Changing a Watch Battery
- Thread starter LSU
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driftpin
Well-known member
Harbor Freight has a screw-back pin wrench. I write the date inside the back cap with a fine-point Sharpie. I've used Varta batteries. Wear gloves, don't touch the +or - faces of the coin/battery with your bare hand/fingers.
jayoldschool
Well-known member
I use a rubber ball to remove screw on case backs. Most watchmakers do the same (but they also have good caseback tools as a backup).
RTM
Well-known member
If the back doesn't screw on, there is a watchmakers tool that looks like a dull pocket knife that will pop them open. Beware not to nick the o-ring. I used to use a pocket knife until I discovered these.
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A pair of needle nose pliers used properly will fit into the little slots (2 of them anyway) if you don't have a case back tool, but be deliberate or you'll slip and scrape the case back.
The rubber ball trick looks interesting but for a dive rated luminox the case back is going to be tight and you're going to be working against a lot of oring resistance.
Once you're in, don't be tempted to pull or pry on the little spring tab that contacts the outside of the battery. The battery should slide out from under it pretty easily.
I grew up in a one-horse town with no jeweler and discovered when I was 15 that people didn't mind paying a little for me to replace their watch batteries rather than sending them out. I also got into resizing and replacing bands/bracelets and I would ask people if I could keep the extra parts (pins, clasps, links, screws, etc.) I would inevitably find someone else who had lost a pin or a screw and after a while I nearly always had a replacement.
It was sweet side hustle for a teenager.
The rubber ball trick looks interesting but for a dive rated luminox the case back is going to be tight and you're going to be working against a lot of oring resistance.
Once you're in, don't be tempted to pull or pry on the little spring tab that contacts the outside of the battery. The battery should slide out from under it pretty easily.
I grew up in a one-horse town with no jeweler and discovered when I was 15 that people didn't mind paying a little for me to replace their watch batteries rather than sending them out. I also got into resizing and replacing bands/bracelets and I would ask people if I could keep the extra parts (pins, clasps, links, screws, etc.) I would inevitably find someone else who had lost a pin or a screw and after a while I nearly always had a replacement.
It was sweet side hustle for a teenager.
4xdog
Well-known member
Try to find the freshest batteries you can. Sometimes those things spend a while on the shelf, and it's a pain to have used up part of their life before they're installed.
Unfortunately, I don't have a reliable source for fresh. I've had indifferent luck everywhere, including Amazon where the Big A isn't the seller. Perhaps some of our correspondents here can suggestion someplace?
Unfortunately, I don't have a reliable source for fresh. I've had indifferent luck everywhere, including Amazon where the Big A isn't the seller. Perhaps some of our correspondents here can suggestion someplace?
seber
Well-known member
Whatever you do, do not try to use needle nose pliers. Slippage is almost guaranteed and deep scars will be the result. If it is a pressure fit, there will be an area that shows a slight open slot between the case and back to slip the knife into. If it is a dive watch, buy or make a proper tool. In a pinch you can use a flat piece of steel slightly less thick than the notches and cut it to fit two of them.
RTM
Well-known member
Oops, I forgot to mention the existence of that opening in the groove line.
Mick56
Well-known member
I've changed a few with the backs that pop off, but I have a really hard time getting the back pressed back on.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
I have used Renata and Sony batteries with great success. They are both Mercury free and come with a date on the package.
RTM
Well-known member
Getting the o-ring in the groove in the back is an important step. Often they take much more pressure than seems safe, but all have gone in with hand pressure, usually one against the other. Occasionally I will need to put the watch on a towel on a flat surface, and put some body weight in to it.
I had one that wouldn’t go, took it to a jeweler, he said the o-ring had distorted, replaced it, went right on.
Never resorted to a hammer or the arbor press.
Meursault74
Well-known member
Do you have a torque wrench adapter for the rubber ball ?
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
I do my own watch batteries, there are probably better tools but these ones from harbor freight are invaluable to me. If you have one that the cover 'pops' off - the press is extremely useful. Also, I'd see if your watch requires new O-rings when you take it apart.
www.harborfreight.com
www.harborfreight.com
Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977
Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!
www.harborfreight.com
Watch Case Opener
Amazing deals on this Watch Case Opener at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
seber
Well-known member
That case press is cheap even if all you need are the dies.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
Where are places to buy watch O-rings and how to measure what size you need?
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That HF case press works great. I've used mine for many years and it saves alot of headaches.I do my own watch batteries, there are probably better tools but these ones from harbor freight are invaluable to me. If you have one that the cover 'pops' off - the press is extremely useful. Also, I'd see if your watch requires new O-rings when you take it apart.
Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977
Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!Watch Case Opener
Amazing deals on this Watch Case Opener at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
The opener tool *****. You never can fit 3 pawls onto a watch back, so you end up straddling 2 pawls at an angle which is very awkward to use. The simple 2-pawl openers are much easier to use, especially with a plastic vise to hold the watch:
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Meursault74
Well-known member
I have that HF opener. It has worked fine for me for the two watches I've used it for (dive style watches)
I don't have that press. I have used a C-clamp held in a bench vise and some wood shims I cut from scrap to press a couple of watches back together when my fingers alone would not work.
I'm guessing the likelihood that a GJ member will have some C-clamps and a bench vise already are pretty good.
