Rep VC 47040 Rotor not winding mainspring - Is it safe to hand wide?

[jcadler]

Hello all. Received my rep VC 47040 from TD and it appears the rotor is not winding the mainspring.
I have fully wound the watch , wear it all day, everyday, then take it off at night. 2-3 days after hand winding it's stops.
This has occurred twice now. I really don't want to send it back to TD due to the risks.
I thought I would just keep it and hand wide it every day.
I'm wondering is it safe to hand wide or are these automatic reps not able to withstand daily hand winding?
I also realize that the rotor may not be the actual issue , but the watch does run ok when hand wound, although it does have a pattern of gaining and then losing time.
Thanks

 

[Rx4Time]

The first question is if you shake the watch back and forth without manually winding it, will it start running? Based off of your description, it sounds like it is charging the movement, although not enough to keep it going. Whether that be from your arm nit moving enough, or an issue with the movement, it's difficult to say for sure. Without any additional charging, most movements will not run more than about 40 hours. There are a few exceptions like the newer Rolex and AP superclone movements. Winding it by hand in and of itself is not dangerous to the watch, but it can be annoying and if you have an automatic movement you shouldn't have to.

 

[jcadler]

The first question is if you shake the watch back and forth without manually winding it, will it start running? Based off of your description, it sounds like it is charging the movement, although not enough to keep it going. Whether that be from your arm nit moving enough, or an issue with the movement, it's difficult to say for sure. Without any additional charging, most movements will not run more than about 40 hours. There are a few exceptions like the newer Rolex and AP superclone movements. Winding it by hand in and of itself is not dangerous to the watch, but it can be annoying and if you have an automatic movement you shouldn't have to.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the rotor does start the movement running if I move the watch around . So, I do see what you are getting at. Perhaps the rotor is slipping or something in rotor gear train is malfunctioning. I will say that it is on my left arm and that arm gets much less movement than my right arm. I suppose this particular clone is not efficient at translating movement into wind the mainspring?

 

[Maximillian]

I suppose this particular clone is not efficient at translating movement into wind the mainspring?

It is more likely that your movement is malfunctioning. I suggest having a watchmaker take a look. Since it runs when hand-wound, I would assume it is not a complicated fix.

 

[jcadler]

Yes, a good idea. I just spoke to local watch repair man - of course he said he can't get parts for the movement but will look at it and see what's up. It's a shame I can't just swap in a 9015 or 2892 movement and discard this mod movement. Thanks.

It is more likely that your movement is malfunctioning. I suggest having a watchmaker take a look. Since it runs when hand-wound, I would assume it is not a complicated fix.

 

[pam63C]

Yes, a good idea. I just spoke to local watch repair man - of course he said he can't get parts for the movement but will look at it and see what's up. It's a shame I can't just swap in a 9015 or 2892 movement and discard this mod movement. Thanks

Isn't this 47040 using a standard 9015 movement ? You can choose to replace/ reinstall the marked plates on the new 9015 and you have essentially a new movement.

 

[Reaps]

Depends on the factory, if PPF high chance modified 9015? If not stock 9015.

 

[jcadler]

Isn't this 47040 using a standard 9015 movement ? You can choose to replace/ reinstall the marked plates on the new 9015 and you have essentially a new movement.

I'm not sure. I've read on reddit various posts that seem to say that I can't. The TD website says " Japanese MIYOTA 9015 automatic movement modified to VC 1226 movement" , so I would have to remove the movement and take some measurements. I would like to dump the modified movement.

 

[jcadler]

Depends on the factory, if PPF high chance modified 9015? If not stock 9015.

It is or is supposed to be a PPF. TD website says "Japanese MIYOTA 9015 automatic movement modified to VC 1226 movement."

 

[Reaps]

It is or is supposed to be a PPF. TD website says "Japanese MIYOTA 9015 automatic movement modified to VC 1226 movement."

So probably not a direct 9015 swap.

Imho the simplest test is to get a winder and leave the watch on the winder when you're not wearing it for a few days. Then turn off winder and measure PR.

 

[Rx4Time]

...or wear it on your right hand for a day and see how it does? Remember if you're taking it off at night that means 10 to 14 hours out of the day, It's just sitting there not getting wound at all. You can pick up a cheap winder on Amazon for about 60 bucks.

 

[jcadler]

...or wear it on your right hand for a day and see how it does? Remember if you're taking it off at night that means 10 to 14 hours out of the day, It's just sitting there not getting wound at all. You can pick up a cheap winder on Amazon for about 60 bucks.

Thanks. A good idea. I am considering pulling the mod movement , taking some measurements and try to determine if I could do a 9015 swap.
My real fear is messing up the hands if I determine the 9015 will fit.

 

[jcadler]

So probably not a direct 9015 swap.

Imho the simplest test is to get a winder and leave the watch on the winder when you're not wearing it for a few days. Then turn off winder and measure PR.

Going to take the movement out and do some measurements for a potential 9015 swap.

 

[Dave2302]

TD website says "Japanese MIYOTA 9015 automatic movement modified to VC 1226 movement

In my experience, when TD's say x mod movement to y, what they are describing is a stock movement with deco plates, you see this a lot with Daytonas, i.e 7750 mod to 4130.

MHO is most Jap Miyotas are rock solid and so I concur with the guys above saying try it on a winder for a few days, or, if you take it off over sleep time then give it about 15 turns on the crown to wind it a bit

HTH