[Sargeguy]

Hello,

I recently acquired a Seiko 7c46-6010 “Ashtray” in overall nice condition EXCEPT that the crown lock is stripped.

Considerations:
-Watch is titanium
-Watch was only made for a short time in the 1980s and is extremely rare. New cases are unobtainable
-Seiko Japan serviced it last year but could not repair the crown lock.
-I know that “a competent watchmaker should be able to drill it out” except that all the ones I’ve asked have declined.
-I realize that “you never had a problem with a screw down crown” but the previous owner of this watch did, and it’s my problem now. It also seems to be a fairly common issue with this watch.

I am looking for someone who has experience fixing this sort of problem and is willing to take it on.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[vmgotit]

I wish you best luck. Hopefully you get a positive answer? Welcome to one of the Vintage Seiko big issues, dealing with Divers! I have a sweet 7548 case that the crown threads are stripped or messed up. The case is close to mint, so I feel your frustration. Spencer Klein, doesn’t even mess with stripped crown tubes ?? Vance.

 

[Nokie]

I have not used this company, but a couple of my friends with vintage King Seiko's have and were very satisfied with the end results, so might be worth reaching out to them?

Vintage Seiko, King Seiko, & Grand Seiko Watch Servicing & Repair Specialists | The Seikologist

Good luck.

 

[CDNS]

I have not used this company, but a couple of my friends with vintage King Seiko's have and were very satisfied with the end results, so might be worth reaching out to them?

Vintage Seiko, King Seiko, & Grand Seiko Watch Servicing & Repair Specialists | The Seikologist

Good luck.

Great link. Special watch = Specialists

 

[Sargeguy]

Thanks. I already asked him and the response was that it was not something he could help with.

 

[TexasTaucher]

yep, this is the one reason I have been hesitant to shell out the coin for an ashtray.

I believe the crown tube was also Ti, another problem that plagued a certain Neo vintage Oris diver.


best of luck!

almost seems worth finding a small machine shop and asking them what they could do.

 

[Sargeguy]

There is a titanium epoxy. I might experiment with that and re-tapping/threading it. Titanium is difficult to work with though, so I’m going to try to find someone with experience.

 

[rainier]

Do you know for sure the crown tube’s threads are stripped or is the crown’s threads stripped?

Have you tested the screw-down with another crown to validate? Worth a shot.

 

[bombora]

Usually the smaller diameter threads will be the ones that strip.

 

[Sargeguy]

Do you know for sure the crown tube’s threads are stripped or is the crown’s threads stripped?

Have you tested the screw-down with another crown to validate? Worth a shot.

From what I see the threads are still there on the tube. I have a a parts 6010 coming from Japan in a week or so. The first thing I will try is swapping the crowns. I also have a 7010 that just arrived from servicing that I could swap the crown from if they are interchangeable.

 

[journeyforce]

To me the crown of the 300m 7C46 Tuna looks somewhat like the one on the Ashtray other then the obvious that one is titanium and the other is steel. I wonder if one from a SBBN007 would work?

Anyway, good luck on the repair, those Ashtrays look great and a very unique watch

 

[buddy13]

Beautiful watch indeed.

A clear example of why a pendant crown tube, independent from the case is always a good idea. I have asked why Seiko is not doing it on all its expensive watches just a few weeks ago.

Sorry to hear and don't know where to guide you. Could it be the thread in the crown itself? Have you checked?

Being Titanium certainly doesn't make it any easier.

 

[SkxRobbie]

Is the oring on the stem like an skx? If so you can safely wear it around without fear of water ingress. While you are enjoying it you can be on he lookout for a doner watch. Even if its not running you can buy it for the case and crown/tube?
Edit...
Had a quick glance on the interwebs thiese watches are very expensive indeed!

 

[Sargeguy]

I did a crown switch with my SBBN007 and it is indeed the crown and not the stem tube that is stripped. Stem tube appears to be SS.

 

[journeyforce]

So it all depends what you now want to do. Look for the correct crown that is Ti or settle for a SBBN007 crown.

 

[rainier]

I did a crown switch with my SBBN007 and it is indeed the crown and not the stem tube that is stripped. Stem tube appears to be SS.

Well that's great news - glad you gave it a shot!

 

[MediumRB]

Glad that it might just be the crown threads (crowns are available, but neither easy nor cheap to source).
I had the SS Ashtray Tuna and the tube was stripped. For awhile, I just took the spring out of the stem and used it as a push/pull crown and it was fine operationally, but I was very unsettled about that. My watchmaker in Seoul fixed the tube threads after I acknowledged the risk involved, so all worked out in the end. But if it had been titanium...well, maybe get a new stainless crown tube and just epoxy it in place to the case or get a proper fitted fixed stem and forget that it was ever screw-in.