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GMF DJ41 frankening

McPwn

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Anyone ever franken one of these? Looking to swap the dial but not quite sure what dial feet it has.

Seems like a gen dial is not plug and play as theres no indents for 3235 style feet. I'm guessing the feet go into those 2 holes in the movement ring, which you can just poke out.

Is the only route to either swap the movement or shave off the 3235 dial feet? Or has anyone made it work with the stock movement?
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KJ2020

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Looks like a 3135 rep dial to me bro. That's what I was talking about in the other thread when I said the GMF "3235" is a pseudo SA3135 upgrade with 3135 and proprietary parts.

So you can either use a gen 3135 116334 dial 1:1 or you will need to mod a 126334 gen 3235 dial by grinding off the underside non-continuous rim and then gluing new post feet on it in the 3135 positions.

I was seriously contemplating doing this to my rep 3235 Sub 41 dial after having a tough go at salvaging a temperamental movement. I was thinking about swapping a 3135 into the 3235 case. But I got the movement under control with a replacement balance and a gen escape wheel and pallet fork.

It's not a terribly difficult dial mod, though certainly it will devalue a gen dial.
 
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KJ2020

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If you try to fit a gen 3235 dial in the GMF case, you may have to shave the lower step of the stairstep edge profile off the dial as well as the underside rims. The VSF 3235 case has grooves cut in it that fit that stairstep perfectly and only the upper step is visible through the crystal. On a case without the specially cut grooves, there could be an issue with that stairstep being visible, or maybe the movement being pushed too far down in the case creating a stem height problem.

ZXALEQ.jpg


ZxeHzj.jpg
 

McPwn

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Looks like a 3135 rep dial to me bro. That's what I was talking about in the other thread when I said the GMF "3235" is a pseudo SA3135 upgrade with 3135 and proprietary parts.

So you can either use a gen 3135 116334 dial 1:1 or you will need to mod a 126334 gen 3235 dial by grinding off the underside non-continuous rim and then gluing new post feet on it in the 3135 positions.

I was seriously contemplating doing this to my rep 3235 Sub 41 dial after having a tough go at salvaging a temperamental movement. I was thinking about swapping a 3135 into the 3235 case. But I got the movement under control with a replacement balance and a gen escape wheel and pallet fork.

It's not a terribly difficult dial mod, though certainly it will devalue a gen dial.
Looking at the holes in the movement ring though, it doesnt look like they are the same position as the 116300 dial feet. Are you sure it would fit?

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KJ2020

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Looking at the holes in the movement ring though, it doesnt look like they are the same position as the 116300 dial feet. Are you sure it would fit?

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You are right those dial feet match an ETA dial. So the next question is what movement is it really?

It may be a 2824 with a deco plate and fake 3235 engraving. You can tell by winding the crown in position 1 with the back off. If the yoke for sliding gear (red arrow) deflects to the left and engages the ratchet wheel (blue arrow), then the movement is a 3135, and GMF just used a 2824 dial because the feet go into the movement holder and not the movement. If the yoke does not move, then it's part of a deco plate and the movement is a 2824.

Zx65DQ.jpg


If it is a 2824, you can still use either a 3135 or a 3235 gen dial by modding either dial to be flat and by gluing (or soldering) new feet to the 2824 feet positions. If using a 3135 gen dial, you could also drill new holes in the movement holder to accommodate the gen dial feet and keep it intact.
 
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KJ2020

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BTW how are the bracelet inner link edges, are they sharp? If they are maybe it would be a better option to use a VSF for your gen dial Franken. It will take a gen 3235 dial 1:1 and it's what, $120 more? Just a thought. It looks like the GMF isn't too upgrade friendly.
 

McPwn

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BTW how are the bracelet inner link edges, are they sharp? If they are maybe it would be a better option to use a VSF for your gen dial Franken. It will take a gen 3235 dial 1:1 and it's what, $120 more? Just a thought. It looks like the GMF isn't too upgrade friendly.
That was the first thought but VSF DJ41 isnt orderable now. And people snap them up on M2M very quickly. The GMF isn't bad by any means, just the gen dial isnt plug and play. But neither is it for the ARF V3, and at least GMF has a better stock datewheel than ARF and better lugs, bracelet(possibly) than VSF.

