GS Spring Drive Timing

[pandrew6l]

How do you time a GS Spring Drive Movement (9R65) for accuracy ? Can I use a Timegrapher ? The dealer is telling me since the SD does not tick , it cant be done.

I am considering a 4 years old SBGA283 , which maybe up for service, so I want to know how it is running before pulling the trigger.

[Old Expat Beast]

You can't use a timegrapher as they take rate, amplitude and beat error measurements off the balance wheel, which the Spring Drive movement doesn't have. There's probably a machine for it, but likely only Seiko service centres have them, I imagine. You'd just have to test it manually over time, I suppose.

[DJ2020]

Time.is, log book and pencil. SBGA375 & SBGA373 are both about +4 every two weeks total. Or about .2857 spd fast. Close enough.

[pandrew6l]

To follow up , if and when a dealer was telling me " my 9R65 is beating fine, +2 seconds a day " . I should take this result as a pencil and Time.is estimates at best .

Separate question, Another dealer was telling me his 9R65 ( a 4 years old SBGA211) is beating +3 seconds a day. Does this watch in need of a $650 GS regular service ? Would you send it in for 3 seconds/day , Spec is 1 second /day. If so, I need to fact in the cost of the service and the weeks in Japan.

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by pandrew6l

To follow up , if and when a dealer was telling me " my 9R65 is beating fine, +2 seconds a day " . I should take this result as a pencil and Time.is estimates at best .

Separate question, Another dealer was telling me his 9R65 ( a 4 years old SBGA211) is beating +3 seconds a day. Does this watch in need of a $650 GS regular service ? Would you send it in for 3 seconds/day , Spec is 1 second /day. If so, I need to fact in the cost of the service and the weeks in Japan.

Good question, my SBGA375 is also 4 years old. It has always been less that a second fast per day since I purchased it new. The SBGA373 was purchased used. It was 1 year old when I got it 2 years ago. It runs the same.

So at +3 time for a service ? Probably not. But could use a adjustment I think. I would think it would tend to run slow if service was needed. But I'm not positive about that.

I would be inclined to call SSC and ask. 5 year warranty, may be covered.

[Megalobyte]

It’s unlikely a SD, even 4 years old is faster than 1 SPD.

[pandrew6l]

Gentlemen , thank you for the information. Now , it is time to search for the best looking, value, GS SD.