7A38-7080 restoration

[SoCal84]

Looking for a replacement bezel ring for a 7A38-7080. also need to know if the click ball is stationary or is it spring loaded. Mine appears to be fixed.

I found a new bezel gasket SKU:0Z3404B02 on watchmaterial.com it fits.
Seiko Bezel Gasket for
7A38-7080
5H26-7A00
5H26-7A09
5H26-7A10
5H26-7A19
5H26-7A1A
H556-5020
H556-5029
H558-5010
Y147-9000
7A28-7049

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[Seiko7A38]

Hi, Paul.

As you can see I've moved your thread from where you'd originally posted it in the 7Axx General Discussion area to the Workshop forum area. I wasn't sure which was the more appropriate section: here or Parts Info, Tech Tips and Tinkering.

Anyway to answer your questions. When you say 'replacement bezel ring', I'm assuming you mean the bezel Insert, as yours looks typically worn. Harold Ng of Yobokies produces an excellent quality aftermarket insert to fit the 7A28-7040, -7049, 7A38-7070, 7A38-7080, etc. The price is $30. See: https://theyobokies.com/?mod=product&se ... tail&id=89
Quite a few of us have used them in restorations (mostly in 7A38-7070's). See page 3 of this old archived forum thread.

The click ball should definitely be spring loaded, not fixed. It may have seized. Worst case, with continued use, it will wear a groove in the bezel track, like this:

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[SoCal84]

Thanks for the Yobokies tip, I am waiting on order confirmation to complete purchase.

So far I have purchased:
NOS Seiko Crystal 310W64GN00 e-bay seller from the Philippines,
4 Seiko Pusher Button Stem Seals EC0060B01/A from e-bay seller from Lincolnshire UK
Seiko Bezel Gasket H556-5020 7A38-7080 From Watchmaterial.com
Seiko Case Back Gasket Original Divers FH3180B0A From Watchmaterial.com

Still need the crystal gasket if anyone has the Seiko part number or knows where to find one I would greatly appreciate it.
Also looking for a Sapphire crystal replacement if available.

Started dabbing the click ball with AeroKroil using a fat oiler, hoping to get it to release, no groove on the bezel so hoping to get the ball freed

When I first received the watch the owner indicated that it had not worked for over a decade and that the last watch shop said it was not repairable. Upon initial inspection I noticed that the friction spring for the second counting wheel was off center with the edge rubbing against the pivot. I re-adjusted the spring, oiled the exposed jewels and pivots and installed a new battery. adjusted the chronograph hands (the Seiko parts manual is an excellent resource) and it has been running great.

As an amateur mechanical watch enthusiast I have not worked on quartz watches with the exception of an occasional movement replacement for a family member. So I am very reluctant to do anything else to this movement.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Seiko7A38]

Paul.

The Seiko p/n for the nylon crystal gasket is 86565100 and they're still available. However, unless yours is damaged, I wouldn't recommend buying or attempting to fit one. The tolerances are extremely tight. If you look closely at your old gasket, you'll see it has a step on the inner circumference, where it was compressed by the old crystal. Hence it's a lot easier to re-use, than fitting a new one. I first advocated this little tip in the old forum's Crystals and Gaskets thread.

Upon initial inspection I noticed that the friction spring for the second counting wheel was off center with the edge rubbing against the pivot.

The most common self-inflicted fault, bar none. See: The commonest self-inflicted fault on 7Axx's ....

[SoCal84]

No luck freeing the click ball for the bezel. any ideas? should I use a staking set and tap on it???? or would that just result in pushing it down into the hole. as it sets now it is raised a bit it just doesn't move.

[SoCal84]

Hit a very big snag in this restoration. I lost the crown and stem........ It completely evaporated..... short of buying another watch does anyone have a lead on a replacement crown. I was able to find the stem fairly quickly.

[Seiko7A38]

The Seiko p/n for the black crown is 45M60NN1. Cousins UK don't list it, but you may be in luck (a bit closer to home).

