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Full review of the VSF 8500 clone movement *Pic Heavy*

santre22

I'm Pretty Popular
22/3/12
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I've promised to make this post since before Christmas but I had no time until now. So this is a complete service of a VSF 8500 clone movement in my planet ocean.

IMG-7770.png

So lets start with opening the caseback.

IMG-7771.png

Then release the stem by pushing firm on the lever in the red circle.
It's close to the print SWISS. The first time I tried I was too gentle,
just start that way and apply little more force until the stem are released when pulling the crown.

IMG-7772.png

Next up is to remove the rotor. This one is tricky, the construction isn't near the genuine 8500. You have to carfully take a small screwdriver (Bergeon 30009 White) the with of the blade is illustrated in red on the picture. When you are under the washer with the tip just gently wiggle the screwdriver untill it's lose. On to the next picture.

IMG-7773.png

Here the washer is lose (orange arrow) under it we have a tiny mirror/plate (red arrow) that have sticky glue that sits on the rotot screw, just be carefull as this little plate easy stick to the tray or box where you put it under the service.
The yellow arrow show the amount of glue that hold the washer its a bit darker shade of gray.
I think with the chinese QC this would differ alot between the VSF watches with "Super" clone movements. That means some will be easy to remove some quite hard as mine was.

IMG-7774.png

Here it's just a normal rotor screw, probably directly from a A2824-2
Also the rotor bearing seem to be quite similar to a A2824-2.

IMG-7775.png

Rotor is removed now on to the autowinding bridge. Here it's very important to just remove
the 3 silver screws marked with green rings in picture. The other black screws are just glued deco screws.

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So here are the deco screws. Do not touch them! Also the jewels marked with orange are just decoration so do not put any oil here after the movement is cleaned.

IMG-7777.png

here is the rotor and bridge in the part tray.

IMG-7778.png

Here we now see the real autowinding bridge with the real jewels and hidden screws
but we leave them for now and remove the movement from the case. Movement screws and tabs
are located by the red arrows, all of them were pretty lose but I'm afraid to tighten them
enough (to Swiss Standard) because if they break it will be trouble find replacement and they
probably get stuck in the mainplate for ever.

IMG-7779.png

Movement is out, now carfully remove the hands.


IMG-7780.png

When the hands is removed and put away in saftey turn the dial feet screws about 180 degrees, marked in the red circles and carfylly remove the dial.
The DW is right under the dial so don't push the edge with a sharp screw driver or something like that.
When dial is disassembled you can take away the black movement ring, it's sitting quite tight.

IMG-7781.png

With the dial removed next is the front of the movement. There are 3 black screws they are all quite delicate so be careful not tighten them too hard when putting movement back together.

IMG-7783.png

With the first plate removed we now have the DW lose, just be carefull as the date jumper and jumper spring are under tension and easy fly away.
At the point where the red line touch the jumper it need to be properly oiled to get a smooth date change.
I use HP 1300 or Microgliss D5.


IMG-7784.png

The foil washer on the hour wheel was sad (red) it usualy should be happy so I will put it back as the green line in the picture shows.

IMG-7785.png

Then I remove the top part of the hour wheel, under it there are the mechanism to jump the hours for date setting it have to be greased and not oiled Moebuis 9504 (synt-a-alube) is the best option. The grease spot is shown by
the red arrow. The gears do not engage (yellow/green lines) as the date jumper finger only engages with the top gear of the hour wheel this is to forward the date when jumping the hours around in date set mode.
Then unscrew the 3 screws on the calender plate.


IMG-7786.png

The calender plate where the DW turn. The area where the DW turn is quite big I may try to modify this to decrease the friction.

IMG-7787.png

The underside of the calendar plate where the two gears are riveted and can't be removed so they need to be oiled after cleaning. Put small amounts of HP1300 where the thinn green arrows point.

IMG-7788.png

The keyless is a modifyed A7750 and most parts there are a direct swap. Also now the date finger gear and the transport gear can be removed.


IMG-7789.png

The small bridge and the wheels are next to be removed.

IMG-7790.png

The pillar (red arrow) did not have proper oiling and it have some wear on mine so I will lathe a new one and press in to the mainplate.
The oil is however there in the wrong place (yellow arrow) and I think it's chinese motor oil. The oil is sticky and make the movement worse than if it was dry.
The green arrow shows some dirt where the hourwheel turns over the minute wheel. It will probably all turn much smoother after cleaning and oiling.

