Potential problem with 45.5 PO Chrono?

[messiah]

Hey all...

Just picked up a Planet Ocean 45.5 chronograph ceramic bezel from TT. I have a couple questions. First, the chrono's are advertised as non-working, which is fine, I don't know anyone that actually uses them, I sure don't lol. The chrono @ 9 runs constantly, if I depress one of the buttons, the chrono dial @ 9 stops running, but so does the second hand. I've tried pressing the buttons to get the chrono dial to stop, and keep the second hand running to no avail. I really don't mind that the chrono is running, but I think it's eating up the watch's power. The reason I say that is because it stops running overnight.

So I guess question #1 would be is it normal for the chrono to be running constantly like that, or is there a way to stop it from running?

Question #2 would be is that a probable cause for a watch to stop running overnight?

I should also add that when I've depressed the chrono buttons to try to get the chrono to stop running, I had trouble getting the movement to start beating again. Also, this morning, it would run for about 15 seconds, and then stop. Over and over. Finally, it started running, and has been running fine all day. If you know what the problem might be, please let me know, and if you need any further info from me please let me know. Thank you.

 

[messiah]

Well now it doesn't work at all. I guess it will still be right twice a day:frusty:

Such a disappointment, a beautiful watch with garbage inside.

 

[redrising]

Well now it doesn't work at all. I guess it will still be right twice a day:frusty:

Such a disappointment, a beautiful watch with garbage inside.

Trusty is not a TD here. Best to file a complain with a mod over at RG.

 

[messiah]

I know, thanks, just haven't made it over there yet. Just was looking for some advice from someone that might have had a similar issue. I didn't come on here to bash him as a dealer, just to see if someone had advice concerning my watch's issues.

BTW, although not a TD, his communication and shipping were excellent, and the watch is beautiful, it's just too bad it doesn't work.

 

[messiah]

And for the record, I'm not going to file a complaint with a mod anywhere unless the situation can't be resolved. I know things happen, and I emailed Andrew at Trusty, and he emailed me right back, just waiting to see what will happen. There's a longer story about this particular watch which I haven't told yet, wrong rotor in the QC pics, not sure if the factory changed the rotor or the movement to make it right, but it just doesn't work properly. It was boxed tight as a drum, and shipped without any problems, and looks amazing, it's just not a functional watch. I was just hoping someone might have (unfortunately) had a similar issue with this, or a similar watch, and might be able to help me get this baby running smoothly.

 

[Dowbs]

I'm assuming when you say "chrono dial" you mean subdials, just to clarify for ease of following along. Which movement is it supposed to have?

Also I'd second contacting TT and/or the mods at RG.

 

[messiah]

Yes, the subdial @9 was running constantly, but now the watch doesn't work at all. After 1 day. It's an A7750 if that helps.

 

[messiah]

TT suggested manually winding it 30-40 times and smacking it against my palm. Uh, no. The movement is clearly junk, I'm guessing the factory butchered it somehow in their hurry to replace a rotor that shouldn't even be in a watch like this (3330). I'm looking at the original QC pics, and it's clear that it was a whole different movement that was swapped into the watch, and was probably never checked.

 

[Dowbs]

Well for question 1, with the A7750 movement I believe the secs @ 9 should be running constantly as it is your "time keeping seconds", whereas the larger seconds hand should not be running until you press the button to start it, as it serves the chrono function on the watch. Was this the default state of the watch? The seconds subdial should continue running when you press the button again to stop the centre seconds hand from running though, so that seems a bit odd.

What it sounds like to me is that you've inadvertently junked the movement in the process of pressing various buttons, unfortunately - the 7750 clones can be quite finicky, and it's not recommended you play with the chrono function much (if at all), especially on unserviced movements. Pressing buttons in various combinations seems like a sure way to break something, but whether there was something inherently wrong with the movement from the onset is another matter. That's just my guess though, I'll defer to those more knowledgeable about the 7750 movements.

 

[messiah]

Hey Dowbs

Just to clarify, when I received the watch, both the second hand, and the secs @ 9 both run constantly, or not t all. The movement stops. It's not one or the other, it's all or nothing. It seems odd to me as well.

I didn't start "pushing buttons" until I had a problem, and was trying to reset. I know A7750's, I may not post at all, but I've been around for quite awhile, just to learn. I let the experts answer questions, I'm a novice in comparison to most of you, but I get most of it lol.

Question though, why should my secs @ 9 be my main second hand, when it's a sub dial? Shouldn't the main second hand be....uh... the main second hand? I have the Omega manual around somewhere, I'll look, but that just sucks if that's the case. I really don't mind them both running at the same time as long as it's not killing my power reserve, but I don't know, I've only had this POS for a day.