RTM
Well-known member
Dang, I bought one similar at a GS, hoping it would help. Have not used it, as I haven’t put batteries in my watches for over two years now, as I rarely need a watch these days.
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
I just bought a cheap kit similar to this one on amazon. You could probably look up sizes by watch and order higher quality ones.
Batteries, o-rings, tools: https://www.esslinger.com
svhamelly
Well-known member
I take my everyday watches to Batteries Plus.
Skyman
Well-known member
I have only one watch that has a threaded back cover, and I made my own pin wrench to use on it. It's not fancy, but has served me well for years. A bit of scrap wood, a couple of brads with their heads cut off, spaced just right. Ignore the preexisting notch in the scrap of lumber.
Steve
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cpttuna
Well-known member
I take mine to a place in town. $10 and 10 minutes.
That would be fine with me if I only had 1 or 2 watches to maintain. But with a drawer of them it's better to buy the batteries from Mouser Electronics or Digi-Key for a dollar each and replace them at home in a few minutes.
RTM
Well-known member
Yup, I have 6 or 8 battery powered watches.
Tynee
Well-known member
A note on the "pressed on" backs: Look to see if there is a notch in the rim of the back that needs to be lined up with where the stem goes through the case.
RyanE
Well-known member
Screw down rear case? Don't have the correct tools? Me neither.
Remove the watchband (if leather or textile). I superglue a 3/4" nut to the case. Let it dry (2 mins). Grab a wrench and turn the nut. The glue will hold. Replace the battery (as noted above, use gloves to ensure no oils on the battery). Inspect the O ring. I usually clean it up and reapply a small amount of silicone grease (superglue, silgkyde, etc). Spin the rear case back on carefully by hand and snug with wrench.
Grab some acetone and drop a few drops into the centre of the nut. It will dissolve the superglue shortly. Remove nut and wipe off any softened glue residue. Replace watch band (if previously removed). Enjoy a few years of use until the current battery dies again. Repeat.
I've done this about 8 times since I bought a Momentum Pathfinder back in 2007. Works.
Remove the watchband (if leather or textile). I superglue a 3/4" nut to the case. Let it dry (2 mins). Grab a wrench and turn the nut. The glue will hold. Replace the battery (as noted above, use gloves to ensure no oils on the battery). Inspect the O ring. I usually clean it up and reapply a small amount of silicone grease (superglue, silgkyde, etc). Spin the rear case back on carefully by hand and snug with wrench.
Grab some acetone and drop a few drops into the centre of the nut. It will dissolve the superglue shortly. Remove nut and wipe off any softened glue residue. Replace watch band (if previously removed). Enjoy a few years of use until the current battery dies again. Repeat.
I've done this about 8 times since I bought a Momentum Pathfinder back in 2007. Works.
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etherhuffer
Well-known member
These work well. The adjustment allows for all three pins to be in notches on the watch back
engineer2
Well-known member
A sharp wood chisel will easily remove a press-on watch back.
To avoid accusations of wood chisel abuse by GJ members, I use the cheap HF ones.
To avoid accusations of wood chisel abuse by GJ members, I use the cheap HF ones.
Meursault74
Well-known member
looks just like the HF one minus added holder
Watch Case Opener
Amazing deals on this Watch Case Opener at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com
CGarage
Well-known member
1. Use the proper tool for the job. A case opening tool.
2. Use a Renata battery from Switzerland.
2. Use a Renata battery from Switzerland.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Some watches have small screws that hold the back on. For these and other tasks, it's worth investing in a good set up precision screwdrivers. Wiha is my choice, but Wera and Moody make good ones too.
The cheap metal-handled drivers sold under a hundred different brands will damage the screws, since they don't fit properly.
The cheap metal-handled drivers sold under a hundred different brands will damage the screws, since they don't fit properly.
PMD1966
Well-known member
I have a vice - like device mounted on a block of wood. Holds the watch securely, while using a pin wrench.
I have two old Stanley chisels (1-1/4") that are sharpish but not enough to cut wood cleanly. I call these " the bench chisels" and use them whenever a job needs a thin edge that won't cut anything if used sensibly.
Reminds me that I need to get (or ruin) another couple of chisels about 1/2" and 3/4" in width...
Doug
Well-known member
I removed the back from an old pocket watch yesterday. There was no way to get a grip on it, so I stuck a piece of clay bar to it and flattened it out. That gave me the traction I needed. I put my palm on it and it came right off. No struggle.
CGarage
Well-known member
You will bubba those screws if you use Wiha / Wera / Moody screwdrivers.
There are specialist screwdrivers made for watchmaking and I suggest you use the proper tool for the job.
To bubba the screws on a watch is a sin, especially a nice watch.
RickyPetite
Well-known member
No big tips other than what's been offered. Take your time, buy a good battery (agree with Swiss Renata), get a bright light and skip the coffee. Be prepared to be amazed at how little stuff is inside most watches. Usually a super easy job, you will likely never pay for someone else to do it for you ever again.
2diamondfarm
Well-known member
I get the can do DIY attitude that most of you have but If its an expensive watch or some thing you care about you should just take it to a professional .
If you break the crystal or nick the coil the repair usually is as much as replacing the watch.
If you break the crystal or nick the coil the repair usually is as much as replacing the watch.