Bringing back an AP to good state

[GenTLe 1,501]

From some time I was fancying an Ap ROO Diver in SS.

Problem was that I already had a full ceramic one and I didn't want to put too much money into a brand new or a shiny M2M watch.

Then Vynilspin put on M2M a Noob 5.1 SS Diver... The watch has been used continuously by his son and without real care, with the result of scratches (but not on the crystal), dings, chewed screws on the case back, badly working keyless works, a nearly broken strap rubber ring, clasp springbar rusted and blocked and stem unscrewed crown.

But it was priced accordingly and I got it for around 210$ shipped.

 

This is how it was when I received it:

 

 

First thing to do was complete unassemble of the case.

One of the passthrough screws was a bit blocked (the guy used it to swim and some water passed in it), so the tweezer was not strong enough to unscrew the hidden midcase nut.

With a dremel and a bit of patience I make a tool that worked pretty well and did the job:

 

Using the crystal press (note: Noob diver crystal comes out from the back: you need to push the crystal from the part that normally is outside of the watch, contrary of the normal way where you push from the inside part) and some patience because the antimagnetic movement cover had 1 out of 4 screws that was stripped I obtained this:

 

Here after have them all washed properly:

 

Another evening dedicated to movement disassembly, cleaning and drying (here after I had started to oil and reassemble some bits like the autowind bridge, the click and the balance jewels):

 

Here the mainspring (and another spare one) after cleanup and greasing:

 

During the disassembly I discovered some broken parts, the reason of keyless working bad was there.

The setting lever was gone, the stem wasn't in good shape and also the minute wheel teeth were not good.

Ordered the spares from Cousins UK (apart the.minute wheel that I already had around):

 

Here the movement half done:

 

And completed:

 

Meanwhile one evening was used to fix as much as possible the case.

Here the bezel after the border repolish and surface rebrushing (the case has been rebrushed and repolished too):

 

Caseback screws before and after (kept in place using a 1mm lead pencil head):

 

The case done, mounted back with greased gaskets, waiting to get the movement:

 

Movement in, nearly ready for calibration, still with the stem to shorten

 

Calibration was good:

 

Finally the head completed (antimagnetic stripped screw has been replaced too):

 

And, in the end, a pic of it completed at day light:

 

Me/happy

Cheers!

[jeffrsho 0]

Good work bringing it back too great condition!

[Pure B 0]

Very well done!

[MrWhite 0]

Brilliant well done

[Robin195959 2]

Wow. Great transformation Gentle.

[jmshen 0]

This is amazing and makes me incredibly jealous of how little my knowledge and skills are comparatively. Time to read more.

 

Do you use an ultrasound cleaner?

[964boy 54]

Amazing good, well done

[GenTLe 1,501]

Do you use an ultrasound cleaner?

 

Thanks for your kind words.

Yes, I used it, but nothing beats a pre-ultrasonic cleaning of the plates and less delicate parts with a degreaser, a soft toothbrush and hot water.

[Edge22 0]

Truly amazing!

 

I so wish I had the skills to do something like that...

[GenTLe 1,501]

Truly amazing!

 

I so wish I had the skills to do something like that...

Well, I am definitively not a pro: I work on diy projects since I was 12, but until may 2014 I never ever touched anything as small as a mechanical watch...

So if I made it, anyone else with some hand work experience and patience may do that, with appropriate tools and having screwed up some cheap watches to build up some familiarity with these tasks

[Dendo 93]

Impressive mate - well done!!!

[Kleen™ 45]

Great job, G...

[Kcore 0]

Getting better all the time

[Boycie 473]

I only wish I had your skills and patience, unfortunately I was blessed with Sausage fingers......

 

Excellent tear down and thanks for posting

[UmpaHimself 222]

Nice work! Looks fantastic.

[Kleen™ 45]

The toothbrush and mild soap trick is brilliant for instant renewal of dated-looking watches.

I have an old electric one, that I've dedicated to the task. Works wonders.

[GenTLe 1,501]

Thanks guys!

[Gazzla 23]

[avrahamk1 0]

Wow.. Thats amazing mate.

Very well done

[Kleen™ 45]

Thanks guys!

 

Brilliant, mate. Brilliant!

 

[vinylspin 3]

Simply amazing to see it restored! Your skills are truly impressive. Thanks for sharing!

[Spackjarrow 0]

Great job!