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SSD · 18 August 2007, 01:09 PM

I was at the mall today and visited the AD. He offered to clean my Sub, and then noticed it had just then stopped working (about 10 min. before). He immediately took it to his in-house Rolex certified technician (with 15 years experience), who reported that the balance wheel went bad on me. Of course the repair is covered under warranty, but has anyone heard of a "three week old" balance wheel failure? They expect to get a replacement from Rolex NYC quickly, and to have everything back together and checked by Wed. or Thurs.. What a fine example of outright frustration!!! What wisdom from the forum, especially the esteemed cadre of watchmakers? How DOES a balance wheel fail anyway? Especially one from a new watch? AAARRRGHHHHH!

Mrdi · 18 August 2007, 01:35 PM

Your AD?
The AD from whom you purchased the watch?
a new Rolex?
Three weeks isn't even eough time for it to get dirty?

Blue Bull · 18 August 2007, 01:37 PM

Sh*t happens,it shouldnt,but it does.Will be up and running soon !!

Rawhyde · 18 August 2007, 02:08 PM

Dude, that bites. I was looking forward to getting together this weekend and checking out the new Sub!

Robb · 18 August 2007, 02:14 PM

Hate to hear it Jaime!!!

roadcarver · 18 August 2007, 02:25 PM

That blows... sorry to hear that man!

timebroker · 18 August 2007, 02:42 PM

As with everything there is, always a possibility that this happens immediately after you for instance bring it in or buy.
There are no 2 things the same, just be patient, it is just bad luck. Too bad it happened to a TRF member

rongmt · 18 August 2007, 02:45 PM

Infant mortality??

timebroker · 18 August 2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rongmt

Infant mortality??

Murphys law maybe one atom was alinged wrong

Andad · 18 August 2007, 03:04 PM

Saved you a trip to the AD.

Dan Pierce · 18 August 2007, 05:09 PM

Just one of those things. You'll have a great watch back on your wrist in no time.

Good luck,
dP

BiG JeEzY · 18 August 2007, 05:24 PM

Sorry to hear that too Jamie.

I'm sure it will be up and running before you can even imagine. I think it will be a quick fix with nothing to worry about. So when you wound the watch after you saw it was stopped, the second hand still would not even start?

How did the AD determine the problem, did they open up the case?

SSD · 18 August 2007, 10:09 PM

The watch was functioning immediately prior to my going into the AD's store. After we discussed repairing a ring he offerd to clean the bracelet, and that's when he made the grizzly discovery. Winding did no good, and the tech made the diagnosis immediately after opening the caseback. Must've been fairly obvious. Murphy's Law cannot be broken! More irony: we were discussing 904L steel... Off topic: he did say Rolex is at least planning a different bezel for the Sub within 2 years, so get 'em while you can!

Ironstark · 18 August 2007, 10:43 PM

It would interesting to know what was actually broken?
Its possible (although very rare) that the hairspring is broken, probably where it is secured to the bridge.This would require a new balance complete (balance and hairspring) If it was just a case of the shock resist insetting being knocked out (balance wheel jewel mounted in the shock resist insetting out of place) this should just require it to be put back in place and a little adjustment.
Either way it should be done quickly and free of charge

SSD · 18 August 2007, 10:52 PM

Thanks for the reassurance Ironstark! It is nice to have some logical form of closure on what went, ah, "haywire" in there. I was told there would be a new balance wheel installed ASAP. I'll bet it does not keep time exactly the same, I look forward to seeing. It was +1 sec/day. I really appreciate you, Nick and the other (numerous!) watchmakers' participation in TRF! We WIS's come up with some good ones, don't we? The AD was kinda shocked when I knew what the balance wheel is/does, BTW, and that is only one example.

P.S.: I'll get better info. on what actually broke and its relation to the balance wheel itself. I do not think a solid piece of metal in its capacity would just fracture. I'm leaning toward a spring issue, as it appears to be the simplest way a problem could occur...

SSD · 23 August 2007, 02:52 AM

SUB'S BACK!!!!

Called the AD to see about my Sub, and found it it was just finished! A quick supersonic trip and it is back on my wrist. I am told the failure was the actual balance wheel itself, not even the microstella adjustments! A huge relief, whatever the problem was. Thought I'd let ya know. BTW- Bo, I'm already checking for accuracy...

nko51 · 23 August 2007, 03:06 AM

Sounds fishy to me!

18 August 2007, 01:09 PM	#1
SSD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jamie Location: Georgia Watch: Stainless Sub Date Posts: 3,023	Anyone ever hear of THIS before/ WHEEW! I was at the mall today and visited the AD. He offered to clean my Sub, and then noticed it had just then stopped working (about 10 min. before). He immediately took it to his in-house Rolex certified technician (with 15 years experience), who reported that the balance wheel went bad on me. Of course the repair is covered under warranty, but has anyone heard of a "three week old" balance wheel failure? They expect to get a replacement from Rolex NYC quickly, and to have everything back together and checked by Wed. or Thurs.. What a fine example of outright frustration!!! What wisdom from the forum, especially the esteemed cadre of watchmakers? How DOES a balance wheel fail anyway? Especially one from a new watch? AAARRRGHHHHH! __________________ SUBMARINER OWNERS' CLUB ESTABLISHED 1953 TRF Member # 5464 Last edited by SSD; 23 August 2007 at 02:48 AM..

18 August 2007, 02:14 PM	#5
Robb 2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Robb Location: USA Watch: BLNR Posts: 4,939	Hate to hear it Jaime!!! __________________ 126610LN l 166610LV l 126619LB l 116710BLNR l 126710BLRO l 126720VTNR l 126718GRNR l 116500 white l 116500 black l 116508 john mayer l 116519LN l 116503 white l 126655 l 226627 Ti Master l 116518LN

18 August 2007, 02:25 PM	#6
roadcarver "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Real Name: Vernon Location: C-a-n-a-d-a Watch: 16600 Posts: 5,641	That blows... sorry to hear that man! __________________ I'm just a cook...

