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Old 22 November 2008, 10:19 AM   #1
Marrk
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"annoying geartrain slack"

Worktolive and others recently posted about "annoying geartrain slack" in Rolex watches. Specifically, they were commenting happily on how their Daytonas (cal. 4130) did not have any annoying geartrain slack.

The last time I was at an AD, I picked up several watches, including an Expy I and a 14060m. Both were M-series. While adjusting the hands, the Expy's hands moved precisely and beautifully and stayed where you put them, while the 14060m movement had noticeable slop in it and it was difficult to set the minute hand precisely (read: impossible) on the minute markers.

Expy I and 14060m have the same calibre movement (3130), so what's up here?

Larry? Mike? Any other TRF experts?

Thanks.


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Old 22 November 2008, 10:31 AM   #2
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I had a conversation on this with a technician at Bexley RSC a few years ago with a DJ, the damn thing would only stay put if you approached the "time" clockwise, widdershins it jumped a couple of minutes, he said that the crown seals were "too good", I didn't buy that & sent it in, it came back perfect.

Would love to know the actual score
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Old 22 November 2008, 10:35 AM   #3
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Quote:
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I had a conversation on this with a technician at Bexley RSC a few years ago with a DJ, the damn thing would only stay put if you approached the "time" clockwise, widdershins it jumped a couple of minutes, he said that the crown seals were "too good", I didn't buy that & sent it in, it came back perfect.

Would love to know the actual score

I don't know what "widdershins" means , but I was thinking something similar, i.e., the stem on the "slop"-y 14060m was binding a little on the new rubber seal inside the tube, whereas the new rubber seal on the Expy was grabbing just nicely. Does that make sense?
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Old 22 November 2008, 10:43 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marrk View Post
I don't know what "widdershins" means , but I was thinking something similar, i.e., the stem on the "slop"-y 14060m was binding a little on the new rubber seal inside the tube, whereas the new rubber seal on the Expy was grabbing just nicely. Does that make sense?

lol it means anti-clockwise & contrary to the sun's course, I'm probably a fruitcake but I hate the word anti-clockwi......oops I nearly said it again
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Old 22 November 2008, 10:45 AM   #5
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lol it means anti-clockwise & contrary to the sun's course, I'm probably a fruitcake but I hate the word anti-clockwi......oops I nearly said it again
We Yanks say "counterclockwise."


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Old 22 November 2008, 10:47 AM   #6
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Quote:
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We Yanks say "counterclockwise."



perfect, that's what I'm gonna use from now on
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Old 22 November 2008, 12:25 PM   #7
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It get's worse than that... some the whole movement shifts when you flutter back and forth from one direction to the other. You can see all the hands move. My Explorer is spongy, my GMT II is not. Smooth and accurate w/little to no lash. Good question...
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Old 22 November 2008, 12:39 PM   #8
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I had no idea that this pet peeve of mine was noticed by anyone else, let alone had a name. "Geartrain slack" is a phrase I'll be overusing at the ADs I see in the future! BTW, it is true about Daytonas - my SS has no GS! (See? I'm even using it in shorthand abbreviations!)
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Old 22 November 2008, 12:45 PM   #9
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3186 Smoooth
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Old 22 November 2008, 12:48 PM   #10
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I think you can compensate for the slackness by practising a little with the crown so that you get the minute hand spot on. For me this is usually done by just gently bringing the minute hand backwards i.e. counterclockwise.
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Old 22 November 2008, 01:02 PM   #11
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I think yo guy's have gone just a bit to far with all this "geartrain slack" business!!

Oh, wait a cotton pickin' minute, uh, the "GS" bugs me too!!

OK, don't mind me, carry on fellas.
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Old 22 November 2008, 01:12 PM   #12
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I think that you guys have way too much gear-train slack on your hands..............
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Old 22 November 2008, 01:13 PM   #13
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For the record, this issue causes me no grief. I certainly notice it but it's just something I take in stride w/my Explorer. It's due for a service anyways. Maybe it'll come back improved in that dept. Now, given the choice I'd opt for smooth and tight every time...

Carry on gents
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Old 22 November 2008, 01:14 PM   #14
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I think that you guys have way too much gear-train slack on your hands..............
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Old 22 November 2008, 07:05 PM   #15
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I don't know what you're talking about as my man servant takes care of things like time and date adjustment...
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Old 22 November 2008, 08:42 PM   #16
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Quote:
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I think that you guys have way too much gear-train slack on your hands..............
Could not agree more Larry.
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Old 22 November 2008, 08:47 PM   #17
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Quote:
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perfect, that's what I'm gonna use from now on
You mean "Anti - clockwise". That's the British usage

I have noticed exactly the same feature on my Sub. It's annoying but I have got used to it - I just don't set the time anti-clockwise.
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Old 22 November 2008, 09:03 PM   #18
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My experience is that it seems to vary from watch to watch. My GMT IIc with the 3186 is great while some 3xxxs have a bit of slop.

Perhaps it's just me, but I notice it far less with 15xx movements.
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Old 22 November 2008, 09:15 PM   #19
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Its never really bothered me,
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Old 23 November 2008, 02:20 AM   #20
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My Sub-Dates (both U series) have this condition. My others do not. It doesn't bother me that much.
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Old 23 November 2008, 04:19 AM   #21
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The only Rolex I had with significant slack in the gears is the GMT II, pre 3168. I think that's a known "feature".
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Old 23 November 2008, 10:01 AM   #22
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I noticed it the first time I set my Explorer.

It is an annoyance, but it is easily compensated for with a little practice.

I have a Citizen that when the stem is pulled out all the way the second-hand goes to 12 and when the crown is turned the minute-hand advances or reverses to exactly the next minute.

That kind of precision can spoil a guy. Of course, it is but a lowly quartz.
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