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HOW TO: Swap a PAM Base Dial with 6497 movement

co-axial

Legendary Member
Advisor
16/9/10
23,226
10
0
Hi guys,

had some spare time again and did a little ugrade job an a base PAM.
This litte DIY/How to is directed to all noobs (as I still see myself too) to show how easy such little mods/upgrades can be done. It just needs some time (max. 1 1/2 h), some basic tools and of course the spares.

This mod transfers the 176m H-Fac

IMG_6523.jpg


to 176m H-fac with Noob-Fac dial+hands (dial is alot better than H-Fac dial imho :lol: and I had it lying around and gave it a try)

IMAG0874.jpg


OK, on to some work here:

DSC_0221_60.jpg


You will be needing:

- Set of jewelers screw drivers
- fine tweezers
- sticky ball and/or case back opener
- hand removing tool
- hand pressers
- some working pads
- air blower for cleaning
- paper for protection of dial
- some rodico for cleaning dial
- some kind of box to sort your parts (always do that!)
- good loupe
- spare dial + hands


DSC_0222_59.jpg


Step one ist to remove the CG from the case. Lighten the two screws and sort away the parts...
DSC_0228_58.jpg


Step two is to remove the strap and sort away the parts...
DSC_0229_57.jpg


done...
DSC_0230_56.jpg


Step three is to open the caseback with a sticky ball or a case back opener; just press hard and unscrew anti clock wise...
DSC_0231_55.jpg


Step four is to remove the crown/stem from the movement. To do so just unwind the little screw sitting on the outside of movement next to the crown - but not more than two turns or you will damage the keyless works (i managed to do so and will write a tutorial on repair soon, was a pita but worked out :) )
DSC_0232_54.jpg


Step five is to loosen the movement holders (two) an´d sort away the parts. Loosen the marked screws and remove srew AND plate beneath.
P1060296_53.jpg


P1060297_52.jpg


P1060298_51.jpg


Done. Step six: The movement is now ready to leave the case :). Best way is to put a second pad against the case and just turn. The movement will come out fine and be safe.
P1060299_50.jpg


There you go :) Some close ups of the H-Fac dial first (the one installed). A few pics of the Noob-Fac dial (uninstalled)
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P1060305_45.jpg


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P1060307.jpg


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Lume coparison shot (h-fac left)
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H-Fac
P1060309_41.jpg


Noob dial
P1060310_40.jpg


Step seven is to remove the hands (you can easily damage the dial here so don´t hurry and take your time). Protect the dial first with a piece of paper or foil as the hand remover tool does apply some pressure on the dial. Adjust the pullers under the hour hand and gently (no hurry) press and keep a little pressure on dial - the hands will come of. Sort the hands away.
P1060311_39.jpg


P1060312_38.jpg


P1060313_37.jpg


P1060315_36.jpg


Step eight: Hands are off now so we can begin to remove the dial/dialplate from the movement. The dial is secured to the movement with two screws. Do not unwind these screws completely - about 4 or five turns should do. The dial should be loose now - if not unscrew a little more.
The dial place is held in place with two "dial feet" - be careful not to damage them (if they bo of you need to source a new plate) when lifting the dial/plate (slowly and carefuly) from the movement. Sort away the dial/plate.
P1060316_35.jpg


P1060358.jpg


P1060317_34.jpg


P1060318_33.jpg


P1060319_32.jpg


close up of the keyless works
P1060320_31.jpg


Step nine is to mount the dial on the movement - be careful with the dial feet here again. They should fit with no major force in any 6497 movement. There are two poitions in the movement to take the two dial feet. If you have to press a little please do use gloves or a cloth to do so. Fingerprints on dials suck big time!!!
P1060321_30.jpg


P1060358.jpg


P1060357.jpg


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Step ten is to secure the dial again.
P1060323_28.jpg


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Step eleven: Before pressing the hands back on please do clean your dial from dust and marks with some Rodico to look clean and sharp like this (Yes, use a loupe here!)
P1060326_25.jpg


P1060327_24.jpg


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P1060330_21.jpg


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Step twelve: Now press the hands back on to the Cannon Pinion (I polished the CP a little as the dial was of the movement). Use a pressing tool to do so (I use JMB´s - I think they are the best at a resonable price - He´s a member here!).
Take your time here! Take your tweezers and put the hour hand on the CP. Then take your tool (watch out for the correct size of the presser!) an press the hand back on (use only a little force to do so)
P1060332_19.jpg


P1060333_18.jpg


P1060334_17.jpg


P1060335_16.jpg


Check if seated properly.
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Step thirteen: Repeat the procedure with the minute hand.
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Check if seated properly too.
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Step fourteen: Time to remount the watch. But first clean your crystal from inside and blow out with an air blower. Check the crytal from inside if clean!!! (or you will have to dismount again just to clean up a little smudge :unsure:). Blow the dial with air too.
P1060345_07.jpg


P1060346_06.jpg


Step fifteen: Secure the movement in the case with the movement holder plates and securing screws (marked with stars). Be sure to tighten them well and check dial alignement.
P1060347_05.jpg



