Friday, November 27, 2009
Change Timex Easy Reader Battery -- How To Close Back
--First; to open the watch, look around the edge of the case (back) for a very lightly etched triangle shape – which points to the not very large slot into which to insert the point of a pen knife (thick enough, but not too thick) to pop it open. You will likely find the point at one o’clock, if the stem is nine o’clock – probably adjacent to one of the wrist band holding arms. This is because the opening for the knife point is so insubstantial that you really need to lean the back of the knife against one of the band arms for leverage to pop the watch open.
(Try to remember to line the insert slot – triangle point – up against one of the arms when you pop the watch back closed -- so you can open it again.)
--Second; closing the watch back up; the big problem.
If you try squeezing the back into the case from both sides you will end up in eternal see-saw with one side popping out when the other pops in.
The trick is to start with both thumbs together on one side and gradually work them around the back in opposite directions – without letting either side come up (this takes fierce pressure) until both thumbs meet again on the opposite side, at which point that side will pop in without the opposite side popping out.
This takes so much pressure that I faced the crystal down on a paperback book (to give the crystal a little protection from the little bit of give on the part of the book) and used the weight of my body to keep both thumb points fully pressed in as I worked my way around to the other side.
When I got a bigger Timex model with the same closing problem I had to use grip both ends of the handle of a substantial hammer to press down with enough pressure to pop it closed.
[I moved this post to its own blogspot a year ago but I now I have moved it back here because I think that a post gets more hits on a blogspot that gets other hits.]
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91 comments:
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was about to finish off this watch like I did my last one by applying the hammer repeatedly to all parts of it.
Just knowing that it could be done was a help.. I ended up applying the pressure with the tack hammer handle and it was all I could do to get enough pressure that way.
Thanks again,
Jim Brown
Plainview, NE
Thanks for the tips. My wife's watch has a small circumference so I used a 25mm socket from my ratchet/socket set that was just a little bigger than the crystal as an anvil with a piece of paper towel to reduce marring. I then took a small block of wood and hammer to tap the back into place. Snap, it was done.
I just used a tequila shot glass. On a hard, flat surface, I placed the bottom end of the tequila shot glass on the back of the watch and pressed down with my palm. Worked! Thanks.
I have a Women's Timex Indiglo. I put the watch on a magazine and used a "C" battery to push down on the back of the watch with my palm. The cover snapped right back into place!
I have tried everything, From fingers to palm to plas to hammer but nothing worked :(.
Best explanation. Thank you.
A wooden hammer handle worked perfectly. Just needed to lean on it a bit
As john said a wooden hammer handle worked fine. It's hard to believe that so much pressure does not damage the watch. Thanks for the help.
Shot glass worked perfect after many tries with my thumbs. Indiglo ladies timex.
Ah thank you! Just did this on my Easy Reader Premium Original and it totally worked!
Shot glass,worked like a dream first try.
The butt end of the handle of a wooden tack hammer worked for me to get the back into place. I also us a foam coaster to protect the watch face. Thanks for the tip!
Thank you so much for the detailed description. You were the only one who actually told how to get the back off and back on.
Thank you.
‘Tape the shot glass and use a little, very little, oil on the back plate.
The butt end of the shot glass works but it scratches the back plate, so put tape on the shot glass.
My Timex is a deep water Expedition and the back plate is an extremely tight fit and hard to get on --- but with the shot glass and oil, I did it.
But now the alarm will not work. The watch works have 2 little spring legs that, apparently, touch the back plate and use it as a sound board. But there is also a 1 leg spring for what, I don’t what. Meanwhile the back plate has a relatively thick paper circle that the legs spring, apparently, have to avoid. — I am still working on that issue.—Is there some landmark/bench mark, that I can use to align the back plate with the watch works???
Jeff in South Carolina.
I wasn't going to pay $12 again to replace a watch battery. After searching around I found your blog. I tried the thumb trick with no success. Then the rubber handle of my ball peen hamer and bingo. Thanks for the help.
