

I was told not to get the screws wet for 24 hours after application of loctite, and therefore don’t wash the excess off until the next day.

What excess?
Application for a Blind Hole like a link should be into lower third of the blind hole.

The tiny amount of threadlocker inserted into the link hole shouldn't ooze out. But even if you did over do it, it is better to use a Q-tip to remove the excess immediately.

The link screw, when tightened correctly, seats and seals the threads for curing anaerobically. Water isn't getting in there...

For as long as there have been threaded fasteners, there have been challenges with ensuring they stay tightly locked and resist the self-loosening that can lead to costly failures. Sure, 24 hours is ideal, but fixture time on 222 (the correct type for link screws) is only 20 minutes. The bracelet can be worn after the 20 minutes is up.


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[Andad]

I agree Paul.
If you see excess loctite on a Rolex bracelet link you should find a new line of work.

[Jonny8]

Originally Posted by 77T

What excess?
Application for a Blind Hole like a link should be into lower third of the blind hole.

The tiny amount of threadlocker inserted into the link hole shouldn't ooze out. But even if you did over do it, it is better to use a Q-tip to remove the excess immediately.

The link screw, when tightened correctly, seats and seals the threads for curing anaerobically. Water isn't getting in there...

For as long as there have been threaded fasteners, there have been challenges with ensuring they stay tightly locked and resist the self-loosening that can lead to costly failures. Sure, 24 hours is ideal, but fixture time on 222 (the correct type for link screws) is only 20 minutes. The bracelet can be worn after the 20 minutes is up.


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Maybe I didn’t explain it well.

What excess? Simply any excess! I agree it shouldn’t ooze out but there could be some quite easily.

I should have said to wipe any away- which you state you do so therefore counter your own statement of having no excess!

So yes, clean it up as best you can which should be most of it, but don’t submerge for 24 hours. I’ll stick to that since I’ve been told by several different people who should know what they are talking about that’s the way to do it.

[Jonny8]

Originally Posted by Andad

I agree Paul.
If you see excess loctite on a Rolex bracelet link you should find a new line of work.

I bet most people do have a little bit come out, or are tempted to wash their watch straight after so could find my comment helpful.

Unlike your contribution, which is literally worthless. I don’t work professionally on watches or resize them apart from at purchase so have no idea why changing my career would help,but yeah, nice one mate.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Jonny8

I should have said to wipe any away- which you state you do so therefore counter your own statement of having no excess!

No, I didn't say that I do that...here is what I said:
"The tiny amount of threadlocker inserted into the link hole shouldn't ooze out. But even if you did over do it, it is better to use a Q-tip to remove the excess immediately."


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[Jonny8]

Originally Posted by 77T

No, I didn't say that I do that...here is what I said:
"The tiny amount of threadlocker inserted into the link hole shouldn't ooze out. But even if you did over do it, it is better to use a Q-tip to remove the excess immediately."


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Well done you. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Jake Sully]

I would never use red locktite because the screws are super soft and deform easily. You will make it impossible or very very hard to remove down the road. Purple locktite 222 is the preferred one to use.

[Spoonage]

I've sized all my watches myself Rolex and others. Never used loctite, never had one back out. I've worn them daily in all sorts of conditions from beach, swimming, yard work, hiking, climbing, when I was still in the military, and the scariest of all situations... Taking care of my new born daughters. I just check in the morning before I wind it and put it on.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Jonny8

I bet most people do have a little bit come out, or are tempted to wash their watch straight after so could find my comment helpful.

Unlike your contribution, which is literally worthless. I don’t work professionally on watches or resize them apart from at purchase so have no idea why changing my career would help,but yeah, nice one mate.

I was referring to Paul’s post not yours.

You only require much less than a pinhead of 221/222 just inside the female thread.

If there is excess it will bind up the screw where it is in contact with the sleeve inside the link.

You should never see any glue on the outside of the link.

If you do you should give the job to someone else.

Mate!

[Jonny8]

Originally Posted by Andad

I was referring to Paul’s post not yours.

You only require much less than a pinhead of 221/222 just inside the female thread.

If there is excess it will bind up the screw where it is in contact with the sleeve inside the link.

You should never see any glue on the outside of the link.

If you do you should give the job to someone else.

Mate!

Yes. Yes, I’m aware of that. Have you never put slightly too much in and some has leaked out? Have you never got a small amount on the outside? Regardless, if you haven’t (and if not well done by the way, you are nothing short of a hero) there may be some mere mortals (like me) who have and my post may be helpful. If it doesn’t effect you, you know you don’t have to comment….mate.

[puma1552]

I use blue Loctite. Local RSC watchmaker did the same right in front of me when my AD sales guy mangled a link...I just ate the $60 cost to buy a new link at the RSC and have their watchmaker replace it properly. I talked to him about the Loctite and he said Rolex's current recommendation (as of late 2023 when I had it done) is blue Loctite, but that they've changed it a couple different times over the years between purple and blue. I use purple on more delicate stuff like water bottle cages in rivnuts on a carbon fiber road bike so if I ever have to remove them I don't potentially damage the carbon by pulling on the rivnut to break it loose.

I also wait 24 hours to get it wet on my watches as a matter of practice. Though it sets in 20 minutes, it says it cures fully in 24 hours. In reality, the 24 hours is almost certainly something well south of 24 hours (as an engineer who specifies cure times for things, we often use 24 when we know it's well under that - the chance of something actually taking exactly 24 hours to cure is too coincidental to be reality), and for such a tiny amount of Loctite, it's probably even less. And it's not really exposed to water when washing the watch, but I can certainly wait 24 hours to wash the watch and so I simply do. In theory you also shouldn't need to wait to wear and move the bracelet since the interface between screw and link threads is fixed and isn't being disturbed, but again, any vibrations on the pins from the center part of the link articulating could theoretically vibrate it loose and prevent it from setting properly.

[rod727]

Had one come loose on my 116610 a couple of years ago. I was in Dallas for meetings and had a couple hours to spare so I headed over to the RSC. After sharing with the lady at the desk my dilemma she took the watch to the back and a few minutes later she returned handed me my watch and said have a nice day.

[SVH]

it's fitting, we all must have some screws loose to spend $000's on a wristwatch

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by SVH

it's fitting, we all must have some screws loose to spend $000's on a wristwatch

Wait until you meet comic book 'collectors', or sports card enthusiasts. Philatelist guys are really cool.

[fozzyf18]

Originally Posted by casadecamporolex

Been wearing the brand since 1974, figure around 18,000 days. Bought for myself many different references.
Along the way, my wife has celebrated our magic moments together gifting me with other Rolexes.
Now, significantly in 2017, the watch given me for my retirement was an early release SS Skydweller with blue dial. First anyone had ever seen.
Got the watch at a party in Los Angeles on a Friday, went to the beach all day Saturday and while sitting in a bar in Santa Monica that evening, luckily felt a bracelet screw nearly out. Fortune favors the good because pure luck averted disaster. Went to Geary’s next day for re-tightening.
Don’t say it can’t.
It did.

Agree, it can and it did to me as well. 16613 screw backed all the way out, bracelet came apart, watch fell to the (thankfully) carpeted floor while I was giving a presentation. I don't know how it was that I didn't notice the screw backing out before it completely unwound itself, but I appreciate whoever decided to install carpeting in that room!

[MSL997]

Thanks everyone for their input! Returned to the AD for the loctite.

The platona is everything one would think it is!