16600 Sea Dweller helium escape valve & engraved rehaut?

[timelord]

I was wondering if anyone has ever had problems with their 16600 Sea Dweller failing the water pressure test around the helium escape valve and if so what may have caused it? How was the problem resolved?

Before this model was discontinued did it have an inner engraved rehaut like the other models?

Thannks

[Numismatist]

No problems, the SD has never had the inner engraving.

[Dan2010]

Seems like someone on TRF in the last month or so had their Sea Dweller leak from the HEV while in the water.

I am 99.9% sure that in never had the engraved rehaut.

[nauticajoe]

The 16600's never had an engraved rehaut.

[psv]

Originally Posted by timelord

I was wondering if anyone has ever had problems with their 16600 Sea Dweller failing the water pressure test around the helium escape valve and if so what may have caused it? How was the problem resolved?

Before this model was discontinued did it have an inner engraved rehaut like the other models?

Thannks

How it was solved? Take it to an Rolex Master Watchmaker (RSC or someone else of your liking) and they'll take care of it.

And as stated, there never was a SD with an engraved rehaut.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by timelord

I was wondering if anyone has ever had problems with their 16600 Sea Dweller failing the water pressure test around the helium escape valve and if so what may have caused it? How was the problem resolved?

Before this model was discontinued did it have an inner engraved rehaut like the other models?

Thannks

The HEV value is designed to let any gas out that might get into the watch as a diver decompresses in a dry chamber, as he reaches normal atmospheric pressure,nothing can get in its a one way valve out only.

[timelord]

Originally Posted by psv

How it was solved? Take it to an Rolex Master Watchmaker (RSC or someone else of your liking) and they'll take care of it.
.

Thanks. I am confident that any compitent qualifed Rolex master or RSC can resolve the problem, however, I was curious to know what would be some of the common causes of the leak?

[Oldwilsonian]

Originally Posted by padi56

The HEV value is designed to let any gas out that might get into the watch as a diver decompresses in a dry chamber, as he reaches normal atmospheric pressure,nothing can get in its a one way valve out only.

Being a diver you will appreciate this one - I was down at approx. 160"(commercial diving) wearing a KM17 Superlite (non-divers - this is a lock-on hard helmet that keeps your head completely dry and allows you comms. to surface) there is a small mushroom valve at the bottom of the lid - obviously one-way, I guess an internal seal must have gone bad because it began leaking, my helmet slowly filling with salt water! Each time as the water got close to my mouth I just had to briefly free-flow to displace the water and then keep on repeating the cycle until my bottom-time was up.... Anyway point being is it possible that this little HEV has some sort of internal seal/'O' ring that could potentially leak? Just curious?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Oldwilsonian

. Anyway point being is it possible that this little HEV has some sort of internal seal/'O' ring that could potentially leak? Just curious?

The HEV valve only opens when the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the watch is between 2.5 and 5.5 bar yes there is a seal but very doubtful to fail on a normal routine pressure test..

[timelord]

Originally Posted by padi56

The HEV valve only opens when the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the watch is between 2.5 and 5.5 bar yes there is a seal but very doubtful to fail on a normal routine pressure test..

and will inform you guys as to what the problem is exactly

[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by padi56

The HEV value is designed to let any gas out that might get into the watch as a diver decompresses in a dry chamber, as he reaches normal atmospheric pressure,nothing can get in its a one way valve out only.

I am sure, that there is an O-ring where the HEV is screwed into the middle case part and that seal may fail....

[Hulatime]

I couldn't believe the HEV on my SD allowed water to leak in (happened last month), but my AD's watchmaker put it in the dunk tank and showed me all these little bubbles pouring out of the valve. He guess was that whoever had serviced it previously, may not have used the proper tool to tighten it and it had gradually loosened over the years.

He put all the old gaskets in a bag for me... lots of them! At any rate, it was fixed within a week and running great. Love that watch! Good luck with yours.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by Oldwilsonian

Anyway point being is it possible that this little HEV has some sort of internal seal/'O' ring that could potentially leak? Just curious?

Of course it can leak. All valves can leak.

For watertightness, the HEV is only a liability (if not saturation diving).

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by springbar

Of course it can leak. All valves can leak.

For watertightness, the HEV is only a liability (if not saturation diving).

It is... But is it more likely to fail than say the crown?

[springbar]

Originally Posted by zeuloa

It is... But is it more likely to fail than say the crown?

The question is: is the HEV more likely to leak than no HEV at all, with one fewer hole in the case.

[SALTY]

Holes in a watch case are like holes in a hull - all opportunities for problems.

Seeing as i will never need or use the HEV, I wish the DSSD was avaliable without it. With that said, I still have a DSSD and while the market temps me to hold off I am as a moth drawn to the light.

[Only rolex]

I was so confused about buying a watch with a HEV as it will need extra pressure test and seal checking to avoid any leakage.so i finaly didnt buy that watch and buy another one without the HEV to save myself from the hassle of servicing something i will not use forever.