Ron
Thanks for the tips---had about given up but the shot glass trick worked like a charm!
A small "C" clamp with two pieces of wood works very well. It takes less effort.
Thank you, it worked. A paperback under the watch, a rag over the cover and then a 9/16 socket over that. I hit it with a hammer a few times and it is in.
Thanks!
The best advice on this problem (putting the back on) I found on line. It worked!
Really appreciated!
Well explained.
You did something good that helped others!
A Canadian in Québec!
Ha, it worked. I wouldn't have thought of doing it this way.
Thank you for the tutorial. Saved me the headache.
I had given up and already replaced the watch. I figured at this point I had nothing to lose even if the techniques I read here completely destroyed the watch. Used a light wiping with cooking oil which is all that I had handy...then leaned into the wooden hammer handle with all my weight and the back snapped into place. Who would have thought? I like the sound of the C-clamp idea..I might try that if I ever have this problem again.
ADDENDUM:
If you have a watch that has a small cut out on the back for the winding stem, be sure you have that notch lined up with the stem before applying any huge amount of pressure. Yes, I know you are not stupid...I'm just saying..
I have been replacing watch batteries my entire adult life and always managed to find a way to open the back. Not this watch!
Lucky for me my google search found you posting and I just wanted to say thank you!
Thanks for the post and the comments, they helped me a lot!
The Indiglo back light stopped working on my light, so I had to open it, here's how to fix it:
http://ohdev.blogspot.com/2014/02/timex-indiglo-back-light-not-working-fix.html
I used the wooden handle of my husband's hammer to close the back. I placed the watch face down on a few paper towels, placed the watch back on the watch and gently, gently, gently pressed/slid the back from bottom to top with the hammer's handle, not much pressure, and presto!, it clicked tight and my world is once again in sync. I think I'll start a new career.
Thumbs,plastic hammers--nothing worked on a lady's small Timex. Then, I placed it between two pieces of soft wood and placed the sandwich in a vise. Turn the vise just enough to pop it in. The C-Clamp should work but the vise is more powerful and is a sure thing. Ask your neighbors if they have a vise or bring it to a mechanic but, in either case, bring your own pieces of clean soft flat wood. Soft wood is important only to minimize the possibility of scratches but, if you don't have any, use flat and clean wood of any type.
Thank you! Just knowing it could be done and that I wasn't doing something wrong helped a lot. Placed on book cover and pressed down very firmly!
Thank you! I tried everything suggested and finally used an Irwin channel lock pliers and a rag to protect the watch. It took a couple more tries but it worked. Had I not read your blog and the comments of the others, I would of given up.
Thanks so much, I am an old lady but managed with your hint about looking for the small triangle(no other post mentioned it and I had to use a magnifier at my age to locate it). The hammer across the back of the small watch I have, helped to hold it in as I applied pressure from above to close it. THANKS SO MUCH.
Susan
My dad and I struggled with this stupid TIMEX waterproof expedition watch in the middle of the night. And I found this blog. Because of my poor english reading skill, I read your tips and comments' tips twice to understand it perfectly.
I think maybe my vodka shot can end this nightmare up, so I begged dad to try. At first try, we made it. Finally, we are in peace:-)
THANKS for the wonderful tips, guys! This blog encouraged me to be calm and confident!
I personally recommend to use vodka shot for the closure of closing TIMEX watches.
A thankful girl in South Korea
Made me a hero with my wife several times over (several watches). I ALMOST used the hammer to "solve the problem" another way before reading this posting. Instead, I used the hammer handle to snap the cover back in place. Unbelievably easy that way. Thanks.
After much aggro, I managed to re-insert the case back on a women's Casio (LTP 1254). This watch has a small rectangular case which makes it difficult to find something that will press against the front without damaging the convex crystal. I finally found a small PVC pipe fitting (coupler), and used a workbench vise with wooden faces. That got the case back mostly in, at which point I could see which edge was sticking out more than the rest, so I pried it into place with a screwdriver blade. Bottom line: look for a PVC pipe or coupler of the right diameter.
