After almost 2 hours of messing with clamps and pliers and anything I could think of (no scratches or damage done) - finally found this video and used this wood method. Got it on in under 5 minutes! Bless you 😂
I followed your video and new batteries (CR 2016) revived two old Timex Expeditions. The hardest part was getting the backs back on the watch cases after inserting the batteries. I used a rolling pin with a cloth in between it and the watch to apply the pressure needed to get the backs to click in place. I held the rolling pin on the roller and not the handle and firmly applied pressure while gently rolling it. The batteries were dirt cheap on Amazon at $4.24 for 5. Thank you!
Also these are really good beater watches. Worth keeping going. They’re super accurate, clear to read at a glance and inexpensive. Mine gets more wear than my Hamilton.
I successfully used 2 pieces of wood shims i had lying around to protect the watch on either side and applied pressure in a vice. I couldnt get the back to pop in place using a wooden shoe brush or a pair of adjustable pliers. The vice did the trick!
This worked. Place the watch on a soft towel upon a hard surface and apply pressure with the wooden object. I also used a shoe shine brush. This method worked for me.
Worked on this for hours without success. Ended up breaking the crystal. Very unfortunate. Really liked the watch. Very accurate and looked great. Probably going to stay away of these Timex units going forward.
I had to replace a crystal in another slightly more expensive but still cheap watch. Buying the press and the crystal was less than replacing the watch. If you are struggling with a case, the press I bought was around $16 and has made battery changes a lot easier.
How long does the battery last if the watch is running 24/7? Pulling the stem out stops the movement but does it shut it off? It comes with a widget that keeps the stem out so I would assume that it does since the watches can be in inventory for a long time and keeping the battery fresh is a good practice.
That is a great question, Timex would probably have an answer on that. If I am remembering correctly it was advertised as a 5 year battery on the packaging.
After an hour of trying and even watching several videos I couldnt get mine back on, so I just smashed the watch with a hammer on my garage concrete floor. Was definitely satisfying.
I had a jeweler hammer the back of my watch so hard to change the battery that one of the hands broke.Pretty expensive watch n sentimental to me.I’m waiting for him to take it to his watch guy to see if and how much this is going to cost.I wish I did it myself like I have many times before.
Yes you can but this particular one is old and discontinued. This was the cheapest expedition at Target from like 9 years ago. The quieter watches are going to cost more.
These battery covers aren’t easy to put back on. Thought it would clip back in…nope. I had to get a hammer and I used some old PVC pipe that was similar in size. Also had a gun cleaning rubber mat so I didn’t mess up the glass.
@@kev16I think I used a 1 1/2in PVC drain pipe for a sink. Something similar to that size will work for that back cover. It was a pain in the ass to figure it out, but I got it to work and just hit the pipe with a hammer.
@@86steventura couldn't find a spare one but I literally just fixed it 2 minutes ago. Ended up using the end of my massage gun with a towel! Happened to be just the right circumference
Had to cut a 1 inch piece of wooden dowel that was very close in diameter to the watch back (old closet hanger rod). Lined up the case back and pressed hard until it clicked on one side, placed the watch face down on a carpeted concrete floor, placed the section of dowel on the case back and stood on it (192 lbs.) Case back then popped in the rest of the way. Ymmv.
Just smash the watch. It's a garbage design. There's absolutely no reason it should be that difficult. I have a bunch of low priced watches and NONE of them are the pain in the @ss that Timex is.
@@acidwizard6528 Mine was a present from years ago. I tried for at least an hour with a C Clamp, rubber mallets, wood blocks you name it and it wouldn't go back on. So I smashed it and called it a day ;)
For all of those foolish enough to try to install the back cover this way, please give me time to set up an ebay store to sell you replacement crystals
If you are still struggling and don’t want to take it to a jeweler, there are a few people in the comments with their own tips. You can also grab the watch press that I bought later for a different task and it had made a battery change a piece of cake ever since.
