The Breitling Watch Source Forums

This post should probably go in the Help section but as it's a question relating to my new Steinhart LEII Nav-B chrono, I've placed it here.

My first Steinhart turned out to have a myraid of issues. Understandably I've lost a little confidence with how well I consider these watches are made. The fact that a couple of things have arisen in my second Steinhart makes me a little leary.

Firstly in the last 2 days I've noticed that when I'm winding up the crown it's been slipping. It will wind well a couple of times but then it seems the crown loses its grip on the wheel (whichever one) and it slips; it's like its popping out from where its supposed to sit when the crown is pushed in. It doesn't happen all the time but I'm gathering it isn't common and not necessarily good. Does it require fixing or will it settle? I've had the watch for a couple of months now.

Secondly when I have it on a winder it doesn't wind. I can have it there for a day or two and it still winds down to nothing. The movement is a Valjoux 7750, is this common with the 7750 movement?

Has anyone else had any issues with their Steinharts? Thanks in advance for the advice.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

WRT, to winding, the 7750 only winds in the one direction (pretty sure it's clockwise). It also needs ~800 turns per day to keep power reserve. Make sure your winder is doing these things.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

I made sure I did that Ian. CW and 800+ turns per day as you've indicated. Is there any reason why the rotor wouldn't rotate i.e. it would be stuck at all, need time to loosen?

_________________
Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

I highly doubt it's related to a "breaking-in" period. The rotor should be fully functional right out of the box.

By what you're describing, it sounds like something could be wrong inside the watch. The crown issue could be related to the watch being fully wound and the clutch mechanism slipping - but by your description and the intermittent nature of the problem sounds to me like a bigger problem.

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“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.” - Albert Einstein

My 7750 on the winder (CW) works fine. I did have anther ETA movement where I could manual wind but wearing it or having it on a winder would eventually stop after 40 to 42 hours. So it was obvious that the rotor had became disconnected from the winding mechanism in some way. Luckily it was still under warranty so I sent it back and got it fixed.

Troubleshoot
1 give it about 25 to 30 turns and see how long it lasts.
2 if that is OK do the same but wear it for a couple of days. If it still stops then the rotor is disconnected

I have never had a Steinhart but plenty of people on other forums are very pleased with the quality.

The nature of the crown / crown stem / castle gear is such that it is probably that assembly that is slipping rather than engaging with the winding gears in the keyless works - I assume that the watch can be adjusted OK.

The rotor not winding is definitely an issue, although if it winds on the wrist and not on the winder then there is something else going on.

Sorry to hear your troubles Tim . Don't have any suggestions or solutions, haven't seen any issues with my Steinhart LE2, all seems to be working well.

Hope you can get things ironed out!
Best of luck,
Terry

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Re IanUK and Roff:

Thanks for the good advice. When fully wound i.e. when the crown doesn't slip during manual winding, then the watch displays its usual reserve. However I will try just on the wrist, with no manual wind, versus on the winder and see if there's a difference; good advice!


Thanks Terry, so do I.

_________________
Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"