Thanks man. I saw lots of videos but your advice worked.
Javad
Soth Azerbaijan
Two days trying to put the back on. Finally broke down and asked my husband to help. He took his pliers and a dish cloth to protect the watch and snapped it right on in about 4 seconds. Really "ticked" me off.
Mrs. Frustrated
Hey, that was great. I've tried most of the other tricks that people mentioned on your blog with mixed results. I've lost several nice Timex watches in the process. I live in the jungle so I don't have the luxury of going to Wal-Mart or some other place to get the battery replaced. I followed your instructions to the tee and presto eureka! I'm so glad that I found your blog. Thanks!
Hey, that was great. I've tried most of the other tricks that people mentioned on your blog with mixed results. I've lost several nice Timex watches in the process. I live in the jungle so I don't have the luxury of going to Wal-Mart or some other place to get the battery replaced. I followed your instructions to the tee and presto eureka! I'm so glad that I found your blog. Thanks!
thankyou so much, i was at my wits end !
A wooden architect's scale did the trick. To bad there's something else wrong with it other than the battery...
I have been replacing watch batteries. Here is my way of closing the back. Tools you need: C clamp, disposable water bottle cap, flat solid table. Steps:
1. Put the water bottle cap with its face up (i.e. with the hollow opening facing the table surface) on the table near the edge of the table
2. Put the watch face down on the cap
3. Put the watch back on the watch
4. Use C clamp to clamp the back, watch, cap and table top with C clamp screw handle underneath the table
5. Slowly tighten the C clamp screw and make sure all pieces are level
6. Stop tightening when you hear a 'click' sound
Anonymous said...
I have been replacing watch batteries. Here is my way of closing the back. Tools you need: C clamp, disposable water bottle cap (make sure the cap size match the size of the watch), flat solid table. Steps:
1. Put the water bottle cap with its face up (i.e. with the hollow opening facing the table surface) on the table near the edge of the table
2. Put the watch face down on the cap
3. Put the watch back on the watch
4. Use C clamp to clamp the back, watch, cap and table top with C clamp screw handle underneath the table
5. Slowly tighten the C clamp screw and make sure all pieces are level
6. Stop tightening when you hear a 'click' sound
Good post. I used the butt end of a sturdy shot glass to press the lid back on. It was quite easy.
Face down on a magazine. Put a wooden spool of thread on the back and hit it with a hammer.
Now snug in place and ticking.
Face down on a paperback book, and since I didn't have any C-clamps or a shotglass, I used a small prescription pill bottle that was about the size of the back of the watch. I pushed down on the top and after hearing a snap, it was in place and working. I had to be careful to be sure the battery was properly lined up before I pushed it in, but the paperback book was important! Thanks for the tips!
taped 2 quarters together, placed them on the back of the watch with the tiny arrow on the back of the watch pointing toward the watch band. Placed a paperback on the crystal of the watch and put the whole thing in a vice mounted to a work bench. Cranked the vice down until I heard the back snap into place. Thanks for all the tips!
Thank you. Bout have up which would mean a new watch :( til I found ur site. It worked!!! Dollu
This is a derivative of other suggestions posted here; I used the hex-side of a 1 inch socket (covered with microfiber cloth to prevent scratching) for the top of the watch and the flat, drive-side of a 13/16" socket for the bottom of the watch. I carefully placed sockets and watch horizontally in my Sears 4 1/2 inch bench vice, and tightened the jaws slowly until cover popped on.
I took a 1 inch socket and a soft cover book. Placed watch face down on book, book on floor. Pressed on backside and heard 1 snap and cover was back in place.
