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Help Please - Anyone ever replaced a WOLF Watch Winder motor?

blubarb
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I have inherited a WOLF Viceroy triple watch winder. Unfortunately one of the motors is dead. I believe Wolf uses Mabuchi 🙁 motors with nylon gears, which are of a pretty low quality at best.
Has anyone any idea of how to get to the motor to replace it? The most obvious place, I thought, was via the drum housing, but the material covering any hidden screw is stubbornly glued in place and there appears to be no access from any of the box sides.

Thanks
J

20230106_180713.jpg
Edited:
 
dsio
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I’ve got an 8 socket viceroy from the same generation as yours, the entire glass front plate fell out once the glue dried out, horrendously cheap garbage and I can’t believe how they charge the money they do for this trash. It’s still up in my closet and I’m too annoyed to even look at the stupid thing.
 
Evitzee
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That winder construction looks very much like the Scatola del Tempo 7RT winder which I acquired almost 30 years ago. See those flat trim pieces, those are glued on and are holding the winder innards in the case. Use a putty knife and carefully work the pieces loose, once those are removed the entire winder mechanism will slide out. I did this many years ago on mine when one of its internal batteries came loose. Take your time, but that's the way you gain access to the mechanism.
Edited:
 
blubarb
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dsio dsio
I’ve got an 8 socket viceroy from the same generation as yours, the entire glass front plate fell out once the glue dried out, horrendously cheap garbage and I can’t believe how they charge the money they do for this trash. It’s still up in my closet and I’m too annoyed to even look at the stupid thing.

I looked at their current online pricing and just about fell over! From what I can see it's constructed out of cardboard, some vinyl and a three $10 motors and some cheap electronics. 🤬🤬
 
dsio
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blubarb blubarb
I looked at their current online pricing and just about fell over! From what I can see it's constructed out of cardboard, some vinyl and a three $10 motors and some cheap electronics. 🤬🤬
Yep that’s about correct. Here in Australia my one was bought for $6,000 aud, the price of a new plorprof at the time. When I lost the power brick they changed me $110 for a new one too sadly.
 
blubarb
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Evitzee Evitzee
That winder construction looks very much like the Scatola del Tempo 7RT winder which I acquired almost 30 years ago. See those flat trim pieces, those are glued on and are holding the winder innards in the case. Use a putty knife and carefully work the pieces loose, once those are removed the entire winder mechanism will slide out. I did this many years ago on mine when one of its internal batteries came loose. Take your time, but that's the way you gain access to the mechanism.

Yep, that was it. Thanks.

Not a piece of wood to be seen. Correction found some light 2 ply as side and bottom supports.
Edited:
 
akshayluc420
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dsio dsio
Yep that’s about correct. Here in Australia my one was bought for $6,000 aud, the price of a new plorprof at the time. When I lost the power brick they changed me $110 for a new one too sadly.

Give me the half that, 3k, and I'll do the hokey-cokey and shake it all about. It's not even real leather!
 
blubarb
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dsio dsio
Yep that’s about correct. Here in Australia my one was bought for $6,000 aud, the price of a new plorprof at the time. When I lost the power brick they changed me $110 for a new one too sadly.

🤬
 
dsio
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blubarb blubarb
🤬


I actually am starting to envision taking photos of mine and writing an article on the stories section titled something like “Reviewing the worst watch winder I’ve ever owned - Wolf Viceroy 2.7 8-socket”

They probably wont ever advertise with us but then that’s probably a positive as it means members here wont be marketed their products.

Yea I might include yours in it too.
 
blubarb
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dsio dsio
I actually am starting to envision taking photos of mine and writing an article on the stories section titled something like “Reviewing the worst watch winder I’ve ever owned - Wolf Viceroy 2.7 8-socket”

They probably wont ever advertise with us but then that’s probably a positive as it means members here wont be marketed their products.

Yea I might include yours in it too.

here are some photos of the guts of this rubbish just in case you ever do.

20230107_084404.jpg 20230107_084409.jpg 20230107_084423.jpg 20230107_084455.jpg 20230107_084533.jpg 20230107_084547.jpg 20230107_084316.jpg 20230107_084348.jpg
Edited:
 
dsio
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blubarb blubarb
here are some photos of the guts of this rubbish just in case you ever do.

20230107_084404.jpg 20230107_084409.jpg 20230107_084423.jpg 20230107_084455.jpg 20230107_084533.jpg 20230107_084547.jpg 20230107_084316.jpg 20230107_084348.jpg
Please do I’d love to see them
 
blubarb
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Evitzee Evitzee
That winder construction looks very much like the Scatola del Tempo 7RT winder which I acquired almost 30 years ago. See those flat trim pieces, those are glued on and are holding the winder innards in the case. Use a putty knife and carefully work the pieces loose, once those are removed the entire winder mechanism will slide out. I did this many years ago on mine when one of its internal batteries came loose. Take your time, but that's the way you gain access to the mechanism.

Swapped the drums around and the one I thought had a problem motor worked fine in another position - problem must be in the electronics. So, off to source a $10 replacement control board, which is most likely more expensive than the original 😀
 
Dan S
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I've always suspected that a $2000 winder was no better than a $200 winder, and now I feel vindicated.
 
dsio
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blubarb blubarb
Swapped the drums around and the one I thought had a problem motor worked fine in another position - problem must be in the electronics. So, off to source a $10 replacement control board, which is most likely more expensive than the original 😀
The insides from your pictures look like an arts and crafts project from some TikTok creator with a hot glue gun and cardboard.
 
JimInOz
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Very interesting. I had a look at mine.

Nice piano finish, glass hasn't fallen out.

IMG_1903.JPG


Holds six on the winders and seven spots for manuals/quartz.

IMG_1904.JPG


Very easy to open for inspection/repair, and while the inside finish isn't "superb craftsman" level, there's no cardboard. Only issue seems to be the lifting of the motor test/certification labels.



IMG_1905.JPG


Motors are fairly generic and should be easily replaced if they ever die.

IMG_1901.JPG


I paid about AUD$250 a few years ago (local Aussie supplier), so after seeing the Wolf and hearing about Ash's Viceroy, I think it was money well spent.
 
blubarb
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Man, the more I look into it the more I don't know whether to be shocked or impressed by the chutzpah and the prices that those watch winders sell for, given how cheaply they are made.
 
SC1
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As my dad would say, "Polished shit is still shit."
 
Dsloan
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Lol, omg. I didn't realize they were this poorly made. If I ever have time, I guess I could break out my Arduino kit and a few old servo motors and make my own winder.

But then, I'm in the camp of thinking a winder adds undue wear and tear.
 
ghce
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SC1 SC1
As my dad would say, "Polished shit is still shit."

Or to paraphrase " you can't polish a turd but you sure as hell can roll it in glitter"
 
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