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5513 rebuild with old-crowns custom case

rainyknight

World’s okayest watch fan
14/10/24
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Genève, Switzerland
Update: I messed up and ended up stripping the threads on a gen sealed 7030 tube trying to get it in. Probably the wrong thread pitch or I marred the internal threads. Regardless. I’m gonna quit while I’m ahead and send the case off to someone to weld and re-tap then counterbore the case. Rather let a professional do it before I cause any more damage.
yes the tube is glued in hard as hell hahah
 

DeLoMan

Active Member
3/2/19
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Update: I messed up and ended up stripping the threads on a gen sealed 7030 tube trying to get it in. Probably the wrong thread pitch or I marred the internal threads. Regardless. I’m gonna quit while I’m ahead and send the case off to someone to weld and re-tap then counterbore the case. Rather let a professional do it before I cause any more damage.
Did you heat the old tube first before trying to remove to soften any potential glue?
 

Singapore9

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9/8/10
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Hmmmm... I understood the Rolex to be M3x0.35... I have a GEN 7030 ready to go.

M3x0.30 stated here:


But, see also:


Would be interested to hear what your watchmaker says!
 
Last edited:

drvintage

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Yes, gen rolex has 3.0x0,3… the case thread is 3.0x0,35… you can use gen one without re-taping, but very carefully and slowly back and forward
 
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automatico

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5/10/11
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If the case tube has splines at the outer edge, always try to remove the case tube with a CT spline wrench or broach first.

When a case tube is stuck and/or cemented in the case, I use a short piece of wire that is a 'light slip fit' into the case tube and heat the wire with a small torch powered by a BIC cigarette lighter. The wire prevents the flame from touching the case, bezel etc. and still heats the case tube enough to loosen the cement and break the tube loose.
Remove CT gaskets, crystal, and movement first.
There are many versions of these mini-torches on eBay etc.

If the case tube has splines at the outer edge, always try to remove the case tube with a CT wrench first.
You can sometimes remove a case tube by jamming a six sided tapered broach (or small file) into the tube and unscrewing it...or you can broach the ID of the case tube until all that is left are the threads and chase them out with a pointed tool....but you have to be VERY careful not to cut into the case threads with the broach.

Genuine Rlx 6.0mm and 7.0mm case tubes use the same tap size...3.0mm X .35mm (3.0mm diameter with .35mm thread pitch).
Later sapphire DJ etc. have 6.0mm crowns with 5.3mm case tubes and use a different case tube tap...2.0mm X .25mm (2.0mm diameter with .25mm thread pitch).

Tapping or re-tapping case threads is a HUGE hassle. Trouble usually starts before the tap has made one full revolution because the tap is not started straight and it binds up...or breaks.
Don't ask me how I know this.
 

rainyknight

World’s okayest watch fan
14/10/24
28
20
3
Genève, Switzerland
So after I totalled a gen 7030 tube, I figured I'd let a professional take over. I ordered a replacement tube off Esslinger. Looking at the case again, the threads aren't bad, it was just the tube that stripped out. I'm wondering if its worth another try to install the replacement tube myself or hand it off to more experienced people. Anybody feel like taking a crack at my case? I'll pay shipping and services.
 
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drvintage

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Genuine Rlx 6.0mm and 7.0mm case tubes use the same tap size...3.0mm X .35mm (3.0mm diameter with .35mm thread pitch).
Later sapphire DJ etc. have 6.0mm crowns with 5.3mm case tubes and use a different case tube tap...2.0mm X .25mm (2.0mm diameter with .25mm thread pitch).
Gen Rolex thread on 7mm and old(!) 6mm (24-6000) tubes is 3,0x0,3mm
Gen 24-5300 tube for 5mm and newer 6mm crowns have 2,5x0,25mm
 

drvintage

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So after I totalled a gen 7030 tube, I figured I'd let a professional take over. I ordered a replacement tube off Esslinger. Looking at the case again, the threads aren't bad, it was just the tube that stripped out. I'm wondering if it’s worth another try to install the replacement tube myself or hand it off to more experienced people. Anybody feel like taking a crack at my case? I'll pay shipping and services.
Just buy this tube:

 

est4129

Active Member
15/9/18
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There are M3x0.35 crown tubes out there. I bought a few and tried to install them on a Vietnam case with 0.30 threads. No go on a case with a gen spec threads but they would probably be perfect for this one.

I should have my old Crowns case in the next couple days and will try this out.
 

Singapore9

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Right chaps, now we have the tap (or back and forth method) sorted for our 7030 tubes... what countersink tool are we using?

Any recommendations? @Karbon74 - Do you have a link, Pika buddy?
 

HulkyGalore

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Right chaps, now we have the tap (or back and forth method) sorted for our 7030 tubes... what countersink tool are we using?

Any recommendations? @Karbon74 - Do you have a link, Pika buddy?
I can't remember where I saw the same question being answered (possibly for 16610 not sure if that makes a difference?) but here is a link to one tool that has been used for this purpose. I'm not sure if it is right and although I have one I haven't used it yet (the 4mm one)

From what I read before the shape should be counterbored (as opposed to countersunk) hole to match the step in the tubes and trap the washer or seal under it, but I am not sure how easy it would be to do that. So it looks like countersinking is the next best thing and that is what this tool can do.

 
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Karbon74

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Right chaps, now we have the tap (or back and forth method) sorted for our 7030 tubes... what countersink tool are we using?

Any recommendations? @Karbon74 - Do you have a link, Pika buddy?

I just found this on AliExpress: 4,17€ | Tooleye Carbide Chamfer Milling Cutter 60 90 120° Tungsten Steel Cnc Cutter 2and3 Flutes Chamfering Mill Metal Cutter End Mills
 
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