Thank you to all before me for your great ideas (and hope!) I used a tiny bit of coconut oil around the edges, and a spiral bound notebook to rest the watch on. Then put a plastic lid on the back and used the handle of a small hammer to press VERY firmly. I had tried this a number of times, and it was the lubricant that finally did the trick. I love fixing things myself!
Just a quick question , why the hell does timex make opening and closing a watch back so difficult? Should we really have to use every tool and then some to accomplish such a basic task ??????
Thanks, it worked
Mr. Drew,
I have tried everything that I can to get the back on this watch. It has been off for well over a year now. It will be time for a new battery before I can get the back on here. I have tried all of your tips as well as the others. Nothing is working for me. Can I send it to you with a new battery for you do this for me seriously. This was my last watch during my last deployment (injured) and years of service
(10), thirtythree total. So I really do not want to part with it. So should I just give in, hold on to it for sentimental reasons and, purchase a new one. For all who read my post. I know it will read as "CRAZY" to you, it's only a watch right!!!
Shot glass bottom was the thing that worked for me, on a stack of papers on the floor, stepped on it with rubber-soled shoe.
Thank you! I did it with a wooden hammer handle, a washcloth, and a pile of magazines. So quiet I didn't think it'd worked, but it sure did!!!
I used the disposable water bottle cap. I put the watch upside down on the carpet, put the bottle cap upside down on the watch back and used my foot (in my shoe) and stepped hard, and it worked. This was after trying everything above (except the vise/clamp which I didn't have access to). I may have seen the point about the shoe and the bottle cap on a youtube video, but hurray it worked.
Thanks to one and all who have such kindness in their heart to post these wonderful ideas.
Thanks for this Blog post. I couldn't apply enough pressure to pop the back on by thumbs alone. Which is sad since my grip strength used to be awesome.
Anyway, I had a 24mm socket (couldn't find a 25mm) I centered this on the back and used a large flat wrench across the back of the socket in order to press down with both hands evenly. A satisfying POP and all is good now.
I hate this watch. I tried repeatedly to get the back of it back on, after changing the battery, and nothing I tried worked. I can't seem to get enough pressure on it. It's too much work - too frustrating - I don't have time for this - I give up - I am buying a new one.
Just wanted to confirm that the hammer handle technique worked for me.
Used a nice, sturdy, wooden handle. Placed the watch face down on my mouse pad. Placed the case back in position, one edge correctly in place in the case groove. Placed the handle over the case back (contacting the center of the case back), and with pressure, slid it to the opposite end from where I placed the edge into the case. Voila ... snapped into place.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I just ran across your website and tried a recommended version of closing the back of my Timex Expedition watch. I put my watch face down on my workbench with a thick fleece towel underneath and used my large, rubber "Deadhead" hammer's wooden handle to press down firmly. I didn't hear a pop, but it sealed up properly and I'm good to go! Thanks for all the information : - )
I tried every single suggestion listed here. Nothing worked. This is my second round with a Timex watch; in this case, a Timex Easy Reader. Second time the watch has been broken while trying to replace the back. I give up.
After failing using my thumbs, and failing using soft-faced hand clamps, I went looking on the web and found your site. Put the watch face down on a magazine to cushion the crystal, pressed in one side of the back with my thumb to be sure it was ready to seat, then leaned on it with end of a wooden hammer handle, levering as best I could the side opposite the one I had seated with my thumb. Instant success! Thanks!
You need a 'watch press' for this job. Easy to find on Amazon, eBay and elsewhere.
In the thread of comments here -- and elsewhere (see http://w6lsn.com/blog/replacing-timex-watch-back/#comment-2643) -- one can find many different ways of getting the case lid back on.
We found the easiest of all the tips we've read to be the following -- no tools, vises, or bottle caps required!
1. Put some magazines on a carpeted floor.
2. Place the watch, crystal and dial, face down, on top of the magazines.
3. Position the back in the appropriate location (the watch stem knob or crown should be on the left side; the word Timex on the back at top). (There is a tiny triangle symbol on the back that should point just to the right of center.)