Do not do this, prying off the cover is easy but when putting force back on the watch the cover would not snap back on. I applied a significant amount of force and the white coating on the watch flaked off, ruining the watch
My Timex expedition is nothing like this. The back is screwed on and the battery is under a sticker and some sort of latch. Timex should provide instructions for their watches instead of their lame "take it to a professional" stance which costs more than the watch. It's almost enough to make me consider a Casio.
![This $47 Watch Changed My Opinion Of Timex! [GIVEAWAY!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bzDKj7OlUQE/mqdefault.jpg)
I tried. I really did. It drove me to drink and madness!
Massive pain in the ass getting that cover back on. I found pressing directly down on both ends with the rubber grips of pliers worked the best.
I put mine in the vice with rubber jaws. Popped right in.
All a pain in the ass. Lol No patience for this crap.
After almost 2 hours of messing with clamps and pliers and anything I could think of (no scratches or damage done) - finally found this video and used this wood method. Got it on in under 5 minutes! Bless you 😂
I followed your video and new batteries (CR 2016) revived two old Timex Expeditions. The hardest part was getting the backs back on the watch cases after inserting the batteries. I used a rolling pin with a cloth in between it and the watch to apply the pressure needed to get the backs to click in place. I held the rolling pin on the roller and not the handle and firmly applied pressure while gently rolling it. The batteries were dirt cheap on Amazon at $4.24 for 5. Thank you!
Thanks for this. Good demonstration. My back was really easy to pop in! None of the trouble other people had!
Also these are really good beater watches. Worth keeping going. They’re super accurate, clear to read at a glance and inexpensive. Mine gets more wear than my Hamilton.
Thank you for this wonderful video, it helped me get my expedition scout back up and running after two years of being dead
Rolling pin worked great for me. Thank you for the information.
Thanks, was able to fix my watch in few mins after watching this.
Glad to hear it!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.
You make it look easy!
I successfully used 2 pieces of wood shims i had lying around to protect the watch on either side and applied pressure in a vice. I couldnt get the back to pop in place using a wooden shoe brush or a pair of adjustable pliers. The vice did the trick!
This worked. Place the watch on a soft towel upon a hard surface and apply pressure with the wooden object. I also used a shoe shine brush. This method worked for me.
I just did this too! i found it was easier if I pressed towards the center. If you do it to a side it makes the disk crooked and not fit properly.
It worked! Thanks for your help from a happy Englishman.😅😅
Glad it helped!
감사합니다 도움이 많이 됐어요^^ 저는 망치 뒷자루를 수직으로 누르면서 360도 돌리니까 한번에 들어갔네요^^
Thanks a lot! Very uselfull video. I was going nuts!!
So glad this helped!
Necessity is the father of invention...and many "tools".
Worked on this for hours without success. Ended up breaking the crystal. Very unfortunate. Really liked the watch. Very accurate and looked great. Probably going to stay away of these Timex units going forward.
I had to replace a crystal in another slightly more expensive but still cheap watch. Buying the press and the crystal was less than replacing the watch. If you are struggling with a case, the press I bought was around $16 and has made battery changes a lot easier.
How long does the battery last if the watch is running 24/7? Pulling the stem out stops the movement but does it shut it off? It comes with a widget that keeps the stem out so I would assume that it does since the watches can be in inventory for a long time and keeping the battery fresh is a good practice.
That is a great question, Timex would probably have an answer on that. If I am remembering correctly it was advertised as a 5 year battery on the packaging.
You must be the hulk
You saved me man thank you❤ i was just about to throw that watch in garbage this is how much is a b**ch that back cover is
After an hour of trying and even watching several videos I couldnt get mine back on, so I just smashed the watch with a hammer on my garage concrete floor. Was definitely satisfying.
Any comments from Timex?
Sounds like it was well worth the $12 that I paid a jeweler to do it, haha!
I had a jeweler hammer the back of my watch so hard to change the battery that one of the hands broke.Pretty expensive watch n sentimental to me.I’m waiting for him to take it to his watch guy to see if and how much this is going to cost.I wish I did it myself like I have many times before.
Can anybody tell me what time it is?
So this watch ticks loud? How loud? Can you hear it in exam room which is silent?
