S3 bezel stop turning

[smoke skull]

I worked on my car yesterday and when i got in I put it on charge and took a shower. I put the watch back on today and it required a rediculous amount of force to turn. I panic I thought I had wrecked my watch
I got a saucer and put a tablespoon rubbing alcohol and dipped the watch face in and swirled it. OMG you wouldn't believe the amount of crud that came out. I had to repeat several times changing the alcohol each time. The bezel is like new again I can happily say and the watch works fine.
I wont wear it working any more after that but i will clean it occasionally using this method.

 

[smoke skull]

I found that after the alcohol dried out it got hard to turn again. I put a bit of vegetable oil in the saucer and plunged the face in and out of the oil and a bit more crud even came out. I wiped off the excess oil and happy to say it turns as good as brand new again. I chose vegetable oil because theres no chemicals added like WD40 or other lubricants.
By pressing the watch down into the oil [which I warmed up a bit in the microwave to thin it out a bit] it hydraulic the oil in between the bezel and watch body.

 

[dieselwind]

Wow! What an odd thing. I didn't even think about crud getting inside the bezel. I tend to take mine off when I shower, but maybe I'll start wearing it to let it get a rinse.

 

[afblangley]

My routine when the bezel gets hard to turn. I turn it off and put it in a bowl of lukewarm water for a minute. Then I spin the bezel continuously for a bit, watching all the dust particles come out. I take it out, dry it off, then turn it back on. It's good as new. I find myself doing the process every few months.

 

[itinj6]

Is the bezel still spinning freely? Food oils should not be used as a lubricant. They get sticky and tacky over time. I hope that is crud that came out and not some sort of factory grease.

 

[Deke218]

I had the same thing happen to the back button. I splash of water did the trick.

 

[KruseLudsMobile]

I found that after the alcohol dried out it got hard to turn again. I put a bit of vegetable oil in the saucer and plunged the face in and out of the oil and a bit more crud even came out. I wiped off the excess oil and happy to say it turns as good as brand new again. I chose vegetable oil because theres no chemicals added like WD40 or other lubricants.
By pressing the watch down into the oil [which I warmed up a bit in the microwave to thin it out a bit] it hydraulic the oil in between the bezel and watch body.

Vegetable oil will go rancid. Use mineral oil

 

[bandofbrothers2112]

Personally i would approach a Samsung Experience Store or Samsung Service Centre location.

 

[smoke skull]

Is the bezel still spinning freely? Food oils should not be used as a lubricant. They get sticky and tacky over time. I hope that is crud that came out and not some sort of factory grease.

The bezel has never spun so freely before. I am very impressed with this fix and recommend it. Sorry I dont have mineral oil and dont plan to go buy some to lube the bezel of my watch. I am not sure how much oil is in the bezel but it has never oozed out since the original application and wipedown. I call this fix a win.

 

[bigredgonzo]

I have to agree with Itinj6, although vegetable oil may be working well now, the volatiles in vegetable oil actually evaporate and will leave a very gooey sticky residue. Your alcohol cleaning method will more than likely clean the residue out, but if it doesn't you could be in for a bezel that doesn't work well at all. I think the mineral oil concept is a good idea. Mineral oil doesn't volatilize like vegetable oil does. I would be careful not to use stuff like 3-N-1 oil or Marvel Mystery Oil as they may have solvents in them that could attack some of the watches materials of construction. Of course, you may not actually have vegetable oil as a lubricant, it could have just helped clean the goobers out and your watch may just be back to normal. Time will tell on this one.

BigRedGonzo

 

[KruseLudsMobile]

I have to agree with Itinj6, although vegetable oil may be working well now, the volatiles in vegetable oil actually evaporate and will leave a very gooey sticky residue. Your alcohol cleaning method will more than likely clean the residue out, but if it doesn't you could be in for a bezel that doesn't work well at all. I think the mineral oil concept is a good idea. Mineral oil doesn't volatilize like vegetable oil does. I would be careful not to use stuff like 3-N-1 oil or Marvel Mystery Oil as they may have solvents in them that could attack some of the watches materials of construction. Of course, you may not actually have vegetable oil as a lubricant, it could have just helped clean the goobers out and your watch may just be back to normal. Time will tell on this one.

BigRedGonzo

It would be a good idea to naybe ask Samsung what they used for lubricant, and use the same thing.

 

[11B1P]

I'm wondering if you guys are overthinking this. I wear mine in the shower almost daily, there are times when it's charging and I'm in the shower, but I have never had any issues with my bezel. Wondering if the shower is what keeps the crud from building up.