Panerai Spring bar snapped

[daveenty]

It's not actually a spring bar though, it's a screw which goes in it's place through the lugs.

It's snapped off half way down the threaded end, leaving nothing to grip on to remove it.

It's not mine, belongs to a member over on the MB Forum but I just thought I'd up it here to see if anyone can assist him in it's removal.

His pics below: -

[Variomatic]

Is the threaded hole a through-hole or blind? If it's a through hole then removal is easy with the right kit, if it's blind then may be a problem.

It's worth trying putting the broken screw back in place then "unscrewing" it keeping a little pressure on it so that the broken end is pressed against the stub of thread. The ends of broken screws often have a rough enough end to "key" to the bit that's broken off and turn it. Dribbling a little lighter fluid into the hole before trying can also help because it tends to dissolve any of the dead arm grease that inevitably ends up in those holes (no matter how well groomed the owner is!)

Don't try too hard with this method because it'll either work or not an if you keep trying when it's not going to work then you risk spreading the end of the broken bit and effectively riveting it into the hole, which makes removal a whole lot harder!

[daveenty]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the reply. It's apparently an "open" hole though, as mentioned earlier, it's not mine so I haven't seen it.

I'll pass the info you've suggested on to the gent in question and will also pass your details on if that's OK? I think he wants to sell the watch soon (serial flipper ) so the sooner he gets this fixes the better.

[Variomatic]

Yep, that's fine If it's a through hole then it's a lot more straightforward to either unscrew or drill it out. The hardest part is likely to be getting hold of a replacement

[lostkiwi]

Variomatic said:

Yep, that's fine If it's a through hole then it's a lot more straightforward to either unscrew or drill it out. The hardest part is likely to be getting hold of a replacement

Panerais are always a through hole as far as I'm aware (unless its a Radiomir which then uses a whole different method) so this will be a through hole for sure. .

[Variomatic]

Agreed as far as I know, but I've learnt the hard way that advising or quoting on the basis of "as far as..." Is almost guaranteed to turn out to be some obscure exception

[daveenty]

Which is why I put in my post above "it's not mine so I haven't seen it"

I believe the gentleman in question has been in touch, so hopefully sorted soon.