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More secure watch band pins / springbars (lost both original ones in 12h, F6 Pro)?

KrapfenKringel
over 5 years ago

I use an elastic watch band, the downside is that this band can hold onto the spring mechanism and compress the watchband-pin so it opens.

I used this watch band for a half a year and it never happened, but it happend twice in one day now, first while carrying some stuff where I had to push my hand inside a sort of tube and it opened the lower pin.

Then later in the night it opened up the top pin while pulling my hand away from under the pillow. My first thought was, ok the non original replacement pin sucks (the lower one was lost during the accident earlier), but it was the other one that opened up, the remaining original Garmin one.

So what alternatives are there? A pin that needs more force or even a tool to move the spring, a pin that is smooth and give no attack points for a elastic band to hold on and pull it open (Garmin one is really easy to grip).

Has Garmin used these pins before? Its odd that both failed within 12h, maybe the springs lost tension somehow, did Garmin do tests? I noticed my old F5 has fixed pins.

Edit / Conclusion: 
- quick fit bands are probably fine
- elastic bands (like Nick Mankeys) can catch them-self in the grooves meant to release the spring-bars and pop them out if stretched in an unlucky angle
- replacement spring bars arrived, they show the same tension as the old one I got left, so I guess it was just bad luck having them pop out in such a narrow time-frame suddenly

- the F6 uses a very uncommon large pivot diameter (that's the term for the end of the bar that fits into the watch), so there aren't probably any alternatives to use
- on diving watches it seems to be common to replace spring-bars every 6 month (again quick-fit user should be fine as the quick-fit mechanism covers/protects the spring-bar releases)
- Garmin customer support has replacements to send out, but not all support employees know about this and my say "not we can't help", try again with a different one

- for elastic bands you might want to check if you could fit a tube over the spring-bar or use nail-polish to glue them semi-permanent and smooth out the grooves a bit with it

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Odie21

    Yes that's why this thread exist, if any standard bar would fit I wouldn't have to ask. 

    Guess I'll go for the nail polish trick if the replacement arrives.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member
    Anyway, Garmin should supply spring bars as spare parts. If you use your watch regularly in salt water, the should be replaced regularly.

    Interesting but that’s not something I’ve ever considered or done. I swim 6 to 7 months of the year in the sea and the rest of the time in the pool. I’d also contend that sweat is probably just as corrosive as salt water. So, following that logic, you could argue that the pins should be changed regularly. Full stop.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Crispin_Ellisdon
    Crispin_Ellisdon said:

    The ones I previously posted a link to on Amazon UK have 1.8mm dia ends.  The issue is they may be too big in the middle with 2.5mm dia, rather than the Garmin 2.3mm. So that could potentially be an issue with QuickFit bands; although my F6X 26mm QuickFit bands slot fine on and off my Fenix 3 with the wide diameter torx screw end bars (so I suspect 2.5mm dia would be OK).  I don't think the Garmin pins are 'non standard', so as @philipshambrook previously mentioned, if you need replacements it may be worth having a chat to a good jeweller.  As to whether you can get these larger diameter pins without the double shoulders at each end, again a good jeweller may be able to find out.

    A couple of points:

    The spring bar you have pictured does NOT have 1.8mm diameter "ends." It has 1.8mm diameter flanges.

    My F6xPro 26mm QuickFit bands also work very well on the solid bar on my fenix 3, but guess what?  The solid bar on my fenix 3 measures 2.3mm - same as the spring bars on my 6xPro.  Further, I purchased some of the 2,5mm Seiki 26mm bars to give them a try, but the 26mm QuickFit bands would not fit - the Seiko spring bars are too fat, and the pivots (or ends) are half the required diameter which would not be a secure fit in the watch lug and would cause damage.

    I have tried to source a 26mm flanged spring bar from recognized industry suppliers like Ofrei and Esslinger with no success.  Other than Garmin original spring bars, I can not find any 2.3mm diameter with 1.6mm pivots (a pivot is the official name of the spring bar end that is outboard of the flange and fits into the watch lug).

    I am left with the conclusion that the Garmin 26mm spring bars for the fenix 6x Pro are indeed unique, unavailable from any other source than Garmin, and Garmin says they are not available as a replacement part.

    I hope Garmin changes their stance on this.

    HTH

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to gaijin

    Well I very much hope they do have a replacement now, what am I supposed to do? Throw a 900€ watch in the trash?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    Yes, for traditional style diving watches, It is recommended to replace gaskets and spring bars annually. You do not want a leak or a lost watch (or diving instrument) when you dive. For recreational use, or for swimming this is of course not as important. But as have been said, spring bars should be easy to obtain from Garmin. And also, for the divers watch a gasket service. As the Garmin watches becomes more and more expensive, this is what I expect. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to gaijin
    gaijin said:
    Further, I purchased some of the 2,5mm Seiki 26mm bars to give them a try, but the 26mm QuickFit bands would not fit

    Ah well, some thorough background there and it sounds like you already have the hard won experience and the extra 0.2mm does make a difference. At which point you’re already doing as much as can be done, by pressing Garmin customer support about replacement parts. Hopefully can further pass on there are people out there whom need/want replacement pins, so they are made available.

    So what that does all mean is it’s highly unlikely is going to find any alternative pins that his elastic band isn’t going to clash with; as the only pins that will fit are the Garmin ones. Once a replacement pin can be sourced from Garmin, perhaps finally accept that the elastic band is not compatible?

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    This night I lost my watch the 2nd time in bed, 3rd overall, again it was the original Garmin spring-bar that failed, not the temporary (replacement for the lost one) that came with the Nick Mankey band and does not have the correct pivot diameter.

    This for me further indicates a decline in spring tension with the original bars (since it never happend in the first 6 month and now a lot). Maybe we watersports people should really change them on a frequent interval. To bad they changed that from the fixed F5 design.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to KrapfenKringel
    KrapfenKringel said:
    Maybe we watersports people should really change them on a frequent interval.

    Or maybe you should use Garmin bands.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    Garmin doesn't have stretch bands, so not an option. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Crispin_Ellisdon
    Crispin_Ellisdon said:
    Ah well, some thorough background there and it sounds like you already have the hard won experience and the extra 0.2mm does make a difference. At which point you’re already doing as much as can be done, by pressing Garmin customer support about replacement parts.

    Good news!  Just finished a phone call with Garmin Support and there is a replacement pair of 2.3mm diameter, 26mm length spring bars on its way to me at no charge.

    I am very glad that these spring bars finally made it into the "orderable replacement parts" category, and very pleased with the service from Garmin Support.

    Mine are for the 6x Pro (26mm) so I do not know about the availability of other sizes (20mm and 22mm), but if you need replacements I suggest a call to Garmin Support.

    Thanks, Garmin!

    HTH