Difficulty with Setting Speedmaster Reduced-- Backlash?

[johnchoe]

Hi all, new to this board, recently purchased a Speedmaster Reduced from another forum member.

I've noticed some difficulty with setting the time, and suspect that it's probably not unusual for the movement to have some backlash. The second had sweeps around 1/3 to 1/2 around before the minute hand starts to move, which makes it a bit hard to set the minute hand so it hits the markers exactly.

The work-around seems to be to advance the minute hand a bit past the minute mark, and then the minute hand will line up correctly. However, after doing this, twelve hours later the minute hand was past the minute marker.

I've had some challenges with setting the time before in other watches, such as the Prometheus CR1 which used a Chinese VJ7750 movement. With Valjoux 7750 movements the backlash is handled by setting the time "backwards"-- that is, by advancing the minute hand past the mark, and then backing up to the correct mark. I understand with some other ETA movements any backlash can be handled by setting the time "forwards".

I suspect that there's a little gear play causing backlash in this particular watch, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which direction to set the time (or if it matters at all). Does anyone else have any issues similar to this with their Speedy Reduced?

[base615]

I'm not sure I understand the issue. On mine, I pull out the crown and the second hand stops while I set the hour / minute hands. Are you talking about the chronograph sweep seconds?

[johnchoe]

No, not referring to the chronograph seconds hand, but to the minute hand. As usual, I pull the crown when the seconds sub hand is at the 60 mark to set the minutes, and then I advance the minute hand or go backwards to the correct minute mark. I push the crown back into place at the appropriate moment when my atomic clock indicates.

At that point, the minute hand doesn't start to advance right away, but only starts to advance when the second sub hand gets to around the 20 or 30 second mark.

[base615]

hmm, I'm not sure then. I've never noticed the minute hand moving at a perceptable speed so that I could identify when it had started moving

[johnchoe]

If I set the watch exactly on the minute marker with the seconds sub-hand on 60 and then let it run, one minute later the minute hand is marking the minutes about a half minute behind the second hand.

[base615]

I'd say it needs a look by a watchmaker. Doesn't sound right

[himmelblau]

I have a Speedy Reduced 3510.50.00 and the second hand that moves all the time is the small seconds dial at 3o'clock. The large hand which usually sits at 12o'clock only moves when you press the top chronograph pusher.

If you have left the chronograph function running the dial at 6o’clock will register the minutes and the dial at 9o’clock the hours.

Check the manual for your watch, as having the crown in different positions allows you to do different functions.

Not being used to chronographs, I was expecting the large second hand to move until I realised what was going on.

[johnchoe]

Ahhhh, these threads were pointed out to me:

Quarky Speedy reduced

setting time speedmaster

As suspected, this is a feature that is well-described by other owners. Sounds like this is a known issue for the Dubois-Depraz chronograph module that powers the Speedy Reduced. I'm curious how many others have this issue? Does this occur in most? Some? Only a few?

[animusolus]

I've not had this issue in my 3510.50.

[base615]

I've not had this issue in my 3510.50.

Same here, no issue, just checked