Vanessa wrote in message
oups.com...
Rod Speed wrote

Am I missing something fundamental here?

Yes, http://www.wengerna.com/faq.jsp?cat_id=1#add_links

What's the trick to removing and replacing
two links in a steel watch band?

Looks like there is a special tool that does it.

I should have mentioned I had been to the Wenger web site previously.
http://www.wengerasi.com
which happens to have a photo of my son's Wenger Swiss Military Watch
(70016) on the home page - but my searches came up blank.

However, unless I'm more of an idiot than I thought (which is always
possible , there are absolutely no instructions for removing links in
that steel watch band on the entire Wenger web site.

While there are detailed instructions for measuring arcane things like
the simple width of the watch
(http://www.wengerna.com/browse/tutorial.jsp) I'm surprised there are
no common adjustment instructions for the band. Given the CostCo Wenger
Swiss Military 200m date watch band ships in XXL elephant size, I can't
imagine that everyone on the planet won't have to remove links in the
bracelet band.

I very much appreciate your link to the Wenger Swiss Army Watch FAQ.
http://www.wengerna.com/faq.jsp
But all it says for adjusting the band is take it to someone who knows
how to adjust the band already (that's why I'm asking this message board).

It actually says pretty unambiguously that there is a special tool that is
used to remove excess links and that the watchmaker should have it.
http://www.wengerna.com/faq.jsp?cat_id=1#add_links

Its certainly possible that someone with some decent mechanical
aptitude can work out how to do it without the tool, but its unlikely
that you'll find anyone who has done that with that particular band.

The two PDFs at that FAQ site are for the booklet that
comes with the watch (which says ask someone who
knows how to adjust the band) and for ordering new bands.

Why would it be so exasperating to do something so simple as
a watch band adjustment - especially since the band comes in
such a huge size to start with that every human other than Mike
Tyson will have to adjust the band. Where's the usability in that?

Basically they have chosen to have the seller of the watch do it.

Thats basically a design choice.

By the way, I seriously doubt the pin is spring loaded like it is for
the clasp adjustment on the band because in the u-shaped clasp,

Yeah, sounds plausible. And you dont need a special tool for those.

there's a place for the pin to come out - but in the closed-off band,
there is NOWHERE for a spring-loaded pin to exit. It seems that
the link pins can ONLY come out one end or the other which
means it must be a friction fit or some other trick - but not simple
springs like in the clasp (am I totally off base here?)???

Nar, it does look like they have designed it to be dont with a special tool.

Corse that doesnt mean that thats the only way it can be done.

Likely it is a friction fit and the tool provides enough force to overcome that.

Here is my best-guess procedure for all those CostCo watch buyers out there.
1. Find a very small (1/2 mm) punch (probably a very tiny brad or nail)
2. Find a block of wood with a very small hole (about 1mm or so)
3. Find the arrow on the underside of the Wenger Swiss Military Watch
70016
4. Place the watch band on its side on the block of wood
5. Place the point of the punch on the pin in the direction of the ---
arrow
6. Make sure there is a closed hole (a ditch if you will) below the pin
7. That way you won't lose the pin if it suddenly pops out on you
8. Punch two pins per link out
9. Remove the link and replace only one of the pins
10. If we're lucky - the pins won't have been destroyed in the process

Does this sound anywhere near like a usable procedure for the new
owners of the Costco 70016 Wenger Swiss Military 200m date watch?

Have you asked costco what they suggest you do about the band adjustment ?
They may have an arrangement with someone to do that.