CF GMT Bezel Stuck

[Justin_thyme]

hello everyone, im working on my CF pepsi v3 and swapped to gen crystal but having issues reinstalling the bezel.
ive cleaned off all the gunk/grease that came from the factory, and ive checked to see that the washer is not binding to the retaining ring. but the bezel is now very hard to move, and takes a lot of force to turn. ive also checked that the hytrel ring is in the right orientation (thicker side facing the insert).

ive tried removing some tension from the click springs by bending it out which seems to help, but the whole bezel assembly seems to want a thick coat of grease to want to even move a little bit.

ive also swapped hytrels to alix replacements to see if they were the issue, but that doesnt seem to be the case.

is it a crystal ring issue? or maybe i installed the crystal gasket wrong?

 

[Justin_thyme]

@KJ2020 would really appreciate what you think, o wise one

 

[KJ2020]

@KJ2020 would really appreciate what you think, o wise one

Bro read through the thread below, we just had this discussion.

DIY GMT Master Crystal Replacement

This is my first post in RWI and I apologize if this isn't the right thread section to post this in, but i've searched other threads and forums and couldn't find exactly what I'm looking for. Long story short - I purchased a Clean GMT Master II from a TD with a Deep Xtal. The TD could not...

forum.replica-watch.info

Post back if you still need more help.

 

[Justin_thyme]

Bro read through the thread below, we just had this discussion.

DIY GMT Master Crystal Replacement

This is my first post in RWI and I apologize if this isn't the right thread section to post this in, but i've searched other threads and forums and couldn't find exactly what I'm looking for. Long story short - I purchased a Clean GMT Master II from a TD with a Deep Xtal. The TD could not...

forum.replica-watch.info

Post back if you still need more help.

thank you sir, i see that aftermarket crystal gaskets need to be thinned down, but im reusing the clean crystal gasket, but replaced the hytrel gasket. does the hytrel need to be thinned down too?
also, whenever i remove the bezel to adjust tension/troubleshoot, the whole assembly + the retaining ring comes off. the retaining ring also seems to be binded/stuck to the bezel-- would this be from a the hytrel ring being too thick?

 

[Justin_thyme]

thank you sir, i see that aftermarket crystal gaskets need to be thinned down, but im reusing the clean crystal gasket, but replaced the hytrel gasket. does the hytrel need to be thinned down too?
also, whenever i remove the bezel to adjust tension/troubleshoot, the whole assembly + the retaining ring comes off. the retaining ring also seems to be binded/stuck to the bezel-- would this be from a the hytrel ring being too thick?

also, noob question: is there a up/down side for the crystal gasket? maybe i flipped it and installed it backwards...

 

[KJ2020]

thank you sir, i see that aftermarket crystal gaskets need to be thinned down, but im reusing the clean crystal gasket, but replaced the hytrel gasket. does the hytrel need to be thinned down too?
also, whenever i remove the bezel to adjust tension/troubleshoot, the whole assembly + the retaining ring comes off. the retaining ring also seems to be binded/stuck to the bezel-- would this be from a the hytrel ring being too thick?

The crystal is coming off with the bezel because of the cheap skinny stock CF crystal gasket. That doesn't bode well for WP. The retaining ring is sticking to the bezel because of a thicker hytrel ring. You can thin a hytrel ring but it's not easy to keep it uniform and it is easy to stretch it out. So your crystal gasket is too thin and your bezel gasket is too thick. Try swapping them, haha.

Seriously though I would start over with a better quality crystal gasket. Then test fit the bezel with all parts EXCEPT the hytrel ring. If the bezel works OK, then find a hytrel ring that will hold the bezel on but not make it stop rotating. This is where fishline works exceptionally well. Start with a thinner diameter and work up til you get a nice custom combo with your particular crystal gasket width. It's a give and take relationship between the two gaskets.

You can also try the above from where you are now. If your bezel works OK with no hytrel ring then you may be able to thin it enough to make it work. Thinning one is easier to do if it's a straight piece so you might as well cut it. Fold over a piece of 400 grit paper and pull the line through the paper. Same way I thin fishline if it needs it. Go easy on the sandpaper pressure til you get a feel for how much the gasket is thinning with each pull. Add a thin coat of silicone grease when you are done.

There is an up and a down side to a crystal gasket. Hold the gasket by its outer edge and run a fingernail vertically along the inside. Your nail will catch on one edge and not catch on the other. The edge that catches is the top - there is a short inward facing lip that fits into the crystal detent.

 

[Justin_thyme]

The crystal is coming off with the bezel because of the cheap skinny stock CF crystal gasket. That doesn't bode well for WP. The retaining ring is sticking to the bezel because of a thicker hytrel ring. You can thin a hytrel ring but it's not easy to keep it uniform and it is easy to stretch it out. So your crystal gasket is too thin and your bezel gasket is too thick. Try swapping them, haha.

Seriously though I would start over with a better quality crystal gasket. Then test fit the bezel with all parts EXCEPT the hytrel ring. If the bezel works OK, then find a hytrel ring that will hold the bezel on but not make it stop rotating. This is where fishline works exceptionally well. Start with a thinner diameter and work up til you get a nice custom combo with your particular crystal gasket width. It's a give and take relationship between the two gaskets.

You can also try the above from where you are now. If your bezel works OK with no hytrel ring then you may be able to thin it enough to make it work. Thinning one is easier to do if it's a straight piece so you might as well cut it. Fold over a piece of 400 grit paper and pull the line through the paper. Same way I thin fishline if it needs it. Go easy on the sandpaper pressure til you get a feel for how much the gasket is thinning with each pull. Add a thin coat of silicone grease when you are done.

There is an up and a down side to a crystal gasket. Hold the gasket by its outer edge and run a fingernail vertically along the inside. Your nail will catch on one edge and not catch on the other. The edge that catches is the top - there is a short inward facing lip that fits into the crystal detent.

gotcha, the crystal gasket is staying on, but the retaining ring is binded to the bezel assembly-- i think youre right in that i should swap out the hytrel for fishing line and try with/without. will also swap the crystal gasket and lyk how it pans out!

thank you so much for these words of wisdom