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I am angry! ARRRRRRRRGH! Just had a major watch malfunction. I am cryingPost contains photos URL

Ricky Lee
July 25, 2009 02:00AM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 5,850 (2010-02)

Was fixin' to take Flat Reto out for a spin, and on the spur of the moment decided he might like to hang with one of his high-falutin' Swiss cousins. Wound the watch about halfway, pulled out the crown and set the time, and when I pushed the crown back in there was a sickening "crunching" feeling. EEK!

The watch is running, and appears to wind OK, but now when I pull the crown out the setting mechnism does not engage. Frowning, Sad

What? Which watch was it? Oh yeah, 'tis the...

Click HERE for REVIEW!


..Unitas 6431-powered Balmer Commander. Yeah, naturally Murphy's Law says it would be the most expensive watch in my humble collection. Frowning, Sad

Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper. You might even say it ruined my day.

Indeed, I must admit that this post started out as a Colby-esque rant against expensive mechanical wristwatches, decrying them as a form of pure evil. ;-) But.. well, after a bit of reflection, I'm not quite ready to go that far. :-)

Only thing left to decide now is whether to open it up for a look, or just send it off to the watchmaker. I know there's no chance in hell I'm gonna be able to fix it caveman-style, but I might be able to at least identify the problem. {sigh} We'll see...

-Ricky



Messages In This Thread

I am angry! ARRRRRRRRGH! Just had a major watch malfunction. I am crying Jpeg Attachments URL
Ricky Lee -- July 25, 2009 02:00AM (Views: 142)
Thanks for not following me down my sorry path...
Chance -- July 25, 2009 07:08PM (Views: 15)
I would just send it off and have it fixed. Sound likes the same thing happened to your watch as did to my Panhom...setting bridge/keyless works went bad. It's a pretty easy and inexpensive fix, and the watch definitely looks like it's worth the trouble. :-)

Frowning 1) remove from case. 2)remove hands>
Dave Murphy -- July 25, 2009 05:48PM (Views: 16)
>3. remove dial
4)the problem is in there somewhere. LOL!
.
Dave
Somewhere on the South Shore of Lake Ontario
That's odd the keyless works failed.
Sandbender1414 -- July 25, 2009 01:33PM (Views: 22)
Sorry to hear about the non functioning. Reminds me of the problems my wife had with her TAG and Movado. Both have gone back to the factory at least once, but my Seikos and Orient have never had a problem, even with bad drops.

David "Sandbender1414" Nelson
[watches.cyberphreak.com]
damn.. thats bad news.... (n/t)
anjizkit -- July 25, 2009 07:10AM (Views: 16)
Ouch! Let us know what you find out, Ricky! Eek! SCARY! (n/t)
MCV -- July 25, 2009 03:24AM (Views: 12) (Views: 12)
I am crying Oh no! It's a Swiss Made Watch or Movement conspirancy against cavemen watch owners! I am angry!
Chris -- July 25, 2009 02:31AM (Views: 22)
It's just not been a good week for nice watches. Frown, Sad
Frowning I'm a big fan of that one (n/t)
Paul December -- July 25, 2009 02:22AM (Views: 12)
I guess F.Reto likes to go it alone Smiling Very sorry to hear Frowning
Riddim Driven -- July 25, 2009 02:15AM (Views: 13)
especially with your prized possession - temperamental little buggers aren't they - perhaps a trip to the watch maker is due anyway, and then you'll be back in business - don't take it out Flat Reto LOL!

Good luck
RD
Re: ..perhaps a trip to the watch maker is due anyway..
Ricky Lee -- July 25, 2009 02:30AM (Views: 31)
The bugger is six years old now so, yeah, probably time for a COA anyway.
Quote
Riddim Driven
.don't take it out Flat Reto LOL!
EEK! Don't worry, Flat Reto is safe. :-)

I might go throw some large heavy wrenches at the Ford, though... ROTFLMAO!

-Ricky

Maybe heave them at the bucket of your big dirt rig... for safety LOL! (n/t)
Riddim Driven -- July 25, 2009 02:44AM (Views: 14)

It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Woohoo! The Commander is back! It's a happy day, a new watch arrived

September 14, 2009 11:22PM


As you may recall, I suffered a major wristwatch malfunction a while back, which I mentioned in this post. Well, it's back from the watchmaker and, so far, appears to be A-OK. Thumbs Up

The embarrasing thing is, I've got to admit that I totally and completely misdiagnosed the problem. Here's what ye old watchmaker had to say about it...
Quote
Ye Olde Watchmaker
I figured out that the mainspring in the Balmer/Unitas was binding in the barrel - very unusual for a modern watch. I think it's a function of dried out lubricants and insufficient barrel arbor "endshake," which basically means the barrel is too tight on the mainspring. That's easy enough to correct and I don't think there's anything wrong with the winding/setting mech. But, the watch definitely needs a COA.
All I can say is that this binding problem sure did a heck of a job mimicking a busted keyless works! :S LOL!

There was even one happy surprise.. well, a couple really. For one, the job wasn't nearly as expensive as I'd feared it would be, at US $85. No parts were required, just the COA and setting the arbor endshake. The real surprise though is how much smoother and easier the watch winds now! The winding action was very stiff before, enough to give you calluses, or would have been if I'd wound and worn it daily. I didn't think much about it, just put it down to it being a big movement. But, in hindsight, the stiff winding action was telling me 'twas time for a COA service! OOPS! Live and learn...

And sure I shot a new HWS shot for y'all. LOL!


Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

I threw it on the Chris Larson uber-NATO 'cause it's comfy as can be, and goes on quick. ;-) Maybe not the most fetching combo, but it feels Grrrrrrrrr8! WIS Honeymoon I'll probably put it back on the Staib mesh bracelet in the next day or two...

Actually, I took 20+ photos, but most were real stinkers. Frowning, Sad Bad light today. :-) But I did get a fairly decent shot of the caseback...


Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

One of the joys of this watch, to me, is the super-loud heartbeat. In a quiet room, you can hear this rascal tick-tocking from 10 feet away. ;-) It's been so long that I'd nearly forgotten...

ANYway, it's sure great to have the ol' boy back on me wrist.

Thanks for readin', y'all! CHEERS!

-Ricky



original Review of this wristwatch of the Commander is HERE.

Messages In This Thread

It's a happy day, a new watch arrived Woohoo! The Commander is back! It's a happy day, a new watch arrived 
Ricky Lee -- September 14, 2009 11:22PM (Views: 127)
Can't beat a good diagnosis Thumbs Up (n/t)
Reto -- September 15, 2009 11:56AM (Views: 18)
Great end result! Laughing I woulda guessed the round whatcha callit,........ the battery!! Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (n/t)
JohnnyT -- September 15, 2009 01:21AM (Views: 16)
Sweet! Good info regarding signs of a needed COA
Dre -- September 15, 2009 12:53AM (Views: 23)
Since I have a number of handwinders it's good info to know. In fact one handwinder I had & sold was very stiff winding. I chalked it up to that's how this watch is, in retrospect maybe a cleaning woulda done it good!
Re: ..one handwinder I had & sold was very stiff winding. I chalked it up to that's how this watch is..
Ricky Lee -- September 15, 2009 03:13AM (Views: 22)
As did I. OOPS! But I'd betcha a dollar it just needed a COA. :-)

I've got a couple of other watches (one a handwinder, one an auto) that wind & set quite a bit stiffer than normal. Now I'm thinking they need a COA, too. EEK!

-Ricky

Super Cool watch. Congrats on getting it back. (n/t)
DJM -- September 15, 2009 12:37AM (Views: 15)
Fantastic, Ricky! I guess you were due for a COA; so >>
Dave Murphy -- September 15, 2009 12:26AM (Views: 20)
>>hopefully you will be good-to-go for several years.

I wonder how the barrel endshake is set. Perhaps the arbor is set in jewels within the barrel.

Or then again, scratch that idea. If this is 17 jewels, they are: 1 roller, 2 pallets, 2 balance pivots, 2 balance caps, 2 lever pivots, 2 escape pivots, 2-4th wheel pivots, 2- 3rd wheel pivots, 15 jewels so far. Which leaves 2 to put either on the center wheel pivots, or maybe 1 on one end of the center wheel and 1 on one end of the barrel.

Sometimes, if a mainspring is improperly wound into the barrel, it will distort in such a way that some of the coils bear on the barrel floor and cover. Maybe that was robbing you of your power, and making it hard to wind at the same time.

Ennnyway, congrats! Enjoy!
.
Dave
Somewhere on the South Shore of Lake Ontario

Re: I wonder how the barrel endshake is set.
Ricky Lee -- September 15, 2009 03:04AM (Views: 20)
I've no idea. That's why I hired a pro. Laughing Out Loud
Quote
Dave Murphy
Perhaps the arbor is set in jewels within the barrel.

Or then again, scratch that idea. If this is 17 jewels, they are: 1 roller, 2 pallets, 2 balance pivots, 2 balance caps, 2 lever pivots, 2 escape pivots, 2-4th wheel pivots, 2- 3rd wheel pivots, 15 jewels so far. Which leaves 2 to put either on the center wheel pivots, or maybe 1 on one end of the center wheel and 1 on one end of the barrel.

Sometimes, if a mainspring is improperly wound into the barrel, it will distort in such a way that some of the coils bear on the barrel floor and cover. Maybe that was robbing you of your power, and making it hard to wind at the same time.
Zing! Right over me head, again. :S

You're gonna force me to enroll in that danged TZ School. RAGE! Even if I never get good enough to tackle a COA on me own OOPS! perhaps I could at least hang with you in the jargon and terminology department... ROTFLMAO!
Quote
Dave Murphy
Ennnyway, congrats! Enjoy!
Thanks mate! CHEERS!

-Ricky

Well congrats having that special one fixed again,Ricky! Thumbs UpThumbs Up
Bock -- September 15, 2009 12:14AM (Views: 19)
And for an acceptable price too :) I can understand why you like it so much Thumbs Up
Thank you mate! You have no idea..
Ricky Lee -- September 15, 2009 03:17AM (Views: 21)
Quote
Bock
And for an acceptable price too :)
..how relieved I was. LOL! I'd budgeted twice the amount, just in case. ;-)

But as my grandpappy used to say, "Even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while". ROTFLMAO!

CHEERS!

-Ricky

Thumbs Up Laughing (n/t)
Boc -- September 15, 2009 01:18PM (Views: 17)
Congrats Ricky, always feels good to have one of the herd home Thumbs Up (n/t)
jeremd676 -- September 14, 2009 11:56PM (Views: 19)
Congrats, Ricky. Looks great. Thumbs Up (n/t)
Mark C. -- September 14, 2009 11:44PM (Views: 14)
Sounds good, Ricky, hope it stays that way! Clapping! (n/t)
MCV -- September 14, 2009 11:29PM (Views: 20)


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