Yes you can but this particular one is old and discontinued. This was the cheapest expedition at Target from like 9 years ago. The quieter watches are going to cost more.
@@thefiddlercrab9977 which ones are the quietest ones?
These battery covers aren’t easy to put back on. Thought it would clip back in…nope. I had to get a hammer and I used some old PVC pipe that was similar in size. Also had a gun cleaning rubber mat so I didn’t mess up the glass.
So true. I saw another video that made it look easy and grossly underestimated what it would take to get it back on. Good thinking on the pvc pipe!
@@thefiddlercrab9977 it was an old down pipe for a sink drain…happen to have it laying around and it worked with a couple whacks lol
Dang I'm having this issue now can't pop it back in
@@kev16I think I used a 1 1/2in PVC drain pipe for a sink. Something similar to that size will work for that back cover. It was a pain in the ass to figure it out, but I got it to work and just hit the pipe with a hammer.
@@86steventura couldn't find a spare one but I literally just fixed it 2 minutes ago. Ended up using the end of my massage gun with a towel! Happened to be just the right circumference
I would rather pay 10 dollars somewhere to get it replaced. Great video nonetheless
My Timex has a later version of battery secure on the battery. It's circular.. can't figure out how to eject the battery
Had to cut a 1 inch piece of wooden dowel that was very close in diameter to the watch back (old closet hanger rod).
Lined up the case back and pressed hard until it clicked on one side, placed the watch face down on a carpeted concrete floor, placed the section of dowel on the case back and stood on it (192 lbs.) Case back then popped in the rest of the way.
Ymmv.
Mine has a wacky white cover over the battery. How do i get this cover off battery? 🤬🤬🤬🤬
I wish I could help you, I don’t have one like that though.
👍👍graciaaass🙏🙏🙏
Very difficult to pry off
MP-5!!!
The back absolutely will not go back on.
Just smash the watch. It's a garbage design. There's absolutely no reason it should be that difficult. I have a bunch of low priced watches and NONE of them are the pain in the @ss that Timex is.
@@gergnotsloh LoL! I ended up returning it for a refund.
@@acidwizard6528 Mine was a present from years ago. I tried for at least an hour with a C Clamp, rubber mallets, wood blocks you name it and it wouldn't go back on.
So I smashed it and called it a day ;)
Literally used my elbow to force the back in
Covers are hard to put on , luckily I was able to do it with hands.😅
When nothing else worked, i stood on that bastard with my heel. And then the battery cover poped in.
I tried doing this and end up bending the back :
@@HaploPrime
Sorry to hear that sir. I dont want my suggestion to end up destroying watches of course…..but in my case it worked fine.
For all of those foolish enough to try to install the back cover this way, please give me time to set up an ebay store to sell you replacement crystals
No idiot would buy a replacement crystal for a piece of crap 30 dollar Timex.
Better to buy a simple tool like a watch case press, is much easier in use and it won't damage your precious watch
A couple months after I did this video, I actually did buy one to replace the crystal on a different watch.
Why do they make it so hard to change a battery. Seriously
This is impossible!
If you are still struggling and don’t want to take it to a jeweler, there are a few people in the comments with their own tips. You can also grab the watch press that I bought later for a different task and it had made a battery change a piece of cake ever since.
@@thefiddlercrab9977 LOL, I already hulk smashed this!
Do not do this, prying off the cover is easy but when putting force back on the watch the cover would not snap back on. I applied a significant amount of force and the white coating on the watch flaked off, ruining the watch
Just so complicated to put the case back on. Wwhhhyyy😢
Has to be a tight fit to keep the water out.
Agree but they should just use a screw down cover.
My Timex expedition is nothing like this. The back is screwed on and the battery is under a sticker and some sort of latch.
Timex should provide instructions for their watches instead of their lame "take it to a professional" stance which costs more than the watch. It's almost enough to make me consider a Casio.
If it’s almost the same to take it to the jeweler for a replacement, I just give it a shot. Also, I bought a few Casio.
@@thefiddlercrab9977 I was able to figure it out, thanks.
Casios are a far better option.