Try Hovigs in Los Angeles: https://hovigs.com/products/seiko-crown-8100-2351b

I'm not sure whether that's the original Seiko part or a generic replacement, but they cross reference p/n 45M60NN1.

[SoCal84]

Thank you I received the crown from Hovigs perfect fit. But S T supply where I ordered the stem came up out of stock .... found one on ebay from Thailand.. ugh ....

[palmfish]

Hey everyone, new member here. A little intro and then a question…

I never knew there was such a following for these watches but I have always loved mine!

I had two 7a38’s but sold one a few years ago because I never wore it. It was stainless with a white face and no bezel (sorry, I don’t know the model designation).

I never wore it because I always reach for my 7A38-7080. My brother bought it new at the PX and gave it to me in 1987 as a gift. I wore it all through Army flight school and then, in 1990 I had a motorcycle accident that dragged the watch across the pavement and scratched the watch and bracelet pretty well.

All these years it runs perfectly and all the complications work fine, so I have never had it repaired - just new batteries. But lately I’ve been wanting to get it repaired/restored.

So are parts still available for these watches? Can a repair shop actually replace the crystal and the bezel and band? I still wear the watch and, in some ways, the patina is nostalgic, so I would be too upset if the answer is no (though fresh crystal at minimum would be nice).

So that’s my little 7a38 story and here’s a picture of my watch if I can figure out how to upload it…

Thanks for reading!

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[Seiko7A38]

As you can see I've moved your thread from where you'd originally posted it in the 7Axx General Discussion area to the Workshop forum area. I wasn't sure which was the more appropriate section: here or Parts Info, Tech Tips and Tinkering.

@ Paul. Hope you don't mind my merging a related post from a new member onto your thread. It certainly fits better here than where he'd originally posted it.

@ palmfish (Sorry I don't know your name, you didn't give it in the intro' part of your post). As you can see, I've moved your post from where you'd added it to a more appropriate thread which may be of help. To answer your questions:

So are parts still available for these watches? Can a repair shop actually replace the crystal and the bezel and band?

Not from Seiko repair centers or any of their distributors; they were obsolete and discontinued years ago. NOS spare parts do occasionally turn up on eBay, but you're likely to have to pay a pretty penny for them. The Seiko p/n for the crystal is 310W64GN00. There's one currently listed by an Italian eBay seller, who's asking €25 Euros, but I've seen greedy sellers asking more. Alternatively you might want to try fitting one of the aftermarket replacement crystals offered by Bryan Hibbins ('Tog Man'). See this old FS post on SCWF or his current eBay listing item # 255487129467.

The Seiko part numbers for the bezel and bracelet (both as complete assemblies) are 86310543 and B1242S respectively. The last time I remember seeing either part offered for sale on eBay or SCWF Trading Post was as far back as July 2016. So I wouldn't hold out much hope of finding another.

To replace the crystal, you or your watchmaker will need first to remove the bezel, which overlaps it slightly. While it's off, you may want to consider fitting a Yobokies repro' bezel insert, per my earlier recommendation to Paul (the OP):

When you say 'replacement bezel ring', I'm assuming you mean the bezel Insert, as yours looks typically worn. Harold Ng of Yobokies produces an excellent quality aftermarket insert to fit the 7A28-7040, -7049, 7A38-7070, 7A38-7080, etc. The price is $30. See: https://theyobokies.com/?mod=product&se ... tail&id=89
Quite a few of us have used them in restorations (mostly in 7A38-7070's). See page 3 of this old archived forum thread.

That said, looking at your photo, the bezel's outer retaining rim is quite badly graunched, so it might look out of place.

[palmfish]

Thank you so much for the information and links, and for moving my post to a more appropriate thread. This is a nice community and I look forward to learning more about these watches from fellow owners.

Brian

[palmfish]

I’m following up on my original post from May. I was able to obtain a NOS crystal from the Italian eBay seller and a replica bezel insert from ‘Yobokies’ thanks to the advice provided by ‘Seiko7A38’.

I also touched up the worst of the case and bracelet scratches with a Sharpie, although I do plan on finding some closer matching flat black paint eventually.

Here’s the picture!

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