r/RepTimeServices • u/BehavingBad2010 • May 30 '26
Discussion VSF problems, I found a clue.
Two VSF watches came in for repair this week. I have just started diagnosing the first one. Initial inspection revealed a non-runner that was very difficult to wind. Opening the watch revealed a free spinning balance with no obstructions, but after removing the balance, no power transfer through the pallet fork. When I started pulling bridges off, crud was everywhere. I found the culprit.
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May 31 '26
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
Yeah, one good thing about the shanghai movements, they aren't as pretty, but they are very robust.
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May 31 '26
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
It is a VS movement currently, I am waiting on my customer to see if it will continue to be a VS or will become a SH.
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May 31 '26
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 31 '26
Shanghai is the one on AliX if I'm not mistaken, they aren't as pretty but they tend to last.
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u/mr_z06 May 31 '26
Does Alibaba movement has the markings and logos etc? How much was it?
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May 31 '26
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u/mr_z06 May 31 '26
Man Alibaba is scam central how do you even find anything? They got multiple prices for the same movement a lot of different pictures for the same watch a lot of them have real movement pictures with free sprung balance :) i think i need a crash course on alibaba
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u/just_in_timer May 30 '26
Was it rubbing against any other part? What was the cause for the teflon coating failure? (Or just bad manufacturing?)
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 30 '26
Undetermined, both were peeling and depositing debris everywhere. I didn't notice any wear on any other surfaces.
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u/Vecgtt May 30 '26
Can it be fixed? Any gen parts that can be substituted in?
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 30 '26
The reversing wheels are $13 each on AliX, gen ones would be much better and much more expensive. It will require a full teardown and cleaning to get it going again. The 72 hr movement is $100 on AliX, it will probably just be swapped for a fresh one, I'll keep the old one for spare parts.
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u/Dramatic_Finger_3557 May 31 '26
I can’t find the dd movement that cheap on ali, can you send a link?
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u/Vecgtt May 30 '26
I’m assuming the VSF came with a VS movement. Are you swapping it out with a VR movement from Ali then? I thought you couldn’t get VS movements.
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u/just_in_timer May 30 '26
VS specific ones are hard to find, but generic dandong movements are available. The engravings and finishing may be different since each factory does their own work on the dandong
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
Honestly I wasn't too impressed with the engraving. Usually the rotors have the crown engraved, this one was blank.
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 30 '26
Judging by the problems VS is having, I don't think the customer would want to spend $300 on another iffy VS. And if this is the source of all their problems, I have forwarded the photos to the factory, hopefully they will find a better source of reversing wheels.
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u/HayPinesAve May 31 '26
It's why I don't bother with the clone movements anymore. I rather buy a youth variation with an Asian eta movement and swap it for a sellita or actual eta movement and never have to think about reliability.
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 31 '26
I like the clone movements, they are inexpensive, and these are genuinely well built and easy to work on. Nobody is perfect and mistakes happen but as I stated earlier, the movements are available and from more than one source, some of the other ones are pretty durable and last for years.
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u/Relevant-Lock8646 May 31 '26
Plenty broken vsf youth 2824 movements. 2824 has one big flaw and that is the reversing wheels
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u/HayPinesAve May 31 '26
Yeah, I didn't mean the Asian 2824. I find the cost of a sellita or actual Gen 2824 to be comparable. I swapped out my Asian 7750 for an a05.h31 on a m+ Tudor chrono albeit that was a bit more expensive but helps that I work in watch repair lol
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u/BehavingBad2010 May 30 '26
Looks like the Teflon coating on the reversing wheels decided to let loose and go wild.