Chronomat B01 heading back to BUSA . . . for the third time

bozman52 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:59 pm

As some of you may recall, I seem to have the biggest lemon of all B01's on the forum. If this isn't ringing a bell, here's the old thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18034&hilit=sweeping+chronograph

The watch went back to BUSA twice in the first year I had it, but it never seemed to get fixed properly. I just decided to live with the issue because I couldn't stand to be without a watch for a month at a time. Now that I have my Navi 01, I won't feel as lost without the Chronomat. Thus, I decided to send her back to BUSA yet again in hopes the problem can finally be rectified.

The issue is essentially the same: the chronograph hand will "skip" when it reaches a certain point on the dial. This last time I got the watch back, the issue had moved from occurring between 28-32 minute marks to occurring between the 51-56 minute marks. It became more intermittent after the last service, but the issue was definitely still present. With several other owners having issues with the B01 movement as of late, I figured I should chime in as well. I'll post the results when I hear back from Breitling.

Biz · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:23 pm

I'm holding off from buying a B01 movement until this stuff gets worked out. I'd be hesitant to even recommend a watch with that movement due to all the problems people are having.

Driver8 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:47 pm

bozman52 wrote:

As some of you may recall, I seem to have the biggest lemon of all B01's on the forum. If this isn't ringing a bell, here's the old thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18034&hilit=sweeping+chronograph

The watch went back to BUSA twice in the first year I had it, but it never seemed to get fixed properly. I just decided to live with the issue because I couldn't stand to be without a watch for a month at a time. Now that I have my Navi 01, I won't feel as lost without the Chronomat. Thus, I decided to send her back to BUSA yet again in hopes the problem can finally be rectified.

The issue is essentially the same: the chronograph hand will "skip" when it reaches a certain point on the dial. This last time I got the watch back, the issue had moved from occurring between 28-32 minute marks to occurring between the 51-56 minute marks. It became more intermittent after the last service, but the issue was definitely still present. With several other owners having issues with the B01 movement as of late, I figured I should chime in as well. I'll post the results when I hear back from Breitling.

If I was you I'd insist on it being sent back to Switzerland for repair as BUSA clearly can't get their act together as far as your watch goes.

bozman52 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:53 pm

Driver8 wrote:

If I was you I'd insist on it being sent back to Switzerland for repair as BUSA clearly can't get their act together as far as your watch goes.

That's not a bad idea, although I'm not sure if BUSA will really care what I think. I may give them a ring tomorrow.

Driver8 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:01 pm

bozman52 wrote:

Driver8 wrote:

If I was you I'd insist on it being sent back to Switzerland for repair as BUSA clearly can't get their act together as far as your watch goes.

That's not a bad idea, although I'm not sure if BUSA will really care what I think. I may give them a ring tomorrow.

They certainly should do it if you ask them to. I insisted that IWC sent by Big Lemon (sorry I mean my Big Pilot) back to Switzerland after regulating it seemed beyond the capability of IWC UK. As a result I had a personal phonecall from Switzerland and an assurance that they were going to fix it, and a few days later I also received an IWC watch winder from them.

Roffensian · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:01 pm

I'm with Driver8 on this one. Also, do you have lemon laws in your state? Usually they are '3 and out' type of deals.

bozman52 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:06 pm

Roffensian wrote:

I'm with Driver8 on this one. Also, do you have lemon laws in your state? Usually they are '3 and out' type of deals.

Yes, Washington state does have a lemon law, but I normally think of it as being reserved for vehicles. I'm not sure if it covers other items, but it seems logical that it would. I'll look into it. That may be the firepower I need to get BUSA to fix this thing properly.

To their credit, I have received incredible customer service watch time it's gone in for service. The last time, I had a director level person call me every single day to provide an update.

FEAR · **Posted:** Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:28 pm

thats a wierd problem to have, i dont think i have ever run any of my chronos that long and paid close enough attention to catch that!

F14D_Tomcat · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:23 pm

I'm really sorry to hear that bozman but I'm with D8 on this one.

Your baby must go back to mama.

Hope everything works out as it should, I cross my fingers for you.

bozman52 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:09 am

I just got off the phone with BUSA and received an update on my watch. I just got back from a 1.5 week vacation, so I was not able to call them and ask that my watch be sent back to Switzerland. After the conversation I just had, I think I still may ask for this, though. Here's how it went:

I spoke to the actual technician who's working on my watch. He said that the skipping I'm observing is entirely normal due to side play in the chronograph gears. He said that it's normal for all watches of any brand to exhibit and does not impact the timing functionality of the chronograph. I personally think this is nonsense, but please chime in with your thoughts. I told him that I've played with many other Chronomat 01's at my AD, as well as my own Navi 01, and have never been able to replicate this skipping issue. He still said it was entirely normal.

He said that he's going to tighten something called the "Mercedes Spring," which is the spring that holds tension between the chronograph wheels. The name is what Breitling calls the part internally due to its resemblance of the Mercedes star. I do not believe this is the formal name for the part.

So what do you think? Is Breitling blowing smoke? What should I do?

-Craig

Roffensian · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:19 am

Well none of us know exactly how the B01 is designed, but while I would agree with the watchmaker that it isn't necessarily an indication of inaccurate timing, I would not agree that it is perfectly normal. There is something not right in the adjustment of the chronograph that is causing the hand to lag and skip. It likely is related to play in the chronograph train, but I would argue that the play is excessive if the hand is not sweeping smoothly.

bozman52 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:26 am

Thanks, Roff. Honestly, I feel like Breitling is shooting in the dark. The last time it was in I was told my chronograph gears were out of round. One or both were replaced and the problem was supposed to be solved. Now they claim it's the tensioning spring. At what point do I just get a new movement?! I have little faith that this is going to fix the problem. Stay tuned . . .

-Craig

sharkman · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:28 am

Roffensian wrote:

Well none of us know exactly how the B01 is designed, but while I would agree with the watchmaker that it isn't necessarily an indication of inaccurate timing, I would not agree that it is perfectly normal. There is something not right in the adjustment of the chronograph that is causing the hand to lag and skip. It likely is related to play in the chronograph train, but I would argue that the play is excessive if the hand is not sweeping smoothly.

I disagree, BUSA is correct and it's perfectly normal...................... for a $35 Miyota movement with an indirect drive second hand. Seriously this exact visual phenomenon is what you would see looking at a $100 Invicta with a Miyota movement (ok, ok a non-chono, but isn't the point the same?). A stuttering second hand is just unacceptable. Send it to Switzerland.

bozman52 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:33 am

sharkman wrote:

I disagree, BUSA is correct and it's perfectly normal...................... for a $35 Miyota movement with an indirect drive second hand. Seriously this exact visual phenomenon is what you would see looking at a $100 Invicta with a Miyota movement (ok, ok a non-chono, but isn't the point the same?). A stuttering second hand is just unacceptable. Send it to Switzerland.

You had me for a couple words in . . . nice one. Is it possible to call Breitling Switzerland and discuss my issue with them? I'd like to get some confirmation that Switzerland will actually do something different if the watch goes to them.

ike · **Posted:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:20 pm

I experienced the same problem on my vintage Breitling after a Breitling refurb, i.e. the sweep hand skipping. I imagine in some aspects there must be similar mechanical arrangements across many different movements. My watch has a 7736 in it. Interestingly BUK did mention adjusting spring tension which resolved it.

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