Made a major noob mistake - and I cannot get the strap off my Pam (tubes)

[jj69]

Well, I screwed up royally! I installed a cheap strap on my 1661 using the tubes that came with the Aliexpress strap. I was apparently sent tubes that are too long because there is now ZERO clearance between the tubes and lugs of my watch! As far as I can tell it is nearly impossible to remove the strap. The "drilled" lugs in the 1661 rep case are also faux lug holes, so that's no help. I tried using tin snips to cut through the tube, but only bent the tube and scratched the lug.

Is the watch now junk, or can a watchmaker do something to get it off? If it were steel case, I'm sure you could just force the spring bar till it breaks. However, with the carbon case, I fear there is little hope.

 

[Reaps]

Carbon case, oof

Might be helpful for others with some pictures

Dont force or it'll crack the case.

How waterproof is it? Do you have access to any heating tools? I was gonna suggest heating it up and seeing if there is some wiggle room

 

[jj69]

I'm done trying myself. Hoping watchmaker has a tool or trick to cut the tube or spring bar.

 

[Reaps]

I'm done trying myself. Hoping watchmaker has a tool or trick to cut the tube or spring bar.

Can't you just cut the strap and the bar with heavy duty pliers then?

 

[jj69]

Can't you just cut the strap and the bar with heavy duty pliers then?

Unfortunately strap is gen canvas. The problem is the tube. Hoping watchmaker can cut through it...

 

[Reaps]

Unfortunately strap is gen canvas. The problem is the tube. Hoping watchmaker can cut through it...

Rip man. Good luck and hopefully you resolve it. Let us know how it goes and its a lesson to do a dry test fit of parts before assembly.

 

[Plaasbaas]

I made that mistake once and managed to file a big enough hole into the tubes with a tiny watchmakers diamond file. Through that hole I then got grip on the shoulders of the springbar inside the tube.

My strap was leather and I was able to push the strap back to make a tiny gap between the lug and the strap so that a teeny tiny bit of the tube was visible.

The filing by hand took like forever because I also didn't want to destroy the strap (while avoiding to touch the case with the file).

A manual job that required a steady hand and a lot of patience but I got it right in the end.

Edit: It's essential to know that too much lateral force will damage the lugs. If the carbon breaks it's game over.

 

[Karbon74]

Are those springbars? Or straight on tubes?

If they are springbars, you can use the dental floss trick

 

[jj69]

Tubes

 

[pf78]

Perhaps I was really really lucky but dental floss worked on my carbotech case + strap + tube situation

 

[Plaasbaas]

It all depends on if there is enough leeway to reach past the tube with dental floss and get hold of the springbar to try to compress it.

 

[Olavmol]

I’ve done this once on my 1616.
I managed to get it off by using a dremel, by cutting the strap in the middle right between the lugs VERY CAREFULLY!!
You sacrifice the strap, tubes and springbars but luckily it’s an Ali strap.
Good luck!

 

[jj69]

I’ve done this once on my 1616.
I managed to get it off by using a dremel, by cutting the strap in the middle right between the lugs VERY CAREFULLY!!
You sacrifice the strap, tubes and springbars but luckily it’s an Ali strap.
Good luck!

Glad to hear someone got it done! I'm hoping local watchmaker can do the same. Trying to get there tomorrow. I don't know how I made such a stupid mistake.

 

[Olavmol]

Glad to hear someone got it done! I'm hoping local watchmaker can do the same. Trying to get there tomorrow. I don't know how I made such a stupid mistake.

It’s the only Pam I’ve ever had where the lugholes were covered.
It’s something you’ll do once, from now on it’ll probably never happen.
If you do it again, shame on you ;-)

 

[jj69]

Got it back today. Watchmaker used a rotary tool to cut both tubes & bars off, saving both watch and strap. Whew!

From this point forth, all tubes go straight in the trash!