IWC Big Pilot Crown Problem

[daceswithsheep]

Hi guys

ive had this rep for about a year now and I love it but as you can see the crown no longer threads into the case. I did have this sent back to Puretime to be fixed but they used the crown pinch fix on it which lasted about 5 days before it popped out again. really annoying as its kinda unwearable now.

Question is what is to the best way to anyones knowledge to fix it? I have read a couple of older posts on here but photos are all from an older hosting site so don't load anymore.

Solutions as I can see it are.
1. See if there is a good watch modder on here that knows best option to fix the crown/ tube?
2. buy a gen crown? but to my understanding the case would need to be drilled to fit it.
3. Shorten the crown stem by 1-2mm or whatever is needed to just make it a push/pull crown.

any advise would be greatly received. Im UK based.

Many thanks

 

[pancorjackhammer]

I would check with ado213 he might be able to help

 

[daceswithsheep]

ado213 is this something you think you could help with at all please.? Cheers.

 

[KEV87iwc]

Same problem here.... curious for a solution. It's a problem with the tube....

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G960F met Tapatalk

 

[daceswithsheep]

Same problem here.... curious for a solution. It's a problem with the tube....

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G960F met Tapatalk

Yes I think so.. I think the threads in the tube are just really shit and strip very easy.. cos the crown is quite big you naturally put pressure on it when wearing it and moving around.. or I do anyway.

I did look to see if I could find a replacement tube but it’s very hard to find one that matches. And the gen tube is a bigger diameter and I don’t know if the crown threads will work with it.

 

[Gtmatt22]

I am having the same problem. Did you ever get your issue resolved? If so what did you do?

 

[fabbe79]

Cheap repair:
Remove crown and tube and gently push the tube with a pincher to make it slightly oval. Carefully to not deform it too much.
Not the most elegant solution but better than converting to push crown and you won't notice the difference.

 

[daceswithsheep]

Cheap repair:
Remove crown and tube and gently push the tube with a pincher to make it slightly oval. Carefully to not deform it too much.
Not the most elegant solution but better than converting to push crown and you won't notice the difference.

I actually sent this back to puretime first for repair and that’s all they did to fix the problem. This lasted only a couple weeks before it broke again. I did the same maybe 2-3 times and none of them lasted.

Gtmatt22 eventually I did indeed convert it to a push/pull crown. Not brilliant but still works ok.. as is only really noticeable when looking very close. I had to measure the clearance and snipped off about 1.5mm of the tube and filed the cut end down a little then used tiny amount of loctite to secure the tube in the crown again.

 

[Gtmatt22]

Thanks daceswithsheep

 

[axs1970]

Daft question, but cant the tube and crown be replaced with another rep crown and tube? Ive got a couple of IWC Pilots and no issues with them at the moment, but interested in what the options are if any issues developed further down the line.

 

[daceswithsheep]

Daft question, but cant the tube and crown be replaced with another rep crown and tube? Ive got a couple of IWC Pilots and no issues with them at the moment, but interested in what the options are if any issues developed further down the line.

I guess so yes. If you can get the parts from a TD. Sometime they won’t sell you them because it’s better business for them to just sell another watch.

I looked into getting a real iwc tube & stem which is doable but the iwc tube is about a mm biger so you have to drill out the case to fit. They run at about $100 ish for the tube.

tbh after a while I just couldn’t be arse with all the hassle as I have other reps to chose from.

 

[SteveMcQueen1930]

If somebody is facing issues with a broken threading on a BiAg Pilot, I have a gen crown and tube left from a recent project.

 

[Jonipaul]

I would like

If somebody is facing issues with a broken threading on a BiAg Pilot, I have a gen crown and tube left from a recent project.

I would like to by the crown and the tube

 

[SteveMcQueen1930]

No, problem. Just send me a pm.

 

[SVQSV]

No, problem. Just send me a pm.

Hello I assume you have sold these pieces already, can you let me know where to buy them? I have removed the tube ( striped threads) just need to get the part and assembly again )

thanks