Please... take a moment to tighten your adapter lugs

[sean000]

I've read about it happening here before (and with various brands), and it just happened to me: One of the itty-bitty-teeny-tiny screws that hold the lugs together on my Clockwork Synergy band came loose and my watch fell off.

Fortunately I was standing on a carpeted surface and my watch is fine. I have worn this band for 5 months probably 2/3 of the time (the other 1/3 of the days I wore a different band). I could see the blue threadlocker on the screw that came loose. I don't think there was anything wrong with how it was put together... screws just sometimes loosen up (even with locktite).

You can bet I will be tightening up the screws on a regular basis, and I suggest you do the same. I'm going to reapply some loctite as well, but that's going to be a delicate task for such a tiny screw!

Sean

 

[adamhenry]

If you really want the screws to stay in place, consider the red loctite. It is considered permanent and you will have to heat the screws to 500F to remove them.

 

[nicho]

if you held the bit that goes into the watch, did the arm that held the band wiggle at all in the days leading up to it falling off? or did it just... go.

 

[pdxa4]

I've read about it happening here before (and with various brands), and it just happened to me: One of the itty-bitty-teeny-tiny screws that hold the lugs together on my Clockwork Synergy band came loose and my watch fell off.

Fortunately I was standing on a carpeted surface and my watch is fine. I have worn this band for 5 months probably 2/3 of the time (the other 1/3 of the days I wore a different band). I could see the blue threadlocker on the screw that came loose. I don't think there was anything wrong with how it was put together... screws just sometimes loosen up (even with locktite).

You can bet I will be tightening up the screws on a regular basis, and I suggest you do the same. I'm going to reapply some loctite as well, but that's going to be a delicate task for such a tiny screw!

Sean

Tks for the warning, I have a clockwork synergy strap being delivered today or tmrw.

I guess I will have to check the adaptor screws out before I use it to be safe.

 

[sean000]

Tks for the warning, I have a clockwork synergy strap being delivered today or tmrw.

I guess I will have to check the adaptor screws out before I use it to be safe.

I have had this strap for 5 months (vintage brown leather) and I really like it. I have worn it much more than my Apple Sport strap or my leather loop knockoff. I don't think there was anything wrong with how the adapter was put together. I could see that blue threadlocker was used as well. Screws just loosen sometimes.

I would at least do a visual inspection to make sure they are all sunk to the same level... and maybe gently tighten. It would be very easy to strip one of these tiny screws. I think if I had paid better attention I would have noticed the one screw had loosened and was not sunk as deep as the others... and I might have noticed a little wiggle or play in one of the strap's pin-arms that connects to the piece that fits into the watch.

I'm going to continue to wear mine (might even order a Rally strap from Clockwork Synergy) but I think now that mine is 5 months old I will take the suggestion of an earlier post and use stronger threadlocker.

Sean

 

[sean000]

If you really want the screws to stay in place, consider the red loctite. It is considered permanent and you will have to heat the screws to 500F to remove them.

Thanks... will definitely consider that. I have some blue Loctite at home, but I really don't have a need to remove these screws in the future.

Sean

 

[sean000]

if you held the bit that goes into the watch, did the arm that held the band wiggle at all in the days leading up to it falling off? or did it just... go.

I did not notice any play or looseness, but I will say that yesterday I had switched back to this band after wearing my leather loop knockoff for a few days. If I had paid closer attention, I'm wondering if I would have noticed (as I was about to slide the strap into the watch) that the screw was not sunk as deep as the others? I seriously doubt it had loosened up all the way in one day, so if I had noticed this one screw sitting a little higher than the other I would have taken a screwdriver to it. I will definitely at least visually inspect the screws before attaching this band in the future, and I will probably reapply some Loctite to them this weekend.

When the watch fell off it was because the one side of the pin-arm that came loose slid off and then so did the strap. When I slid the adapter lug out of the watch, the screw also fell out and it took me about 5 minutes to find it!

Sean

 

[nicho]

I did not notice any play or looseness, but I will say that yesterday I had switched back to this band after wearing my leather loop knockoff for a few days. If I had paid closer attention, I'm wondering if I would have noticed (as I was about to slide the strap into the watch) that the screw was not sunk as deep as the others? I seriously doubt it had loosened up all the way in one day, so if I had noticed this one screw sitting a little higher than the other I would have taken a screwdriver to it. I will definitely at least visually inspect the screws before attaching this band in the future, and I will probably reapply some Loctite to them this weekend.

When the watch fell off it was because the one side of the pin-arm that came loose slid off and then so did the strap. When I slid the adapter lug out of the watch, the screw also fell out and it took me about 5 minutes to find it!

