Tutorial: How to fix the Bezel on a CLEAN GMT Master 2

[KJ2020]

KJ2020 - Thank you
I think I just *barely* got away with this one. But I went in looking at this as a learning experience and hoping I wouldn't screw everything up too badly and *knock on wood* I think it worked.

Cool bro congrats on the success. If it's any consolation the CF GMT bezel assemblies are the worst 6 digit rep Rolex ones in recent releases. Real shame as they are great models otherwise. If you ever get a chance to try a GMF GMT bezel you will immediately feel the difference. Well fitting decent quality parts and NO grease. If you ever decide to work on a 6 digit Sub bezel or crystal or just want to learn more you would probably benefit from the link below.

6-digit Sub crystal and bezel swap

 

[Pure78]

Hi Guys

Those who follow me a little know that I do reviews from time to time or that I take photos of a build from time to time.
This time it's different and I still hope that I can entertain some people here.
In the best case scenario, I can even help with your problem if you have the same.

I ordered a CLEAN Factory GMT Master 2 BLRO "Pepsi" knowing that the bezel is known for its poor construction.

I wanted to use this directly to get some practice

Image 1:
Of course you don't see that the bezel has backplay. This about 4-6mm, so already enormous. In addition, it can only be turned very softly without clicking the GEN (yes, non-Submariners also click - just different) and is not aligned with the triangle at 12 o'clock.


Image 2 and Image 3:
After removing the bezel you can see why it doesn't click: Clean just smeared the whole shit full of grease. What is also noticeable is that the spring is a little too big and made of rather soft material, hence the backplay: it is simply too flexible. They really smeared loads of that grease in there. The CLEAN structure only works like this - nothing turns at all without grease - unlike other factories such as ARF, where the entire structure fits in such a way that no grease is needed (as I been told).


Picture 4:
Here you can see the structure of the bezel after I have cleaned about 30-40% of the grease.


Picture 5 and 6:
As mentioned, the whole bezel was still misaligned, so I had to use a carpet knife to remove the inlay and remove the adhesive in order to put it back in correctly after installing the new spring.


Picture 7:
Here you can see 38mm adhesive rings for bezel inlays - thanks to Aliexpress


Picture 8:
Here you can see the two bezel springs: below the uncleaned CLEAN spring and above the GEN spring from Rolex.


Picture 9:
After removing 30-40% of the grease on the washer under the bezel, I clamped the GEN spring, which moves perfect and has no play / flex.


Picture 10:
I then pressed on the bezel and glued in the bezel inlay using an adhesive ring, here you can see the result.
It was fun and the result is stunning. Clicks like GEN, and I was able to practice building the case a little right away.
I hope you had fun with the pictures


Lot of greetings from Switzerland

So to have the click sound and the bezel movement correct like gen, the only thing to do is replace the cf spring with a gen spring?

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Nope.
read the posts from KJ2020 - very good lecture!

 

[A330]

Quick question, been looking at this replacement with my CF GMT Master II about to be shipped out of CN.

Would there be any significant changes between the AliExpress and the Gen. Just might be quicker than to wait for one to become available. Cheers OP for this thread, cannot wait to see my end results.

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Aliexpress Hytrel works.
if your talking about the spring: everything is better than this CLEAN Spring it feels like rubber

 

[A330]

Aliexpress Hytrel works.
if your talking about the spring: everything is better than this CLEAN Spring it feels like rubber

Ended up finding a gen click spring, sending it off to a forwarding center before it being shipped here to down unda. Total, only $59 (aud) more expensive than aliexpress offering. Cannot wait to give it a shot.

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Great to hear. Importabt: dont remove 100% of the grease, CLEAN dint wants that

 

[A330]

Great to hear. Importabt: dont remove 100% of the grease, CLEAN dint wants that

Noted - for all other people from the US who needs this gen part. Good news, its in stock from the same supplier that was mentioned in the first ebay listing!

Rolex Click Spring 316-116750-2-C5 Genuine Model 116758 Price Per 1 Spring | eBay

If you are not from the US, you are outta luck or you can use a shipping forwarding service like MyUS or Comgateway (I am using Comgateway)

 

[Thatporkchop]

Hoping to try this soon

 

[IPromiseItsFake]

Hoping to try this soon

Same.