Step sixteen: Now insert the stem/crown back in and secure the keyless with the srew again. Check if all is good (winding postion and tme adjusting position)
P1060354.jpg



Step seventeen: If all is good you only need to screw in the caseback (be sure to screw in tight enough) and remount the Crown Guard with the two securing crews (tight enough?)
P1060348_04.jpg


DONE. We now have an H-Fac M series 176 with low beat 6497 and Noob-Fac Dial and Hands :)

P1060359.jpg


P1060350_03.jpg



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IMAG0871.jpg




Thanks for talking your time reading and looking. :)

I hope this encourages some other members to just give things a try :)

Regards

co-ax
 
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Reactions: RealMcCoy

frigpig

Ghost of Sales Mod Past
Advisor
16/8/09
7,846
63
48
I see a sticky! ;)

Nice job. I love the "step" format. Real clean tuto.
 

Mr. Pap

Section Moderator
Section Moderator
5/6/08
7,350
171
63
Wow co-axial i didnt know you had the gift!!!

Great post, lot of time spent there!!!

Thank you for sharing this one, i will study it well!

Sent from my Desire HD
 

ogladio

Known Member
8/7/11
168
26
28
Thank you very much for this, was just looking around the other day for this without result! Mods - sticky asap!! :D
 

cybee

Legendary Member
Supporter
23/11/06
11,134
28
48
Great job...looks terrific. I think I just got inspired from your post : )
 

tjdilla

Renowned Member
Certified
15/1/12
717
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awesome writeup with some great pics! thanks for giving back to the community!

*saves page for offline use*
 

ALE7575

Section Mod
Section Moderator
Certified
18/1/11
19,826
338
83
Hi my friend Co-ax
This is an awesome good tutorial, clear, interesting and well done.
Many people with H-maker sandwich will follow your thread.
Congrats and thanks for take your time.
Well deserved award

ALE
 
D

d4m.test

Guest
Thanks for the tutorial and pictures Co-ax! I have done this a few times now and I have a few suggestions for changes to your tutorial. I hope you don't take offense, since this tutorial was written when you were still a noob. ;)

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I'm definitely not an expert, so I could be talking out of my arse.

Step seven is to remove the hands (you can easily damage the dial here so don´t hurry and take your time). Protect the dial first with a piece of paper or foil as the hand remover tool does apply some pressure on the dial. Adjust the pullers under the hour hand and gently (no hurry) press and keep a little pressure on dial - the hands will come of. Sort the hands away.


P1060315_36.jpg

If the hands are seated properly, there should be enough space to pull the hands off one at a time. Pulling them off all at once can cause scratches between them, and even bending of the hands against each other. If you have to pull them all off at once, make sure the time is aligned to 12:00:00 to reduce risk of bending.

Step eight: Hands are off now so we can begin to remove the dial/dialplate from the movement. The dial is secured to the movement with two screws. Do not unwind these screws completely - about 4 or five turns should do. The dial should be loose now - if not unscrew a little more.
The dial place is held in place with two "dial feet" - be careful not to damage them (if they bo of you need to source a new plate) when lifting the dial/plate (slowly and carefuly) from the movement. Sort away the dial/plate.


P1060358.jpg


P1060317_34.jpg


P1060318_33.jpg

The screw holding the dial feet is actually not round (cylindrical). If you look closely, there's a flat edge to the screw that gives the dial feet space to be pushed in and pulled out. You need to align that flat edge so it faces the dial feet.

Step twelve: Now press the hands back on to the Cannon Pinion (I polished the CP a little as the dial was of the movement). Use a pressing tool to do so (I use JMB´s - I think they are the best at a resonable price - He´s a member here!).
Take your time here! Take your tweezers and put the hour hand on the CP. Then take your tool (watch out for the correct size of the presser!) an press the hand back on (use only a little force to do so)



P1060335_16.jpg



Step thirteen: Repeat the procedure with the minute hand.


P1060338_13.jpg

When choosing the proper pusher size, keep in mind that it needs to be just the right size. Not too big, not too small. For example, the hour pusher should be generously large enough to fit over the minute pinion but just barely small enough that it won't go over the hour pinion. A common mistake is to use a pusher that's too large, which causes hands to be pushed down to far into the dial or into the path of other hands. The hour hand should be pushed down just perfectly even with the top edge of the hour pinion with lots of space between it and the dial, and the minute hand should be pushed down even with the minute pinion with lots of space between the minute hand and hour hand.

Also, the easiest way to make sure the hands are lined up properly is to push the hour hand at approximately 12 o'clock. After it's in place, use the crown to point it to exactly twelve. Then push the minute hand with a smaller pusher. The way you've demonstrated setting the hands results in an hour hand that is misaligned.
 
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oddbod

Horology Curious
11/3/16
15
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First post, thanks for the detailed information, stripped my 6497 PAM rep yesterday to do a relume..found this invaluable! A big thank you!
 

gavmeister

I'm Pretty Popular
27/5/16
2,995
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These tutorials are great. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share this knowledge.
 

Sparky28

Renowned Member
6/2/16
598
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Great write up,
Just what I needed,been building up the courage to do a swap,going to source the tools & can't wait to give it a go
Your a legend