Suunto Core "standing lugs" with nato/zulu strap issue - solution

[marty_oc]

Hi guys,

I came to share with you my modification of lugs on my Suunto Core (Light Green version).
As many of you did, I purchased whole new strap to salvage the lugs. (However I did not need to, because my local Suunto reseller sells also lugs separately; however the price for the set is about 95% of whole strap )
Additionally, I ordered shiny new Maratac Zulu Olive Drab Low Lite 24 mm to use with the lugs and my Core.

But after all the purchases, I discovered your discussions about "standing lugs" issue when using other than 2-piece strap such as a zulu or nato.

I then wondered what to do with it and it was quite simple. I just disassembled the lugs by unscrewing the long screw. And here comes the magic: use a piece of sand paper and brush off one millimeter of total length of the longer part. The inner thread begins about a millimeter in the depth, so you will not damage anything.

(on the left - modified, on the right - without modification)

After this modification, you will be able to tighten the screw a bit more which will cause the lugs not to move freely. The more you brush off with sand paper, the more you will be able to tighten it. But I think one millimeter is perfectly enough.

(the lugs keep position)

See my bad photos for reference and ask for anything :)


Cheers!


(complete photos on hand - but with old bond 22mm - maratac is still on the way)

[Jeff_C]

Very cool!

Sent from my HTC Liberty using Tapatalk

[marty_oc]

Actually, one more interesting thing about the mod -
the black pieces of Suunto straps are not PVD steel, but it seems to be anodized aluminum. Thus it is very easily scratchable with screwdriver or other tools. So if anyone will try this, be careful - it is easily noticeable on my photos that I was not...

[hboutin]

Nice mod. Thanks for the tip, I am about to do the same to my Core. Great timing.

[marty_oc]

And promised photo with Maratac Zulu...