Rolex Sub from ZF - BROKEN in three weeks

[JNSD]

Ok, so against all the advice and probably my better judgement I weighed up the pros & cons and decided to pull her apart further to see what the issue is. This was after hearing back from PureTime saying (and I'll give you one guess what that was...) "Send it back"....

So anyhow, got it apart successfully, however JESUS those little screws that hold the face in place are small, while trying to install one back in (yeah, I know, rookie move for unscrewing it all the way out in the first place) it flicked out of the tweezers and onto the carpet. After looking for it for 30 minutes with a magnifying head piece I gave up... So I'll need another one of those if anyone knows where to get them... Gah.

So onto the main event...

It was extremely obvious that there are two broken gears that have teeth bent/snapped on them. I tried to look up the manual and the main one seems to be simple enough for me to identify as the "Hour wheel - 3135-280"

However, the tiny little silver one which feels like the culprit for all this mess I don't know how to identify and hence don't know how to replace.

Would love someone to chime in.

 

[JNSD]

For some reason can't see the edit button, but I wanted to add, can I replace the broken gears with Genuine ones? WIll they fit? WOuld love to franken it while it's apart and broken if that's an option.

So I need help to find:

2x gears as highlighted above
1x screw that holds in the face...

Found this Gen on eBay: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/303185566277
Maybe that little wheel is the Intermediate Date Wheel 3135-670? Looks like it... https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/223435570693?hash=item3405cc3e05:g:kqEAAOSwQ7lcfiqF&frcectupt=true

Thanks team!

 

[p0pperini]

Nice work so far mate!

Bummer about the lost screw - one of the most common occupational hazards for the amateur watch fiddler. You wait till it's a small chrono hand off a vintage Daytona... (I never did find that one.) The very first lesson of watchmaking is normally "How To Make a Pole With a Magnet On The End, To Sweep The Floor For Lost Parts". Someone should be able to send you one from their spares box (I would, but I don't have a junk 3135 right now I'm afraid).

I can't help identify the small gear wheel for definite - but it looks to me like you found the right one. I really just posted to add encouraging noises and also to ask - where did you find the 3135 manual?

 

[JNSD]

Nice work so far mate!

Bummer about the lost screw - one of the most common occupational hazards for the amateur watch fiddler. You wait till it's a small chrono hand off a vintage Daytona... (I never did find that one.) The very first lesson of watchmaking is normally "How To Make a Pole With a Magnet On The End, To Sweep The Floor For Lost Parts". Someone should be able to send you one from their spares box (I would, but I don't have a junk 3135 right now I'm afraid).

I can't help identify the small gear wheel for definite - but it looks to me like you found the right one. I really just posted to add encouraging noises and also to ask - where did you find the 3135 manual?

The magnet idea is awesome. Will give that a go!

I’m definitely concerned about putting hands back on but with the right tools am sure I’ll be ok.

What’s become apparent is that I really need the right grease and that special stuff that cleans dust specs and other stuff.

I got the manuals from an awesome member who’s been a great help @PsycoTee16 from this thread:

https://forum.replica-watch.info/forum/movements/9686458-rolex-technical-manuals/page3

 

[p0pperini]

I’m definitely concerned about putting hands back on but with the right tools am sure I’ll be ok.

Thanks for the link, appreciate it.

You can get Bergeon Rodico, the "special stuff that cleans dust specs" on eBay or Amazon.

I've used all sorts of hand pressing tools, but my go-to now is a set of these:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001854866615.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.44c04c4d2dvoxt
I like these because they've got nice soft plastic ends in a full set of sizes. The plastic end is clear, so you can see what you're doing with it. The plastic won't scratch your hands.

As you mentioned before, you need a decent movement mount to secure the movement with dial on before you press the hands on. Something simple like this will do it:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...2-12&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000025346996139"}

 

[Plaasbaas]

Thanks OP! And thanks everybody else chiming in with advice and tool recommendations. This has quickly turned into my favourite thread at this moment. Very informative and useful for my own amateurish tinkering with watches.

Kudos for your "hands-on"-approach, which does not look bad at all so far, and also thank you very much for illustrating your progress with really good pics. Awesome.

 

[JNSD]

Might I add that the above eBay links are actually not Genuine replacement parts, found genuine ones but jesus they are expensive.

Don't know if I can justify it, however, I might add that I am equally as shocked that the replica parts are as expensive as they are.

Genuine 3135-280 - Would cost me $101.52 AUD
Genuine 3125-670 - Would cost me $137.20 AUD

So combined, they'd both cost me $238.72 for those two parts - Pretty tough to swallow at this stage of the Rep journey.

OR Aliexpress:

Rep 3135-280 - $25.57
Rep 3135-670 - $32.73

Total: $58.30 AUD

That's the answer I think unless a more experienced watchmaker can chime in...

I'll also post links to tools as I pull the trigger on them.

 

[p0pperini]

I’d wager that the forum watchsmiths would recommend shelling out for the gen parts. You have the opportunity now, it seems like a false economy to pass it up.

If you go Ali, you’ll probably get another 3 weeks out of the movement before the replacement parts go the same way as the originals.

