I have a Seiko 4502 based watch and it's clicking when you set the time. Whenever you rotate the crown, it clicks after every few hours. There is no clicking when you wind the watch. The date quickset is working and is not making any weird noises.

But when setting the time, it feels like a resistance, while it's rubbing through something and clicking after it goes through. It's not a loud click nor does it require lots of force. So you need to rotate slowly or it feels like it jumps after the click. Btw the hacking is fine.

The watch gains around 15s a day and works for at least 30-40 hours when wound, I wonder what could be the reason for the clicking.

I don't know if this is normal: but when the watch is out juice, when I start winding it, it doesn't start. I have to pull the crown and press it again for it to start.

 

It’s most likely the engagement of the sliding pinion and the setting wheels. A bridge could be loose to r it may need a new wheel or two. Either way, time for a service.

 

The 4502 is a nice bit of machinery but there are a lot of intermeshing parts under that dial. Possibly one of the instantaneous date change parts is loose or dislodged.

I suggest you stop trying to diagnose any further and get it to a watchmaker.

 

Being a 36k bph, does the watchmaker needs any specific knowledge to service it?

I found a watchmaker, and I am going to bring him a 5740C based watch(it's gaining a min a day and only lasts 12 hours) to test him first. The LM should be similar to 4502, except it doesn't hack and there's no date.

How would I know afterwards if he did a good job? Would just seeing the power reserve go up and the gain go low be enough to know it's good work?

 

No. I’d find someone that knows vintage Seiko. That’s important. Also, what does he want to charge you? That can be a factor when considering good work.

 

Some watchmakers provide a report on the servicing, sometimes with photos of the process.
At the very least, you should get a description of the service and documented test results.

Unless you are standing over their shoulder you have to rely on trust.

I provide something like this (Note: I'm not a Professional watchmaker).

 

All good advice. I'm quite embedded in the vintage Seiko community as it's my first love... you probably want to find a WM that specialises in them as they will most likely have the right spares and the experience of working on these movements. Not sure I'm allowed to recommend people from different forums on this platform, but there are two main ones where many of the members will be able to point you in the right direction.

 

While I can't specifically address what causes the clicking when you set time, these hi-beat Seikos are very susceptible to wear of the drive train because of the high torque involved. If the watch hasn't been serviced in several years then I suggest that you have the watch serviced by someone meticulous, or well versed in these vintage Seikos.

 

Thanks for the clarifications everyone.

Watchmaking is in general cheap where I am(I don't think good watches are popular either, and people who want quality I think just buy new, because the used market is full of crap and then bring their new watches to the official service but the official Seiko Service don't care for vintage, btw Grand Seiko isn't even sold here, though there are Omegas).

So it's probably difficult to find a decent watchmaker.(part of why I am trying to learn basic watchmaking as a hobby). And that's why I also want to test a perspective watchmaker I found by trying him on a non-minty LM 5740C.

 

If they are so finicky and easy to break.. why do I want them so bad The moment I tried 36k Seiko, it felt so right. I have a 28k BPH Sellita, but it's not the same. There's something about the seconds hand being so smooth.

 

I know what you mean as I have a 4520-8000.
The Accutrons (Bulova) go at 1,296,000 beats per hour. Smoooooooth seconds!...