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W07VH5
Picture of mark123
posted
My son has a collection of cheap superhero watches. I'm not sure they are meant to ever be opened but the batteries are dead in 3 of them. I just cannot get the backs off to see what sort of battery they need.




He's really fond of matching his watch with his t-shirt and hat and it would make him happy to have these working again.

Any tips for getting these opened? I've tried small screwdrivers, knives, using a loupe to see if there are any notches (there aren't), etc. to try to get them opened.
 
Posts: 45679 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
My Time is Yours
Picture of davetruong
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The look like pop off backs. You can probably get under with a pocket knife. Let me know what batteries and I'll send them to you


God, Family, Country.

 
Posts: 6094 | Location: Orange County, California | Registered: October 09, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Master of one hand
pistol shooting
Picture of Hamden106
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I got a cheap watch from NRA for upgrading to lifer. After several battery changes it is still the most accurate watch I have ever had. Maybe 2 minutes off in a battery cycle which lasts at least a couple years.
It is a simple change under a pry off back
It takes a 377 battery



SIGnature
NRA Benefactor CMP Pistol Distinguished
 
Posts: 6456 | Location: Oregon | Registered: September 01, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
W07VH5
Picture of mark123
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by davetruong:
The look like pop off backs. You can probably get under with a pocket knife. Let me know what batteries and I'll send them to you
I just can't get it to grab. There doesn't seem to be any space to fit the blade.

I got his other watch open and a knife worked for that but these just won't budge.
 
Posts: 45679 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
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My jeweler does this for free. I just pay for the battery
 
Posts: 17703 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
No Compromise
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The trick is not getting the backs off. The trick is putting the backs back on without a back press.

Dave is the man when it comes to these things. His knowledge is unmatched and his generosity and kindness is the stuff of legend around here.

H&K-Guy
 
Posts: 3720 | Registered: April 08, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Shaman
Picture of ScreamingCockatoo
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Marzy and I have the tools to open and replace the batteries.
Probably cost more to ship than they're worth though.
But I'd still be happy to do it for you.





He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.
 
Posts: 39941 | Location: Atop the cockatoo tree | Registered: July 27, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
W07VH5
Picture of mark123
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
Marzy and I have the tools to open and replace the batteries.
Probably cost more to ship than they're worth though.
But I'd still be happy to do it for you.
Thanks, my friend. Yeah, they're not really worth shipping.
 
Posts: 45679 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Too old to run,
too mean to quit!
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quote:
Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
My jeweler does this for free. I just pay for the battery


I have a Casio that runs for years on the battery. When it died, I took it to wallyworld and they replaced the battery, all I had to was for the new battery. Saved a bunch of trouble.


Elk

There has never been an occasion where a people gave up their weapons in the interest of peace that didn't end in their massacre. (Louis L'Amour)

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. "
-Thomas Jefferson

"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Alexis de Tocqueville

FBHO!!!



The Idaho Elk Hunter
 
Posts: 25656 | Location: Virginia | Registered: December 16, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
drop and give me
20 pushups
posted Hide Post
Our local wally world will not sell/install a new battery for any watch that do not sell. Liability issues ??? Shortly after the covid flu started needed a new battery so I asked for the special tool so that I could open up the back MYSELF ( which I had done several times prior) and was flately refused the use of this tool which made me very un happy and noted my displeasure to the store manager but did not do any good. Ended up going tom a local jewelry store . ..................................... drill sgt.
 
Posts: 2160 | Location: denham springs , la | Registered: October 19, 2019Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Too old to run,
too mean to quit!
posted Hide Post
Probably a local wallyworld store manager issue.

Don't understand the concept, but it is their choice.


Elk

There has never been an occasion where a people gave up their weapons in the interest of peace that didn't end in their massacre. (Louis L'Amour)

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. "
-Thomas Jefferson

"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Alexis de Tocqueville

FBHO!!!



The Idaho Elk Hunter
 
Posts: 25656 | Location: Virginia | Registered: December 16, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
אַרְיֵה
Picture of V-Tail
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There is a small jewelry store in this area that replaces batteries in most watches for one dollar.

A few battery sizes are two or three bucks, but most are one (plus 7% sales tax, and anything that you feel like tossing into the tip jar).

I have been going there for ten years or more, they are fast, efficient, courteous, and service with a smile.



הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
 
Posts: 31708 | Location: Central Florida, Orlando area | Registered: January 03, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
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I recently replaced the battery in a Swiss Army watch, I used an old paring knife to pop the back off. Hold the watch on it’s edge, resting on a hard surface, set the edge of the knife into the seam between the cover and the watch case and rap lightly on the back of the knife blade with a hammer, it should pop off. After you have ascertained what battery is needed and replaced it reinstall the back by either using one of those padded bar clamps or if, like me, you don’t have one of those use two pairs of pliers to gently squeeze the case back in place, using one pair on the exact opposite side from the other. I protected the face of the watch by using a paint stirrer to cover it.


___________________________________________________________________________
"....imitate the action of the Tiger."
 
Posts: 12268 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
W07VH5
Picture of mark123
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by clubleaf206:
I recently replaced the battery in a Swiss Army watch, I used an old paring knife to pop the back off. Hold the watch on it’s edge, resting on a hard surface, set the edge of the knife into the seam between the cover and the watch case and rap lightly on the back of the knife blade with a hammer, it should pop off. After you have ascertained what battery is needed and replaced it reinstall the back by either using one of those padded bar clamps or if, like me, you don’t have one of those use two pairs of pliers to gently squeeze the case back in place, using one pair on the exact opposite side from the other. I protected the face of the watch by using a paint stirrer to cover it.
That's just it, there is no seam. I'm sure these things are considered to be disposable.
 
Posts: 45679 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
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Try taking them in to a jewelry store. Or have you searched online for replacements if they are truly disposable?
 
Posts: 2117 | Location: Just outside of Zion and Bryce Canyon NP's | Registered: March 18, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Seeker of Clarity
Picture of r0gue
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I can't tell from the photos, so I don't mean to doubt you. But I'm pretty certain there would be a seam. Take them to a jeweler. They'll do it for free, but overcharge you for the battery. The job will take 5 minutes total for all three.

I cut my hand open trying to open a unicorn watch. I got that $!%# open, and I changed the battery. That watch was as cheap as they come. Even the quartz movement was tiny for the tiny case. Laughably bad.




 
Posts: 11474 | Registered: August 02, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Now and Zen
Picture of clubleaf206
posted Hide Post
Well, darn. The middle one and the one on the right sure appeared to me as if they have that sort of back. It’s a long shot, however one other DIY thing might be tried. If you can get ahold of something rubber that is “grippy”, such as perhaps a handball or one of those physical therapy grip exercise balls then you place the watch face down on a hard surface and press down hard with the rubber ball, twisting counterclockwise and see if the back unscrews. Pretty unlikely a watch of that price point has a screw back, but you never know. But they may very likely be the BIC disposable lighter of wristwatches.


___________________________________________________________________________
"....imitate the action of the Tiger."
 
Posts: 12268 | Location: The untamed wilds of Kansas | Registered: August 25, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
W07VH5
Picture of mark123
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by r0gue:
I can't tell from the photos, so I don't mean to doubt you. But I'm pretty certain there would be a seam. Take them to a jeweler. They'll do it for free, but overcharge you for the battery. The job will take 5 minutes total for all three.

I cut my hand open trying to open a unicorn watch. I got that $!%# open, and I changed the battery. That watch was as cheap as they come. Even the quartz movement was tiny for the tiny case. Laughably bad.


I'm sure there is a seam. I just can't get it.
 
Posts: 45679 | Location: Pennsyltucky | Registered: December 05, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Do No Harm,
Do Know Harm
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Have you looked under magnification? Sometimes the little spot is hard to see.




Knowing what one is talking about is widely admired but not strictly required here.

Although sometimes distracting, there is often a certain entertainment value to this easy standard.
-JALLEN

"All I need is a WAR ON DRUGS reference and I got myself a police thread BINGO." -jljones
 
Posts: 11472 | Location: NC | Registered: August 16, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of trebor44
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Throw away or wall hangers! Exacto or utility knife blade. Been there done that! As has been pointed out, putting the back on is the REAL trick! Sometimes, even the jewelers say NO!


--------------------------------

On the inside looking out, but not to the west, it's the PRK and its minions!
 
Posts: 624 | Location: Idaho, west of Beaver Dicks Ferry | Registered: August 22, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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