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Avatar Is Happy Day! A new member of Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches. Post contains photos
Ricky Lee
April 15, 2009 02:25AM		 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 2,347 (2009-04)

And a big Thank you! shoutout to PMWFer Dave P. Seems Dave had a few watches that he just wasn't wearing, and decided they needed a good home. And, of course, no watch will be turned away from RLHFWW, soooo.. Wink, wink ...

Dave warned me that they were "mostly junk", but I'm happy to report that Dave and I have quite different definitions of that particular adjective. Laughing!

First up, this Seiko Kinetic Sports 50, model 5M43-0A29;

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Dave also included the OEM bracelet but, alas, it has 'clasp issues' and, while I'm pretty sure I can put that right, is too short for me in any case. It fired right up on the first few strokes of the rotor, but did the "low charge two-step" for the first half hour or so. It ran normally and kept good time after that, but stopped during the night. Hmmmmm.

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

I was a bit concerned that the movement might have power reserve issues. But as I'd worn it only 6 hours or so before retiring, I reset it and gave it another go the following day. After being worn for ~ 12 hours (and quite active wear, I might add) it did stay running through the following night, and the night after. That and dead-on timekeeping earn it the Ricky Lee Clean Bill Of Health! Thumbs Up!

Sure, sure, it's in only 60% to 70% TZ condition..

Photo by Ricky Lee

..and is perhaps not exactly the style I'd choose if I were layin' down cold hard cash. But, for me, it's a keeper, if for no other reason than it is a Kinetic, and as such fills a gaping hole in my collection. I've always been curious about Kinetics, but have never owned one, and so far I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Thumbs Up!

And I'll end with a dumb question. OK, you Kinetic gurus, what the heck is the pusher at 2 supposed to do? I am confused... Laughing!

I'm assuming that you push it to operate the power reserve Indicator? But, if so, that function seems MIA. Far as I can see, the pusher don't do anything at all. Scary!

TIA!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

Is Happy Day! The new watch arrived! A new member of Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches. Post contains photos (Views: 101)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 02:25AM
That kinetic rotor takes>>  (Views: 8)
Dave Murphy -- April 15, 2009 03:15PM
>>some gettin used to, doesn't it? Hector sent me a Lorus with the YT57 movement in it, and it feels like it's spinning a turbine in there.

Dave
Ontario NY, USA

It IS a totally different 'feel' than any conventional automatic I've run across. (Views: 7)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 06:23PM
But it makes a very pleasing sound, a sort of "precision ratcheting" that's nicer than most automatics. Thumbs Up!

-Ricky

Thumbs Up! Ricky Lee, ever try Silicon Softies? .... Post contains linked URL (Views: 14)
Brian Uziel -- April 15, 2009 07:44AM
Seeing the case scratches made me think the flat areas on the case back would be perfect to practice using these soft polishing Dremel wheels on. Then restoring the front side. I saw these in a post about redressing guitar frets ( Pink and Blue Wheels ) and used them once, quickly, to touch-up a Vostok. Pretty good gadgets IMO.

Type "Silicon Softies" into the Search block I am smiling ...

Polishing Supplies Page [www.widgetsupply.com]

Nope.. but I soon may! (Views: 5)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 06:20PM
Thanks for the tip! Thumbs Up!

-Ricky

OK Ricky Lee, Y'er askin' fer it buddy!! The postal service may want to know why you're getting so many packages! Laughing! Good on ya and on Dave P! Applause! (n/t) (Views: 4)
JohnnyT -- April 15, 2009 06:54AM
Guess I should have given you a little instruction on the watch. Dre is correct. (n/t) (Views: 5)
Dave P -- April 15, 2009 04:17AM
Nah, figuring it out was fun. Wink, wink ... (Views: 5)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 06:25PM
And thanks again Dave! Thumbs Up!

-Ricky

Hey Ricky, I have a couple of Wayward Wristwatches... interested? (n/t) (Views: 6)
PaulGeo -- April 15, 2009 03:52AM
Re: Hey Ricky, I have a couple of Wayward Wristwatches... interested? (Views: 3)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 06:15PM
Sure thing! Thumbs Up!

Again, no watch is ever turned away from Ricky Lee's Home For Wayward Wristwatches. Wink, wink ...

Though, occasionally, they do get placed into even better homes. Laughing!

And thanks!

-Ricky

The 2 O'clock pusher is the power reserve check. (Views: 10)
Dre -- April 15, 2009 03:13AM
I can look up in the manual if you're really curious but from what I remember it's like this:
Press the 2 o'clock pusher when the seconds hand reaches 12. The seconds hand will move forward a different amount depending on how much charge is in the battery / capacitor. This is the part I'm not 100% sure about:
moves to 5 seconds - 2 weeks reserve
moves to 10 seconds - 2 months reserve
moves to 20 seconds - 4 months reserve
moves to 30 seconds - 6 months reserve.

I've had mine since new, probably a year and a half now. I've noticed that it takes the kinetic system a long time to charge a battery. When I first got it, it was at 4 months reserve. After maybe 2 or 3 weeks of constant wear it got up to a full charge.

As my collection has expanded, it doesn't see as much wear as it did then. Now, I wear it once a week to keep it charged. When I put it on, it displays 2 months reserve, by the end of the day it's up to 4 months. Good 'nuff for me!

Re: Press the 2 o'clock pusher when the seconds hand reaches 12 (Views: 6)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 06:10PM
At first I thought "What the heck's he on about? You have to start with the seconds hand at 12? Crazy, man! That can't be right!"

But you're absolutely right. Oops! My goof! I played with it some more and discovered that when I depress the pusher, the seconds hand increments 10 seconds from wherever it was when activated. So the only way it makes any sense is to start with the seconds hand at 12 o'clock.

And, of course, this means that, far having the full charge I thought it did last night, it's still reading "Lo" / 2 months reserve. Maybe the clean bill of health was premature? Scary! But then I've only been wearing it for 3 days, and if Kinetics do in fact charge as slowly as y'all say, it's probably still A-OK.

Thanks for the help mate! Thumbs Up!

-Ricky

Did you press-n-hold the button? I'm certain it's for power reserve indication. (Views: 4)
Chris L -- April 15, 2009 02:35AM
Nice cast-off too. I am smiling ...

Doh! I am blushing ... Yeah, holding it for a 3-count does the trick! I am blushing (Views: 9)
Ricky Lee -- April 15, 2009 02:51AM
And it shows a 100% charge, too! Thumbs Up!

Thanks Chris!

-Ricky

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