Update: I f'd with it, and got it working again, albeit the same deal with 2 secs running @ the same time. At least it's running for now.

 

[Dowbs]

Interesting, I'm about 99% certain that's not normal behaviour for a 7750 chrono, for them to both run constantly or not at all. Normal operation should look like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXbAUSOxuzk

No worries, I saw your join date and figured you wouldn't just start slamming buttons haphazardly, but given that the movement already sounds like it wasn't functioning the way it should and that nature of what you were trying to do (stop seconds subdial, keep centre seconds running) I could only venture a guess that doing so might have contributed to it stopping entirely. Since you've gotten it working again, it definitely sounds like there's something wrong with the movement regardless.

As for your question, it's just the nature of a chrono function really, which somewhat takes priority over standard timekeeping on a chrono watch. In order to achieve the intended accuracy for stop/start timing, it's logical to use the larger and more precise/legible centre seconds hand, and so that's how the 7750 is designed to function. It should only run the main seconds hand when you've activated it via the pusher. Relating back to the video above, you can see the hacking seconds when the crown is pulled out to set the time, but otherwise the seconds subdial should keep moving regardless of what the pushers/seconds hand are doing.

The last thing I'd call myself is an expert though, so like I said before, wait until tomorrow when the more experienced members get a chance to examine your situation before you do anything, but my recommendation would be to contact TT again and see about sending it back unless you can find a watchsmith willing to work on an Asian 7750.

 

[ShiroTenshi]

Question though, why should my secs @ 9 be my main second hand, when it's a sub dial? Shouldn't the main second hand be....uh... the main second hand? I have the Omega manual around somewhere, I'll look, but that just sucks if that's the case. I really don't mind them both running at the same time as long as it's not killing my power reserve, but I don't know, I've only had this POS for a day.

The 'main sec hand' u talking about is actually the time keeping hand, aka the chrono second hand. Your constant normal time keeping second hand should be the sec@9.

Why would Trusty sell the watch as a A7750 but labelled it as a 'non working chrono' ?? Doesn't make sense. A 775 with non working chrono is a spoilt/damaged 7750 to begin with.
I suggest to remove the caseback just to check its a A7750 and not a 21J movement.

Assuming its a A7750, AFAIK, running the chrono doest not take up extra power.

 

[egroegart]

yes, your subdial at 9 is your seconds hand. that should constantly be moving. I would agree normally with winding it 25 to 30 times and giving it a good "smack" but I am sure there are some other issues here. Don't knock the "smack" method of getting your watch running though. lol. It's come in handy for a lot of people who have received DOA watches and it works. but in this case I think it's not the right solution. as you have some erratic behavior going on with that movement. Well, in all honesty now that I think of it since it's now completely dead, winding it and giving it a good smack wouldn't hurt a thing. lol. nothing to lose at this point. It's not going to hurt anything. Something can always get in a bind and jarring it can sometimes knock it loose again so it can run.

 

[ukbondraider]

Ive got the new PO chrono (BP factory version). Your secs at 9 should only be moving. The large second hand that you keep referring to should stay still at 12 o clock. It is the stop watch for chrono watches. A running seconds sub dial looks much better than a traditional running big second hand by the way.

 

[messiah]

The 'main sec hand' u talking about is actually the time keeping hand, aka the chrono second hand. Your constant normal time keeping second hand should be the sec@9.

Why would Trusty sell the watch as a A7750 but labelled it as a 'non working chrono' ?? Doesn't make sense. A 775 with non working chrono is a spoilt/damaged 7750 to begin with.
I suggest to remove the caseback just to check its a A7750 and not a 21J movement.

Assuming its a A7750, AFAIK, running the chrono doest not take up extra power.

Yes, it's a 7750, it has the crystal caseback, but I ended up removing it last night just to mess with it, and got it running. For how long? That's anyone's guess lol.

 

[messiah]

Ive got the new PO chrono (BP factory version). Your secs at 9 should only be moving. The large second hand that you keep referring to should stay still at 12 o clock. It is the stop watch for chrono watches. A running seconds sub dial looks much better than a traditional running big second hand by the way.

I agree about the running subdial looking better, but both the large second hand and subdial both run simultaneously, or not at all. I'll take simultaneously ATM I guess. Better than nothing I suppose.

 

[messiah]

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their advice, help and input. Being that I've already resized the bracelet, and removed the caseback, I doubt Trusty will take this watch back, and I really don't feel like shipping it back to China. He wanted pics, but I'll just take video and send it to him, pics won't show anything. I'll take video of it while it's running, and video of when it pukes on me again (it's inevitable, it will), who knows, maybe he will offer to repair or replace it for free.