I may just swap to one of the 3235 clones i see on ebay or aliexpress for $200, it looks like they have the correct 3235 dial feet but no idea who makes them.

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KJ2020

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That was the first thought but VSF DJ41 isnt orderable now. And people snap them up on M2M very quickly. The GMF isn't bad by any means, just the gen dial isnt plug and play. But neither is it for the ARF V3, and at least GMF has a better stock datewheel than ARF and better lugs, bracelet(possibly) than VSF.

I may just swap to one of the 3235 clones i see on ebay or aliexpress for $200, it looks like they have the correct 3235 dial feet but no idea who makes them.

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Can you tell if that's a deco plate on your GMF (yoke for sliding pinion doesn't move when winding?) I lightened up your pic so you can see it better

Zx65DQ.jpg
 

McPwn

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Can you tell if that's a deco plate on your GMF (yoke for sliding pinion doesn't move when winding?) I lightened up your pic so you can see it better

Zx65DQ.jpg

no, its not a deco plate. the gears move when winding.
 

KJ2020

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no, its not a deco plate. the gears move when winding.

Wow, how bizarre. So it is a 2824 dial in the movement holder of a 3135 movement. It should take a 3135 gen dial then in the 3135 movement feet holes.
 

McPwn

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Wow, how bizarre. So it is a 2824 dial in the movement holder of a 3135 movement. It should take a 3135 gen dial then in the 3135 movement feet holes.

Yeah, I'm guessing since GMF used to make these with the A2824, they just kept the dial feet the same as the A2824 version so they could use the old dials. But all the dials for 3135 aren't big enough for the DJ41.
 

KJ2020

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Yeah, I'm guessing since GMF used to make these with the A2824, they just kept the dial feet the same as the A2824 version so they could use the old dials. But all the dials for 3135 aren't big enough for the DJ41.

I just remembered the gen 116334 DJ41 has a 3136 movement so a 116334 dial should fit the GMF rehaut opening. Back to drilling new holes in the movement holder, or gluing new feet on the gen 3136 dial to fit the 3135 movement, if the feet are not in the same positions. It would be useful to know if you ever take yours apart.
 
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McPwn

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I just remembered the gen 116334 DJ41 has a 3136 movement so a 116334 dial should fit the GMF rehaut opening. Back to drilling new holes in the movement holder, or gluing new feet on the gen 3136 dial to fit the 3135 movement, if the feet are not in the same positions. It would be useful to know if you ever take yours apart.

For now, I'll probably try to polish the indices a bit more, as they have some rough edges where they meet the lume. One other thought is to just use a dremel to make some indents in the movement ring to fit a 3235 dial, dont think that should be too hard.
 

KJ2020

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For now, I'll probably try to polish the indices a bit more, as they have some rough edges where they meet the lume. One other thought is to just use a dremel to make some indents in the movement ring to fit a 3235 dial, dont think that should be too hard.

Oh, good one. Once the movement is out you can measure the rehaut opening. There is another thread where a member was going to post some measurements of the VSF 126334 dial, which is gen spec. There is still the potential issue of the stairstep edge on the 126334 dial face and whether or not that would work in a GMF case.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/modification-repairs/9594064-vs3235-movement-teardown/page6
 

McPwn

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Oh, good one. Once the movement is out you can measure the rehaut opening. There is another thread where a member was going to post some measurements of the VSF 126334 dial, which is gen spec. There is still the potential issue of the stairstep edge on the 126334 dial face and whether or not that would work in a GMF case.

https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/modification-repairs/9594064-vs3235-movement-teardown/page6
So removed the dial and movement ring. It looks like there is a raised ledge, maybe it could fit a 3235 dial, not sure. I dont see any holes for traditional style feet. Interestingly it also looks like it has a 3136 date wheel due to the extra space on the inside.
a3457f7c3068d6e7259ede0f091050ab.jpg


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KJ2020

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So removed the dial and movement ring. It looks like there is a raised ledge, maybe it could fit a 3235 dial, not sure. I dont see any holes for traditional style feet. Interestingly it also looks like it has a 3136 date wheel due to the extra space on the inside.