4. Place the bottom of the handle end of a hammer or a rubber mallet on top of the watch back. Using both hands (place them on the top end of the hammer or mallet), press down firmly. We found it works best to start pressing on one side and then finish with pressure on the other.
The watch back will POP back into place! You will hear a "pop" (well, if your hearing is good).
We've done this several times now. Works like a charm! In fact, the harder thing now for us is to get the back off!
In general, though, our experience has convinced us to NEVER buy the Timex Easy Reader watch again. The CR1216 battery has been impossible to find locally and who wants to go through such a production with the back and risk cracking the crystal! It's a shame because it's a readable, decent watch.
------------------------------------
Note: Given that the watch is water resistant, the inclusion of the rubber gasket and the difficulty of getting the back off and putting it back on make sense. It's just not worth it, though, as to the hassles of battery replacement -- and we refuse to join the "throw it out and buy new" crowd every time a battery needs changing! We're now investigating alternative watches with easy-to-find and replace batteries!
I went to the hardware store and got two metal washers for the front and back of the watch, and put it in a vise. Worked great!
i used a sledge hammer. problem solved.
Thanks, I read the comments and looked around, found a small flashlight (I'm at work) and it popped right in.
Thank you - I never would have figured this out! Picture frame pliers worked to close it.
I LOLed many times reading this, thanks y'all!! I had a particularly stubborn watch, but a 6 inch bar clamp did the trick like magic. I feel kinda 'duh' for not thinking of that sooner, but I am grateful for the inspiration provided by the creative solutions presented here. 😊
Cut two 1 inch square pieces of wood from the end of a paint stir stick and use them to protect and cushion the face and back of the watch. Place a 1 inch "C" clamp dead center. Once the clam is firmly against the front and back pieces of wood it only take about 3 more turns and and you'll hear it snap into place.
Used the end of a shot glass. Slid a corner of my mousepad between the crystal face & metal band. Applied pressure to the back of the watch with the shot glass and the back cover snapped into place. Worked like a charm! Thanks for the info; would of never got the watch back together without it.
Use a c clamp with a velvet like material wrapped around the watch to protect it. This is very easy way. It's amazing how quick and simple the back just pops right in place. 🙂
I used a small C clamp with two small pieces of wood on the back and front as was suggested by Bill above. Worked like a champ after several failures with other methods suggested.
Yes - I used the socket as an anvil solution (a 18mm socket fit my watch's face and served well as an anvil - using a napkin to prevent scratching). I pressed down with medium-hard pressure with the butt end of a wooden tack hammer and 'snap' it popped into place. About 3 min - thanks so much to all!
Timex- women's Indiglo- I used the wooden hammer handle and it worked! Tried with my thumbs for a while, then a few of the other ideas mentioned without any luck until the hammer handle! Yay! I almost gave up until I read all these wonderful ideas. Great post! Thanks to all!
I used a combination of the techniques suggested here. I'd been having a bit of a tidy-up when I came across a jig I'd made (just a piece of dowel a little bigger than a wine cork attached to a wooden base about 3 inches diameter). I made it 15 years ago to fix something, and decided to bin it. 30 minutes later I was struggling to replace the back on my daughter's Timex. Nothing worked, until I read this post. I took the jig out of the bin and it worked a treat: press down hard at one point (like the thumbs suggestion) and work the jig around from that point in a circular fashion. I'm hanging onto the jig for another 15 years..
I used a C clamp. Put a cloth over the crystal and gently screw the clamp tight with the watch between the jaws of the clamp. Boom. Done.
73 yr old woman, most handy husband in a nursing home, got the back off battery changed, watch ticking away....could not get the stupid back on. My big question...what the heck is a “C” clamp. Went thru husbands vast assortment of tools...voila...thank good for labeled tools. “C” camp was cushioned on one side, put a soft cloth on other side. IT WORKED!!!!!! Thank you for your post and thank goodness for the Internet.