 

[JNSD]

I’d wager that the forum watchsmiths would recommend shelling out for the gen parts. You have the opportunity now, it seems like a false economy to pass it up.

If you go Ali, you’ll probably get another 3 weeks out of the movement before the replacement parts go the same way as the originals.

Yeah I get it, my original thought was to go Gen but the cost at this stage is a little daunting.

Anyone I could tag in this to get advice that you know apart from the two below?

PsychoTee16
​​​​​
oascom

Would love any advice you could give!

 

[JNSD]

Videos I found very helpful as I got to certain parts and literally didn't know how to remove them e.g. the watch face!

Rolex Submariner Watchmaking Demonstration | Watchfinder & Co.

Rolex Submariner 3135 Teardown!

Watch hand installation detailed guide part 1: Hour and Minute hands (movement with date)

 

[PsychoTee16]

Yeah I get it, my original thought was to go Gen but the cost at this stage is a little daunting.

Anyone I could tag in this to get advice that you know apart from the two below?

PsychoTee16
​​​​​
oascom

Would love any advice you could give!

We all have spare parts for situations like this. The two gen wheels would run you around $130 USD.

I honestly think you can get away with one dial screw, but I bet I have plenty of extras if you need one! PM me and I may be able to help you out on the parts as well. I am by no means a trusted watchmaker here FYI. Oascom is also busy doing some personal stuff as of late!

 

[Plaasbaas]

Those are great tutorial videos. What I learnt so far comes either from this forum or from Mark in the videos below:

Rolex 3135 Service. Part 1. Watch Repair Tutorials. - YouTube
Rolex 3135 Service. Part 2. Watch Repair Tutorials. - YouTube
Rolex 3135 Service. Part 3. Watch Repair Tutorials. - YouTube

 

[JNSD]

We all have spare parts for situations like this. The two gen wheels would run you around $130 USD.

I honestly think you can get away with one dial screw, but I bet I have plenty of extras if you need one! PM me and I may be able to help you out on the parts as well. I am by no means a trusted watchmaker here FYI. Oascom is also busy doing some personal stuff as of late!

You're a gentleman! I think your macro photography alone should qualify you as a watchmaker Will drop you a PM now.

 

[PsychoTee16]

You're a gentleman! I think your macro photography alone should qualify you as a watchmaker Will drop you a PM now.

I don’t know about that! Most in here are classically trained. Or have quite a bit more years at it that me.

I am self trained hah!

 

[JNSD]

Ok, so some progress, but not with assembly.

Just getting the baseline of quality tools required to do this multiple times. I’ve always loved tools and have thousands of them, my logic (and justification) is that I’m just adding to the long list of items I can now fix things with.

Granted Watchmaking is a very specialised field, hence why I had to get very specialised tools.

I’d still like to get the 225x stereo microscope and some other bits but I think I’ll make do here and see how I feel.

I managed to find a place that I could create an account with as I have a business and used that registration. Good prices for all this (well, as good as I can hope and better than any eBay, retail and even Ali Express) and they’re authentic as this is a proper supplier to the industry.

Next on order is arguably the most important stuff, the parts. Again found an Australian watch parts supplier and got on the phone. Nearly bought Gen parts then after chatting decided to get reps.

Should all be here in a week. Can’t wait to get it going!

 

[PsychoTee16]

Got some good stuff!

You need some more oils and grease!!

 

[JNSD]

Well. the parts turned up finally! It's going to officially be a Franken as got some Gen in the end (I ordered reps but he sent Gen so who knows what happened there).

Anyhow, got it all together and have an issue with the date and need help.

When I have the watch in one position the date wheel clicker thing doesn't engage the date wheel. If I angle it up it does engage and works fine.

ALSO when I turn the hands 24hrs to make the date wheel click over, it doesn't work. I have no idea what's happened and how that mechanism works DEFINITELY need advice.


https://youtu.be/lN94pWLUfFw

 

[JNSD]

I probably need to summon PsychoTee16 and any others like keisuke_z for an opinion! HELP!!!!!

 

[PsychoTee16]

I probably need to summon PsychoTee16 and any others like keisuke_z for an opinion! HELP!!!!!

Is the washer under that wheel?

Maybe need to clean the bottom of it as well. There should be absolutely no grease or oil.
Centrifugal force when you rotate the stem should throw the wheel into the date wheel no matter if position.

Also you need to make sure the small intermediate wheel that connect the hour wheel with the Date change wheel is properly seated and engaging.

 

[JNSD]

Is the washer under that wheel?

Maybe need to clean the bottom of it as well. There should be absolutely no grease or oil.
Centrifugal force when you rotate the stem should throw the wheel into the date wheel no matter if position.

Also you need to make sure the small intermediate wheel that connect the hour wheel with the Date change wheel is properly seated and engaging.

Mate spot on. I pulled it apart again and realised that the washer that is buckled to create pressure was in the wrong spot! Fixed now.

However the date does not change when I totally rotate the hands 24hrs. Pretty concerned about that.

Can you highlight what wheel you’re talking about connecting with what piece somehow? Was staring at the manual and can’t work it out.

This is a very difficult hobby. That’s for sure.