i've a piece of pipe with an ID that is close fit to the OD of the painted cover
i chucked it in a lathe and turned a radiused step to accept the ring
using a modified screwdriver, with the working end reshaped to a shovel end and carefully smoothed,
i work the ring off sliding it around between the ring and clock with a twisting motion
i pretty much limit my refurb to cosmetics ... if it isn't working beforehand i send it out or find another one
same bit of pipe with the machined edge covered in masking tape allows reassembly without cosmetic damage
i fit the bit of pipe, with clock, into a small press to hold everything together then use a hard wood drift against
the ring and work it with a mallet all the way around until it has a good crimp
be gentle with the mallet blows...i've had the needle come off before and had to start over
doing the ring work from the backside means you can hide the imperfections of not rolling it into a crimp
i've been meaning to fashion a roller i can fit to the lathe to get a factory finish ...someday
if you're careful you can recrimp a ring a couple of times before it cracks from work hardening
at least rings are available now