18 August 2007, 02:45 PM	#8
rongmt "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 107	Infant mortality?? __________________ 1992 TT GMT II (E) with Luminova upgrade 2004 TT GMT II (U) with slate Serti dial 2006 Sea-Dweller (R) 2007 TT Sub (Z) with slate Serti dial 2004 Breitling Emergency Ti w/Blue dial and co-pilot module

18 August 2007, 03:04 PM	#10
Andad 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Eddie Location: Australia Watch: A few. Posts: 37,488	Saved you a trip to the AD. __________________ E

18 August 2007, 01:35 PM	#2
Mrdi Banned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: PA Posts: 3,478	Your AD? The AD from whom you purchased the watch? a new Rolex? Three weeks isn't even eough time for it to get dirty?

18 August 2007, 01:37 PM	#3
Blue Bull Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,887	Sh*t happens,it shouldnt,but it does.Will be up and running soon !!

18 August 2007, 02:08 PM	#4
Rawhyde Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Craig Location: NW Georgia Watch: Blue Sub+Tud Chron Posts: 834	Dude, that bites. I was looking forward to getting together this weekend and checking out the new Sub!

18 August 2007, 02:42 PM	#7
timebroker "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Filip Location: Belgium Posts: 1,619	As with everything there is, always a possibility that this happens immediately after you for instance bring it in or buy. There are no 2 things the same, just be patient, it is just bad luck. Too bad it happened to a TRF member

18 August 2007, 05:09 PM	#11
Dan Pierce 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: D'OH! Location: Kentucky Watch: Rolex-1 Tudor-3 Posts: 36,179	Just one of those things. You'll have a great watch back on your wrist in no time. Good luck, dP __________________ TRF Member# 1668 Bass Player in TRF "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Band Commander-in-Chief of The Nylon Nation The Crown & Shield Club Honorary Member of P-Club

18 August 2007, 05:24 PM	#12
BiG JeEzY "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jerome Location: N. California Watch: GMT I/EXP II/DJ Posts: 3,351	Sorry to hear that too Jamie. I'm sure it will be up and running before you can even imagine. I think it will be a quick fix with nothing to worry about. So when you wound the watch after you saw it was stopped, the second hand still would not even start? How did the AD determine the problem, did they open up the case? __________________ -Rolex Explorer II Black dial 16570 (circa 2001) -Rolex GMT Master I Pepsi 1675 (circa 1978) -Rolex Datejust TT Champagne 16233 (circa 1991) -Vintage Longines Automatic La Grande Classique -Vintage Seiko 6138 Automatic Chronograph with "Kakume" Dial

18 August 2007, 10:09 PM	#13
SSD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jamie Location: Georgia Watch: Stainless Sub Date Posts: 3,023	The watch was functioning immediately prior to my going into the AD's store. After we discussed repairing a ring he offerd to clean the bracelet, and that's when he made the grizzly discovery. Winding did no good, and the tech made the diagnosis immediately after opening the caseback. Must've been fairly obvious. Murphy's Law cannot be broken! More irony: we were discussing 904L steel... Off topic: he did say Rolex is at least planning a different bezel for the Sub within 2 years, so get 'em while you can! __________________ SUBMARINER OWNERS' CLUB ESTABLISHED 1953 TRF Member # 5464

18 August 2007, 10:43 PM	#14
Ironstark TechXpert Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rolex world Watch: SS/W Skydweller Posts: 527	It would interesting to know what was actually broken? Its possible (although very rare) that the hairspring is broken, probably where it is secured to the bridge.This would require a new balance complete (balance and hairspring) If it was just a case of the shock resist insetting being knocked out (balance wheel jewel mounted in the shock resist insetting out of place) this should just require it to be put back in place and a little adjustment. Either way it should be done quickly and free of charge

18 August 2007, 10:52 PM	#15
SSD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jamie Location: Georgia Watch: Stainless Sub Date Posts: 3,023	Thanks for the reassurance Ironstark! It is nice to have some logical form of closure on what went, ah, "haywire" in there. I was told there would be a new balance wheel installed ASAP. I'll bet it does not keep time exactly the same, I look forward to seeing. It was +1 sec/day. I really appreciate you, Nick and the other (numerous!) watchmakers' participation in TRF! We WIS's come up with some good ones, don't we? The AD was kinda shocked when I knew what the balance wheel is/does, BTW, and that is only one example. P.S.: I'll get better info. on what actually broke and its relation to the balance wheel itself. I do not think a solid piece of metal in its capacity would just fracture. I'm leaning toward a spring issue, as it appears to be the simplest way a problem could occur... __________________ SUBMARINER OWNERS' CLUB ESTABLISHED 1953 TRF Member # 5464 Last edited by SSD; 19 August 2007 at 12:50 AM..

23 August 2007, 02:52 AM	#16
SSD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jamie Location: Georgia Watch: Stainless Sub Date Posts: 3,023	SUB'S BACK!!!! Called the AD to see about my Sub, and found it it was just finished! A quick supersonic trip and it is back on my wrist. I am told the failure was the actual balance wheel itself, not even the microstella adjustments! A huge relief, whatever the problem was. Thought I'd let ya know. BTW- Bo, I'm already checking for accuracy... __________________ SUBMARINER OWNERS' CLUB ESTABLISHED 1953 TRF Member # 5464

23 August 2007, 03:06 AM	#17
nko51 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Real Name: Alex Location: USA Watch: TT Blue Sub Posts: 2,542	Sounds fishy to me! __________________

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