Issue with Gen 1 RAF Seiko 7A28

[Greatoldone]

Hi,

I've just received my Gen 1, and it's a great... apart from 1 thing. The minutes register on the chrono does not advance. It appears to try to move, but doesn't. It's very apparent when you reset the chrono



Is this a common issue? I had to reset the chrono hands when it arrived, as they'd been bumped in the post. Is there something I can do to fully reset the watch, or is it a service only deal?

Cheers

Jason

[najeeb]

There may be a simple fix to your problem not requiring a service. May I suggest you post your question to this site:

http://www.seiko7a38.com/

The gentleman who runs the site knows Seiko chronographs inside and out. He will be able to advise you, I feel certain.

[rodabod]

Try using the hand resetting mode to exercise it. It could be sticky.

[foilguy]

If I remember, half pull out the crown and press the various buttons to advance the sub dials and centre sweep.

[ianp]

There is a reset for the movement which is sometimes needed when a new battery is installed. You have to short a contact (marked 'reset' or similar) and the battery. Might be worth changing the battery, but that may not solve this problem if everything else is operating as expected.

The full manual is available off this page - http://home.earthlink.net/~nederick/...oRevuVulcF.htm

IAP

[Seiko7A38]

Is this a common issue?

Relatively common, Jason - and also can also sometimes affect the sweep second hand (more so on 7A28's than 7A38's, for some reason).
It's primarily down to lack of use / old sticky oil syndrome. I've replied to your post on the other side.

[Seiko7A38]

There is a reset for the movement which is sometimes needed when a new battery is installed.

Not on Seiko 7Axx's, Ian. The AC reset to +ve is required on 7Txx calibers.

[Greatoldone]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm off to do the 'procedure' now. Will post back once done.

[Seiko7A38]

Good Luck. Fingers crossed for you.

PS - Hope you read my most recent post in your thread on my forum first.

[dave]

here's a quick link -

http://www.seiko7a38.com/apps/forums...ter-not-moving

[Seiko7A38]

Cheers, Dave, I'm always a bit wary about linking to my own forum.

[Greatoldone]

Well, it's a mixture of good news and bad.

The minutes register now works, and moves under the check function. I can also move the minutes hand using the 10'oclock button whilst in setting mode. The minutes hand moves and registers the elapsed minutes - but only when it feels like it. Sometimes it'll manage up to 10 mins, other times it only registers 1 before it sticks again.

I'm guessing that this is indicative of very old sticky oil, and the coil is fine (otherwise I wouldn't be able to set or see the hand one under the check function).

I'm currently watching it recording at the moment - it's just gone past 11 mins... the longest it's gone before sticking. I'm going to keep it running and see what happens.

[dave]

stick it in the airing cupboard for half an hour and it may run for a while!

but in short, it needs a service..

[Seiko7A38]

That's my own favourite trick, Dave.
Except sometimes I'll leave them there overnight.
But you're right - in the longer term it will need a service.
Nudging recalcitrant hands and warming watches gently is only ever a temporary solution.

[dave]

Nudging recalcitrant hands and warming watches gently is only ever a temporary solution.

yes, usually a selling solution..

[555th]

I have a similar issue with my Gen 2 ( 7T27 movement ). The 24 hour hand does not work in conjuction with main time, but all the other sub dial hands are working fine VERY frustrating. Could not find a movement to fit anywhere here in the UK apart from e-bay. Just hoping that does the trick.

[Greatoldone]

It's actually working pretty well now... I've had it on my wrist since lunch time, and have been letting it run, resetting it when it gets about 15 mins and then starting it again. Reset has all hands returning to zero as they should, and the minute recording has been fine now.

Body heat plus hand jiggling has certainly made it unstick from not moving at all. I'll let it sit overnight in my watch box and see how it performs in the morning. But I agree - service time.

Can anyone recommend a watchmaker who can sort out quartz movements?

Cheers

Jason

[Seiko7A38]

You might want to try Simon Wilkinson (a.k.a. 'Sir Alan'). Check out some of the work he's done on various 7Axx's in threads on my forum (or WristSushi). He's certainly serviced quite a few 7A28 RAF Gen. 1's in the last year or so. This is the most recent one he's done (AFAIK):


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-RAF-...-/262925123029

It's just had a full strip & service from a well-known Seiko 7a** and 6139 specialist ...

[Terry Andrews]

Duncan Hewitt (The Watch Bloke) did an excellent job on my Gen 1 which had similar issues to yours. Here's Duncan's blog on my watch.

https://thewatchbloke.co.uk/2015/01/...en-1/#more-535

Terry

[Seiko7A38]

Duncan Hewitt (The Watch Bloke) did an excellent job on my Gen 1 which had similar issues to yours. Here's Duncan's blog on my watch.

https://thewatchbloke.co.uk/2015/01/...en-1/#more-535

Terry

Perhaps you can enlighten us, by providing an answer to the most recent comment on that article - a question, by Bert Scott. I've heard Duncan isn't cheap. Witness this invoice of his charging £22 for just replacing a battery in a 7A28 Gen. 1.