Community Stories

3861 movement broken? *Update: Read First Post*

padders
Posts
10,230
Likes
16,028
G GBNova
I wind until it stops. I want the watch to work I’m going to make sure I don’t do something stupid like not wind it enough. I appreciate your feedback but it’s like when you call the help desk about a piece of tech and they ask you will did you unplug it and plug it back in? ;-)

Understood. And you’ll note I did offer the possibility you been given 2 duds. I get why you may want to look elsewhere now.

It’s more common than you think that people underwind these and have problems so it’s not as silly a suggestion as you might imagine, no slight on you was meant by any of us who have mentioned it.

I like your analogy but note this isn’t remotely any kind of help desk, just a collection of users and fans. None of the advice or comment received here comes with any kind of guarantee 😉
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,507
Likes
13,877
Insufficient winding and power reserve in my opinion. Even some dealers aren't sure how to wind a manual Speedmaster. To get two brand new watches that have essentially the same issue is very, very rare. But time to move on to another watch or brand.
 
G
Posts
16
Likes
0
Evitzee Evitzee
Insufficient winding and power reserve in my opinion. Even some dealers aren't sure how to wind a manual Speedmaster. To get two brand new watches that have essentially the same issue is very, very rare. But time to move on to another watch or brand.
Here is the rundown of what I did when I arrived home with the watch yesterday. At 6pm I wound it fully until I reached the stop. The chrono was skipping several ticks when initially started until it settled down to a normal rhythm by about the minute mark. For this reason I thought I would let the chrono run all night just in case some “breaking in” would help it. This morning I did not wind it since it was only 12 hours in to a full wind. I tested the chrono start and stop for approximately a dozen times. It was at this point where it froze at about the 8 second mark, also bringing the second hand to a complete stop. I pressed the start/stop pusher again to disengage the chrono hand and the seconds hand resumed. I pressed the start/stop pusher again and the chrono carried on normally. It has worked fine since after several activations throughout the day. This is identical behaviour to the previous watch I bought about 3 weeks ago and had exchanged yesterday.
 
G
Posts
16
Likes
0
I am of the opinion that most speedies will likely behave this way if the chrono is used enough, but most people don’t use it that much to experience it. I think that is more plausible than receiving 2 speedies in the span of 3 weeks with a legitimate identical defect. That is one reason why I would be hesitant to send it to the service centre only likely to receive it back either “fixed” but not fixed or returned by Omega claiming there was nothing wrong with the watch.
 
G
Posts
16
Likes
0
Talked to my AD again. They offered to exchange yet again or go with something else. I don’t see the point of exchanging at this point (burned twice shy three times) but I don’t want to give up on this watch since it’s my grail, but I’m kind of stuck. Decisions decisions. 😀
 
ninman
Posts
241
Likes
261
G GBNova
I am of the opinion that most speedies will likely behave this way if the chrono is used enough, but most people don’t use it that much to experience it. I think that is more plausible than receiving 2 speedies in the span of 3 weeks with a legitimate identical defect. That is one reason why I would be hesitant to send it to the service centre only likely to receive it back either “fixed” but not fixed or returned by Omega claiming there was nothing wrong with the watch.
I've had my Speedmaster for 3 years, and I use the chronograph a lot, e.g. to time myself between sets at the gym, it doesn't behave the way you're describing.

Granted I'm just one person and I might be lucky enough to get a good one, but I don't agree it's most of them.

I think it might be better to get an official response from Omega. It can't hurt since you want a different watch anyway.
 
Davidt
Posts
12,839
Likes
22,166
Is the chrono hand vertically over the running seconds (or any other hand) when it stops. I wonder if the chrono hand is fouling on one of the other hands causing it to stop. I’ve had that before with a vintage chrono. Twice perhaps.
 
G
Posts
16
Likes
0
Davidt Davidt
Is the chrono hand vertically over the running seconds (or any other hand) when it stops. I wonder if the chrono hand is fouling on one of the other hands causing it to stop. I’ve had that before with a vintage chrono. Twice perhaps.
No the hands have the proper clearances.
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,507
Likes
13,877
Wind the watch fully, leave the chrono OFF, and see how long it runs. You should see 60-62 hours. If it is less than that, well....
 