 

[IPromiseItsFake]

Noted - for all other people from the US who needs this gen part. Good news, its in stock from the same supplier that was mentioned in the first ebay listing!

Rolex Click Spring 316-116750-2-C5 Genuine Model 116758 Price Per 1 Spring | eBay

If you are not from the US, you are outta luck or you can use a shipping forwarding service like MyUS or Comgateway (I am using Comgateway)

Thanks. Gen spring ordered!

 

[nightowl77]

Hi Guys

Those who follow me a little know that I do reviews from time to time or that I take photos of a build from time to time.
This time it's different and I still hope that I can entertain some people here.
In the best case scenario, I can even help with your problem if you have the same.

I ordered a CLEAN Factory GMT Master 2 BLRO "Pepsi" knowing that the bezel is known for its poor construction.

I wanted to use this directly to get some practice

Image 1:
Of course you don't see that the bezel has backplay. This about 4-6mm, so already enormous. In addition, it can only be turned very softly without clicking the GEN (yes, non-Submariners also click - just different) and is not aligned with the triangle at 12 o'clock.


Image 2 and Image 3:
After removing the bezel you can see why it doesn't click: Clean just smeared the whole shit full of grease. What is also noticeable is that the spring is a little too big and made of rather soft material, hence the backplay: it is simply too flexible. They really smeared loads of that grease in there. The CLEAN structure only works like this - nothing turns at all without grease - unlike other factories such as ARF, where the entire structure fits in such a way that no grease is needed (as I been told).


Picture 4:
Here you can see the structure of the bezel after I have cleaned about 30-40% of the grease.


Picture 5 and 6:
As mentioned, the whole bezel was still misaligned, so I had to use a carpet knife to remove the inlay and remove the adhesive in order to put it back in correctly after installing the new spring.


Picture 7:
Here you can see 38mm adhesive rings for bezel inlays - thanks to Aliexpress


Picture 8:
Here you can see the two bezel springs: below the uncleaned CLEAN spring and above the GEN spring from Rolex.


Picture 9:
After removing 30-40% of the grease on the washer under the bezel, I clamped the GEN spring, which moves perfect and has no play / flex.


Picture 10:
I then pressed on the bezel and glued in the bezel inlay using an adhesive ring, here you can see the result.
It was fun and the result is stunning. Clicks like GEN, and I was able to practice building the case a little right away.
I hope you had fun with the pictures


Lot of greetings from Switzerland

Hi what do you use to clean 30/40% of the grease? I have a stock CF Pepsi, and just want to know how it improves after just cleaning the grease. Thank you so much in advance

 

[nightowl77]

Hi guys! I have a stock CF Pepsi. Just wanted to know how do i clean some of the grease off? What do you use to not completely get rid of the grease. Just minor cleaning. Wanted to test how it improves after just giving it a clean. If you use qtips, is it just the qtips and rubbing the grease off? Thanks in advance.

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Hi what do you use to clean 30/40% of the grease? I have a stock CF Pepsi, and just want to know how it improves after just cleaning the grease. Thank you so much in advance

A cleaning paper No chemics or alcohol.

 

[IPromiseItsFake]

Great job bro. One other thing that CLEAN doesn't do right is fit the bezel tension ring (flat washer) around the retaining ring teeth. That washer should fit flat to the case, not half up on top of the teeth. It can get in the way of the click ring and cause binding or unnecessary parts wear.

Top half is correct, bottom half is not

For anyone wanting to go the extra mile, the inner perimeter of the washer can be sanded down easily enough so it will fit properly.

Wrap sandpaper around a thin round tool

I add back a tiny bit of silicone grease every few scallops since every bit was removed.
​​​​​

derjenigewelcher Thanks for the post, awesome work!

So I just replaced my click spring with a Gen one and when I had it apart I noticed this flat washer wasn’t there. Anyone know where to source one?

 

[KJ2020]

So I just replaced my click spring with a Gen one and when I had it apart I noticed this flat washer wasn’t there. Anyone know where to source one?