IMG-7791.png

Back to the backside of the movement agail. Now it's time to look at the actual autowinding bridge.
the lime green circles around jewels are the actual jewels but the one marked with orange ist just for show,
it's placed directly under one of the jewels in the deco plate. just to make a more autentic look I think.

Don't remove the autowinding bridge yet I start with the balance bridge.
It's actually easier than on a gen 8500 as it have the normal swiss lever escapement so lift it straight up but gentle.

IMG-7792.png

Next remove all mainspring power from the barrels by holding the crown and then push this lever all the way up.
this will make the crown turn so let it slip gently between your fingers until the power is gone from movement.


IMG-7793.png

When there is no power in the geartrain its safe to remove the palletfork bridge with the 2 screws (green)

Do not try to remove the deco balancewheel protection. it seems to be glued and you risk to break the screw head. (Red X circle)


IMG-7794.png

Now it's finally time for the autowinding bridge.

IMG-7795.png

here we have 2 A2824-2 reversing wheels and then 2 custom wheels.


IMG-7796.png

Autowinding wheels gone now the geartrain bridge hold by two black screws.


IMG-7797.png

Before removing gears I remove the Barrel bridge.


IMG-7798.png

Underside of barrel bridge where the ratchet for the barrels are located
everything here except the riveted wheel (red arrow) can be removed and cleaned before oiling (HP1300)


IMG-7799.png

The two barrels but be carefull as they look to be the same but they aren't. It seems like one of them have no clutch system so if they are mixed up the autowinding can possibly overwind and break the mainspring or gears. I'll just be on the safe side and mark them with 1 and 2 small x-marks where it can't be seen.
The yellow arrow is the balance stop it had more of the chinese motor oil under it. Yuck!!!


IMG-7800.png

Back on the front for the last dissasembly of the keyless. Here its the same as for any A7750.


IMG-7801.png

Some of the parts was little bent so they will be replaced with new A7750 parts.


IMG-7802.png

Winding stem is pretty much a normal 7750 made to be able to push it back without pusing the stem lever.
(a small angle after the square part of the stem)
there are probably A7750 stems like this in a bunch of other reps too.


IMG-7803.png

Empty mailplate.


IMG-7804.jpg

Ready to be put in cleaning baskets. As the movment text isn't engraved and just printed on yo the bridges,
except the rotor I will only clean it on a short program of 5 min in cleaning alcohol ISO propanol. then quick heat dry it for 3-4 min.



I'm abit tierd after all the documentation so I will see when I have time for a update on this but until then take care and let me know if there are any questionmarks.

Cheers
Santre
 
Last edited:

spikec

Looking Around
19/7/18
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Fantastic write-up, many thanks!


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santre22

I'm Pretty Popular
22/3/12
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Thanks guys! I've edited my post as I found a few typos in there and added some small infos on some pics.

I don't know when I have time to put it together but I will document that too with oil points and other necessary info.

Cheers
 

boghus

Horology Curious
27/10/18
24
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This is the best review ever. Chapeu! The effort and the work put into this deserve all my respect!
As a question to you: when turning the winding stem how do you feel the resistance given by the mechanism week, normal or strong. Also it will be nice to know how are the amplitude and accuracy after you reassemble the watch.
 
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Pietros

Active Member
14/12/18
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What an amazing piece of work and I thank you sincerely for all of your effort!
My question is, leaving the abysmal lubrication choice to one side, what is your over all opinion of the movement? Is it decent quality?
 

slavearm

Horology Curious
11/2/19
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Amazing work and info. Thank you for the contribution!


Sent from my iPhone using RWI
 

k4jun

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Great job served in a very easy way! Many thanks santre22.
Mine franken, with VSF touched by you, runs like a champ:)
 

santre22

I'm Pretty Popular
22/3/12
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Great job served in a very easy way! Many thanks santre22.
Mine franken, with VSF touched by you, runs like a champ:)


Do you have the one with gen orange bezel? If so it was a really nice sample. I did also waterproof that one and it passed 5 bar without any problem.

And thanks for the positive feedback all of you!


RaddaveMr. Pap

If you guys think this should get sticky I can ask some of the mods if they think it's suitable.