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Well that's very interesting. I agree about the datewheel, there would have to be a larger arc through the middle of the numerals due to the dial date window being right of a 3135 date window. Here's a pic of the VSF 126334 movement for comparison.
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Pics credit Logixa from his excellent teardown thread

https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...ement-teardown

ZxTmkF.jpg

You can see GMF is still using a lot of 3135/6 parts - the calendar parts and the quickset date corrector.

I wouldn't mind trying a rep 3235 dial fit to that GMF movement. That would be the thing to do before attempting a gen dial fit I think. The rim under the 3235 dial is pretty tall.

ZxTn7Y.jpg


There is at least one rep VSF 126334 dial for sale in M2M last I checked.
 
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McPwn

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Scratch that, it looks like it has covered up 3135 feet...and what look to be partially covered 3136 feet.

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McPwn

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Well that's very interesting. I agree about the datewheel, there would have to be a larger arc through the middle of the numerals due to the dial date window being right of a 3135 date window. Here's a pic of the VSF 126334 movement for comparison.
​​​​​
Pics credit Logixa from his excellent teardown thread

https://forum.replica-watch.info/for...ement-teardown

ZxTmkF.jpg

You can see GMF is still using a lot of 3135/6 parts - the calendar parts and the quickset date corrector.

I wouldn't mind trying a rep 3235 dial fit to that GMF movement. That would be the thing to do before attempting a gen dial fit I think. The rim under the 3235 dial is pretty tall.

ZxTn7Y.jpg


There is at least one rep VSF 126334 dial for sale in M2M last I checked.
Unfortunately that dial is in EU and im in CONUS.. prob not worth the shipping. Gen dials, especially silver and white arent too bad. I think without the protruding ledges on the date plate a gen dial would prob move around... unless maybe the force from the mounting screws would give it enough friction against the case.

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KJ2020

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Unfortunately that dial is in EU and im in CONUS.. prob not worth the shipping. Gen dials, especially silver and white arent too bad. I think without the protruding ledges on the date plate a gen dial would prob move around... unless maybe the force from the mounting screws would give it enough friction against the case.

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It looks like the gen 3136 dials have feet at 10:30 and 4:30

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3630467...ic&brand=Rolex&_trksid=p2332490.c100930.m5375

I wonder if there are any 3136 dial feet holes in the GMF movement under the date seat

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Or maybe 3135 dial foot holes

ZxdWXF.jpg


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McPwn

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Just acquired a gen silver dial as they can be had quite reasonably, compared to gen blue dials ($1k). I assume people are just changing out their silver dials, and they were also the first DJ41 dials to be released.

So after some messing around, decided to mod the movement ring to adapt to the 3235 feet. If I removed the movement ring completely and just used the mounting tabs, I couldn't get perfect alignment and the use of tape to hold the dial added some slight extra depth where the date looked too deep in the window.

So basically I just used a diamond file to cut indents into the movement adapter, which can be had for cheap on amazon/ebay, as opposed to my dremel. This allowed more control over the size of the indentations I needed to make, and also not spray metal particles everywhere.

After lining up the dial and movement ring with the date, i just marked/masked off where I needed to shave away the ring. After probably a few hours of filing, finally got the finished ring and was able to fit the dial nicely! Took some fiddling but I got the date lined up properly.
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Nothing beats gen dial IMO, the main issue is the markers on reps have rough edges - sometimes they don't always show up in pics due to filters, but it can be seen with the naked eye. I doubt even VSF dials have as smooth markers as gen.

OOTB the GMF dial isn't bad, but the Gen markers are much cleaner.

So, if you want to franken a GMF with Gen Dial it is possible with some light modding. Or you can wait for VR3235 to be released and just swap out the SA3235, which should take gen parts. Eventually I'll probably do that, but for now SA3235 seems to be working OK - consistently +- 20 secs/day
 
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