Those are hard to find for 6 digit GMTs. You could try a 5 digit one, you might have to tweak it a little as shown in my post above that you quoted. There are some GMT reps that come without those so their necessity is not critical. If your bezel is working OK without it I would just leave it that way.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/170928104716?hash=item27cc1be50c:g:qpMAAOSw6ktdGVmS

 

[IPromiseItsFake]

Those are hard to find for 6 digit GMTs. You could try a 5 digit one, you might have to tweak it a little as shown in my post above that you quoted. There are some GMT reps that come without those so their necessity is not critical. If your bezel is working OK without it I would just leave it that way.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/170928104716?hash=item27cc1be50c:g:qpMAAOSw6ktdGVmS

Thanks for the advise and link. I couldn’t find a 6 digit version so I actually ordered that one last night. I guess my biggest concern is will it make the bezel sit higher thank it does without it. I planned on sending the watch to Prof to install a lower crystal gasket so I think I’ll wait until I have the washer in hand before I do. I would hate for him to install a 2.8 gasket that looks great, only then to install the washer, which will potentially make the bezel higher, which then will make the crystal look low.

lol does that make sense? It did in my head.

 

[KJ2020]

Thanks for the advise and link. I couldn’t find a 6 digit version so I actually ordered that one last night. I guess my biggest concern is will it make the bezel sit higher thank it does without it. I planned on sending the watch to Prof to install a lower crystal gasket so I think I’ll wait until I have the washer in hand before I do. I would hate for him to install a 2.8 gasket that looks great, only then to install the washer, which will potentially make the bezel higher, which then will make the crystal look low.

lol does that make sense? It did in my head.

It makes sense, but these tension washers are really thin and they won't raise the bezel height appreciably if at all. The bezel gasket (hytrel ring) is supposed to be snug against the crystal retaining ring lip, the tension washer just adds a little more pressure at that point to counter any looseness. On many reps, the presence or absence of this part changes nothing.

*Unless the part is improperly fitted like it is on the CF, then it serves as a nice binding agent. D'oh.

 

[Pure78]

Hi Guys

Those who follow me a little know that I do reviews from time to time or that I take photos of a build from time to time.
This time it's different and I still hope that I can entertain some people here.
In the best case scenario, I can even help with your problem if you have the same.

I ordered a CLEAN Factory GMT Master 2 BLRO "Pepsi" knowing that the bezel is known for its poor construction.

I wanted to use this directly to get some practice

Image 1:
Of course you don't see that the bezel has backplay. This about 4-6mm, so already enormous. In addition, it can only be turned very softly without clicking the GEN (yes, non-Submariners also click - just different) and is not aligned with the triangle at 12 o'clock.


Image 2 and Image 3:
After removing the bezel you can see why it doesn't click: Clean just smeared the whole shit full of grease. What is also noticeable is that the spring is a little too big and made of rather soft material, hence the backplay: it is simply too flexible. They really smeared loads of that grease in there. The CLEAN structure only works like this - nothing turns at all without grease - unlike other factories such as ARF, where the entire structure fits in such a way that no grease is needed (as I been told).


Picture 4:
Here you can see the structure of the bezel after I have cleaned about 30-40% of the grease.


Picture 5 and 6:
As mentioned, the whole bezel was still misaligned, so I had to use a carpet knife to remove the inlay and remove the adhesive in order to put it back in correctly after installing the new spring.


Picture 7:
Here you can see 38mm adhesive rings for bezel inlays - thanks to Aliexpress


Picture 8:
Here you can see the two bezel springs: below the uncleaned CLEAN spring and above the GEN spring from Rolex.


Picture 9:
After removing 30-40% of the grease on the washer under the bezel, I clamped the GEN spring, which moves perfect and has no play / flex.


Picture 10:
I then pressed on the bezel and glued in the bezel inlay using an adhesive ring, here you can see the result.
It was fun and the result is stunning. Clicks like GEN, and I was able to practice building the case a little right away.
I hope you had fun with the pictures


Lot of greetings from Switzerland

So for fix like gen , just put gen spring bezel and remove some fat?

 

[derjenigewelcher]

So for fix like gen , just put gen spring bezel and remove some fat?

Its a massive improvement, yes. But not like gen. there are other rings under the spring which is to small in radius for example...read KJ2020 his posts carefully in this thread, he is the man