G
Posts
16
Likes
0
GrouchoM GrouchoM
Have you tried winding it when it's stopped?
No I didn’t want to do that while it was jammed. I wound it after once at it only took about 40 turns so it was more than half charged.
 
G
Posts
16
Likes
0
Well the second one is returned and got a BB Chrono instead. Unfortunate but that’s the way it went. Pocketed 3,700 in the difference (CDN currency)
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,507
Likes
13,877
G GBNova
Well the second one is returned and got a BB Chrono instead. Unfortunate but that’s the way it went. Pocketed 3,700 in the difference (CDN currency)
Unfortunate that the venerable Speedmaster didn't work for you, but as long as you got something you liked that is the important thing.
 
L
Posts
18
Likes
3
Hi everyone,
I just bought a '22 Speedmaster Sapphire. I'm a little lost in this thread. Is there any way to know if mine has the “upgraded” movement? I thought maybe with the serial number, but I haven't seen anyone mention it.
 
L
Posts
18
Likes
3
L LilSnoopy
Hi everyone,
I just bought a '22 Speedmaster Sapphire. I'm a little lost in this thread. Is there any way to know if mine has the “upgraded” movement? I thought maybe with the serial number, but I haven't seen anyone mention it.
Warranty card shows that it has been bought in July 2022
 
Evitzee
Posts
7,507
Likes
13,877
L LilSnoopy
Hi everyone,
I just bought a '22 Speedmaster Sapphire. I'm a little lost in this thread. Is there any way to know if mine has the “upgraded” movement? I thought maybe with the serial number, but I haven't seen anyone mention it.
No way to know. I had a '22 Speedmaster and it never gave me any problems, it's a hit or miss affair. You have more than a year of warranty left, just use the watch and let the future take care of itself.
 
4011021
Posts
165
Likes
286
By serial number or date of purchase it is not possible to know. I am in the same situation as above, I bought my 3861 in March 2022 and it's been working perfectly since then. So I assume I got the updated model. If yours is still working fine since 2022, and if the chronograph was used several times through the years, the watch probably has the updated movement, as in the majority of cases the issue appeared in the first weeks after purchase.
 
bsowers34
Posts
1,710
Likes
6,431
You know, the full winding newbie error did not hold water with my white speedy. It ran 8-12 hours on a full wind, not 50+. Omega rebuilt it, and the same 80 turns I was doing before makes it run 53-55 hours. I now have four 3861s and they are fine.
 
L
Posts
18
Likes
3
Thank you all for your feedback. Indeed, the serial number does not seem to provide any clues. I just double-checked the warranty card, and it was purchased in July 2023, not 2022. I was mistaken... I hope having the upgraded version!
 
YY77
Posts
5,718
Likes
26,964
L LilSnoopy
Thank you all for your feedback. Indeed, the serial number does not seem to provide any clues. I just double-checked the warranty card, and it was purchased in July 2023, not 2022. I was mistaken... I hope having the upgraded version!
If it’s not and it stops within 5 years you get a free service so win/win.

Mine stopped 3.5 years in so will be some time before I have to pay for a service.
 
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

M

Speedmaster 3861 movement (pun not intended)

Mr.Miggs Modern Omega Watches
M
Mr.Miggs
Posts
0
Views
320
Bwoc

Omega 3861 movement

Bwoc Modern Omega Watches
Archer
Archer
Posts
20
Views
3K
bsowers34

Another 3861 movement question

bsowers34 Modern Omega Watches
blufinz52
blufinz52
Posts
12
Views
1K
Kmmdad57

3861 movement vs the new 321. Which is the better movement from a technical stand point.

Kmmdad57 Modern Omega Watches
Archer
Archer
Posts
53
Views
10K
Dirty Tool

FOIS moisture under glass (+ broken 3861)

Dirty Tool Modern Omega Watches
chiefenergy
chiefenergy
Posts
12
Views
3K
ecarpino

IWC Mark XII - JLC 889/2 - Broken pivot pallet fork

ecarpino Watchmaking
vanjuxa
vanjuxa
Posts
1
Views
516