Sean

I got a hoco band early on, and there was significant play in the arm of the adapter. A jeweller looked at it and said he couldn't do anything about it. As soon as I could get some new adaptors I replaced the original ones. I know I screwed mine A lot more carefully than the person who made my band!

 

[BarracksSi]

At least you found the screw! Dang.

Makes me want to use traditional springbar adapters if I ever get around to adding a leather strap.

 

[mpfuchs]

At least you found the screw! Dang.

Makes me want to use traditional springbar adapters if I ever get around to adding a leather strap.

Well, the screw would have still been stuck between the watch and the adapter, even after the band fell off...

 

[jasie02]

Loctite, loctite, and more loctite if needed.

 

[sean000]

Loctite, loctite, and more loctite if needed.

This reminds me of a bike mechanic I knew in the 1980s. I was a bicycle racer in high school and he helped out the team I was on by sort of sponsoring us (not officially, but he looked after us). He would do a quick check of our bikes whenever he was at a race... especially since some of us did our own work and he wanted to make sure we didn't screw something up. One time he noticed one of my water bottle cage screws was a little loose and he dropped a couple of expletives and said, "How many times have I said it? Ya gotta loctite the S.O.B.!"

 

[Snoopy16]

Good advice. Happened to me a couple of weeks ago.

 

[deany]

Really grateful OP (you are a mind reader) as was going to start a thread myself. You've worded it better though!....

same thing happened to me, screw dropped out. Leaving watch dangling precariously on wrist.

I've just got a load of these (UK links but I'm sure globally available):

38MM /42MM Mini Replacement Watch Band Connection Adapter For Apple for iWatch new arrival
http://s.aliexpress.com/BFVVjIRj

42mm in 'black' for space grey sport- you need to buy *two* for a strap.

Also bought this:

ACENIX® 25 in 1 Repair Opening Tool Kit Pentalobe Torx Phillips Screwdriver for iPhone 5 4S 4G

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00K0GPDII/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_TKWGwb4R8RP9Z

the correct pentalobe is top right row, second one along.

Also bought & used this (blue):

Loctite 243 Lock 'n' Seal Fast Acting Thread Lock and Sealant - 3 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003ZUXQIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_nMWGwbACDAZR5

having read about the 'red' permanent loctite I'm thinking should I re-do with 'red' and make it totally permanent.

I didn't shake the 'blue' (didn't think of doing that) and it was runny quite 'watery'.

I guess its whether the 'blue' is strong enough (I change my straps regularly) does this loosen the screws? Maybe checking the screws are in place whenever changing staps? I cant help but feel the pentalobe screwdriver will 'round off' is I keep tightening the screws too much.

Could 'adamhenry' tell me, are the screws applied with 'blue' fairly easily removed and replaced with the red.

I've invested in some 'red' cheaper product. The Loctite 'red' was off the scale pricewise for a tiny tube.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00442C14I?vs=1


How strong is the blue please?, is it okay for this purpose?

I know from experience what a apple watch looks like when dropped onto a solid surface, its not good, and very costly.

 

[adamhenry]

Here is a good link for info on threadlockers:http://us.henkel-adhesives-blog.com...ween-Red-Blue-Green-and-Purple-Threadlockers/

 

[Snoopy16]

Here is a good link for info on threadlockers:http://us.henkel-adhesives-blog.com...ween-Red-Blue-Green-and-Purple-Threadlockers/

Thanks. That's very informative. For whatever it is worth, the screws on mine appeared to have been coated with blue, but still came loose.

 

[deany]

Here is a good link for info on threadlockers:http://us.henkel-adhesives-blog.com...ween-Red-Blue-Green-and-Purple-Threadlockers/

yes thank you for posting the very informative link.

I have to decided now whether to risk rounding off the pentalobe screwdriver to remove the screws that I have applied with the 'blue' Loctite and redo with 'red' (the screwdrivers are new from amazon prime with the usual excellent returns).... any advice anyone?.....

.....or just check the screws I've done with 'blue' frequently & start using 'red' from now on.

I have found from the four straps and eight 'lugs' I have worked on so far-

1/ all sixteen screws were _worryingly_ easy to remove. Like, no effort at all.

2/ all sixteen screws had ZERO 'blue' residue indicating loctite had _not_ been applied by supplier.

Percentage of straps supplied correctly 0%
Percentage straps supplied incorrectly and could potentially cause watch to 'fall off' wrist 100%



All 'knock off' straps are either the 'usual suspects' and two 'unusual ones', I really like them, they are from aliexpress & ebay UK's 'normal' suppliers. The ave price around £12.50

I can post links to the four straps if anyone wants to see if they have the same ones to avoid a potential disaster.

Hope this helps someone.