Jaeger le Coultre k800c movement removal problem

[PaulMcG]

I am currently repairing a non running Jaeger le Coultre 1961 18ct with a cross hair dial containing a k800c movement. I have a problem removing the movement from the case. The crystal and hands are off and the two main movement case screws (shown at 10 and 4 o’clock positions on the back photo) have been removed. The movement is still very firmly attached to the case and does not move at all. At this stage I am a little confused if the movement holding ring is designed to come out or not, thus not knowing if the movement is designed to come out from the back or the front of the case. I would have thought the movement would simply fall out with no assistance at this stage. I have never worked on a vintage JLC before, my experience has always been with numerous vintage Omegas. Am I missing something very obvious, perhaps there is a rotation made to the movement to release, a bit like the Omegas Seamasters where the movement is removed from the front? I have seen an example on the WatchGuy site of a non gold version of this model, which had the case ring missing and a new one created which suggests that the case ring is removeable on my model, and everything removable from the back of the case. Photos attached. Any help gratefully appreciated.

 

[Skutt50]

I don't know this movement but the size of the dial indicates it should be removed through the front......

 

[John Runciman]

even though the K is on the movement I don't think that's your actual movement number. If you look at the link below looks like your watch and that number you can Google. Typically the usual answer is if the dial is bigger than the movement it would go out through the front. But you have a case ring and from looking at the various pictures online it's a mystery. So not being very helpful as a not finding anyone that's taken it out of their goals case. If you look at the picture below the movement ring has two screws to hold it in place. But other movement rings look like they are firmly attached is no screws. Usually on 18 karat gold because it's relatively soft they will have movement rings to give it strength and you can make the case physically bigger without costing $1 million which it would've was solid gold.

The real clue is I can't tell from the picture if you look really carefully at the dial does it go under a gold flange or is it even with the front of the case? In other words cannot go out through the front because he can or if there's old case extending over the dial it has to go out the back yes I know that's a very unhelpful answer


bidfun-db Archive: Watch Movements: LeCoultre 800/C

 

[Karl Burghart]

Looks to me that there is a bezel on the front that needs to be removed.

 

[PaulMcG]

Thank you so much for the replies, most kind. I managed to get it out after some very careful examining and using a fine blade and a little pressure at what I thought was the seem for the ring. There was a lot of grime around this area making the seem hard to see. Anyway it came out from the back of the case. Thank you again everyone.

 

[agemo]

Hi,
I'm too late, but you have a notch on this ring, which is diametrically to the crown, making it easy to remove.

Amicalement GG