Help! I can't get the back of my simple Timex on!
I've pretty nearly always changed my own batteries, but this one is a doozy!
There is no notch for the stem, just the teeny triangle to go by.
I position it towards one of the watch band arms, with the "Timex" as straight as can be.
I even bought a press!
I've been trying the quarter trick, the pill bottle cover trick and the offset pliers trick, along with the press...
Besides it being a nice watch, pride won't let me quit.
Help!
Best instruction for Closing the damn thing. Moving thumbs and parallel jaw pliers worked. No snapping sound but it did the job.
Thanks !
The comments about one side popping up while trying to press down on the yet unseated side suggested to me to use a Vice-Grip (with heavy cloth between the jaws and the watch case) to keep the one seated side closed with a firm grip (not crushing), just at the edge of the watch - be sure to line up the triangle mark on the case back with one of the band supports. Then using the same heavy cloth to protect the case, use plain slip-joint pliers with the jaws set to an open parallel gap when closed, and so now gently squeeze the unseated side of the watch back with the slip-joint pliers in small increment steps along the yet unseated side edge. Surely enough, the back case cover will fall into place.
I used the bottom of a glass salt shaker on a small ladies timex cr1216 battery. Placed watch face down on some paper, made sure stem was pulled out,aligned cover so stem at 09:00, arrow/notch at 13:00. Snapped in place! Lisa C, Albuquerque, NM
Had same problem.
Tried everything suggested.
Afraid to break crystal.
Took to local jeweler.
He had tool, took him 1 minute, no charge...!!!
Tried everything suggested, still couldn't get the back snapped onto my Timex Indiglo. So I cut a piece of double-sided tape to fit, put it over the open back to hold in the new battery, and affixed the back of the watch. It's not snapped in, but the double-sided tape holds it firmly enough that I can wear it, and from the front, it looks fine.
Thank you Denis...I placed my Timex face down on a paper back. Then placed a flat spanner on the back of the watch . I hit the spanner with a rubber hammer and the cover snapped back
I broke the mechanism on my Timex Indiglo Men's watch with the wooden hammer on a paperback trick. Next time I'll take it to my jeweller.
It is April 3, 2020 we are under so-called "house arrest". The jeweler I use is not an Where "essential" business. No, I don't have a C clamp or a rubber handled ball peen hammer.... or a tequila glass. What a dull life I live. WHAT did this engineer at Timex have in mind????? Where was his mother?
My step father used glass pliers. He wrapped the watch in a paper towel, place the glad pliers around the watch and it popped back on. Glass pliers are flat, not like your average pliers. Hope this helps.
I wrapped some cloth around the watch, put two 2CM width pieces of wood on either side, put it on my clamp and I was able to shatter the glass of the watch face. Kept cranking the clamp till the workstation started moving with me and the back still wouldn't snap on. This was after I tried pushing with both thumbs, using the rubber handle of the hammer to push down on it with a LOT of my weight (180lbs) and tried to actually hammer it down. After I successfully broke the watch, I tried just brute forcing with the hammer and a piece of wood big enough to cover the back like I was nailing something down, I was able to completely dent the back of the watch significantly all without getting the watch back into place.
I will avoid Timex in the future.
Sorry for your misadventure.
Most jewelers will re-attach at no charge...
The elastic wristband on my watch made some of these suggestions impractical for me. I placed the watch face down on a wooden table and inserted a wooden rolling pin through the circle of the wristband. Then I slipped a plastic bottle cap between the rolling pin and the watch back, with the flat side against the watch. Gently leaned on both ends of the rolling pin with all my weight. I didn't feel a pop and thought I had failed (again), but when I picked the watch up, the back was firmly attached. Yay!
Thank you so much. This was really getting the better of me.
I padded the front and put a1 1/8 socket on the back in a vice and broke it! Ha ha!
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