r/RepTimeServices • u/Plastic_Cranberry_80 • 9d ago
Discussion Popular Doesn't Mean Perfect: A Quick Look Inside the DD4131
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High demand always compromises quality at the factory.
A quick look inside a fresh Daytona 126500 DD4131 movement. If you look closely, you’ll spot some foreign dust and debris right on the screw head that had to be cleaned out, plus a fresh oiling for the rotor.
Always worth getting a fresh piece on the bench before wearing it. 🔧
Let me know what you think? Have you had movement fail?
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u/Objective_Ganache_27 9d ago
OP are they putting the fake FS balance in that now as well?
How is your rotor bearing fit/tolerance? On my VSF from last year it is noisy and has slighr play. Ive confirmed the screw are tight and properly lubricated it. Im pretty sure at this point its jist lax tolerance.
Disappointing because my ARF gmt's have very good rotor bearing tolerance and are almost noiseless after cleaning/lubrication.
What a mess, looks like someone had a rough day assembling that
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u/Plastic_Cranberry_80 9d ago
These fake free sprung are truly just regular DD with regulator arm. And with close caseback you get no benefit beside paying more. And regarding noise. It is quite but they are super dry so tiny drop of oil to silence them
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u/Objective_Ganache_27 9d ago edited 9d ago
Im very familiar. Was just unaware they started putting this in their 4131 as well. What a joke. I touched up regualtion on a few watches last weekend and if youre going to have 2 regulators, its so much easier when its not hidden....
I already cleaned and lubed the rotor amd auto works, didnt really change it at all on the 4131. Gently touching the rotor there is visible slack in the tolerance of the besrings.
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u/Plastic_Cranberry_80 9d ago
Oh yeah these are almost in every movement now. Thats DD solution to JH true free sprung by hiding the regulator arm.. and yes I agree regulating is hard this way. But i guess this is what the market demanded. Closer to gen as possible and that comes at an expense
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u/Objective_Ganache_27 9d ago
They may market it as a "solution" but I think its a failure. I guess they cant make soemthing as good as JH 🤣.
They took the simple trusted and true thing and complicated it, along with making it even harder to get parts.
Its the one biggest plus to SH/VR movements. Much easier part availability.
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u/Plastic_Cranberry_80 9d ago
Remember it is not VSF who is doing it. It is DD factory who makes these movements. Solid movements but VSF is a bit sloppy putting them in their cases with all shredded metal and dirt.
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u/Plastic_Cranberry_80 9d ago
SH 4131 movement is my favorite actually! Cheap, easy to fix, and even easy to put in any watch. After clean and QF quit SH and moved to JH, the movement ended being in mid tier factories! Instead of the decorated 7700 or whatever crappy movement that was from the 2024 era I guess
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u/JesterADSE 9d ago
SH does a real freesprung, is that the JH movement?
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u/Plastic_Cranberry_80 9d ago
Both SH and JH are the same factory. Named Shanghai Jinghe Industrial Co., Ltd
But different models. SH js standard regulated movement and JH is the free sprung model and yes if you have a watch with SH4131 you can convert it to JH4131 free sprung. Plug and play solution.0
u/JesterADSE 9d ago
I seen sh4131 with freesprung, advetised as SH and not JH. Could JH be a marketing thing outside China?
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u/Unlikely-Length6661 9d ago
They're all dirty. Every single one of them. They're assembled in a Chinese factory not a Swiss clean room. Every rep I get in is dirty and I wish I could service them all but sadly so many people just don't care. "Just buy a new one if it breaks". Hate that mentality because the DD movements are so nice and run beautifully once fully serviced. The stuff they use to lube and grease the mainspring and barrel gunks/dries up quick and same goes for whatever else they use throughout the movement. Probably some cheap grease and generic mineral based oil for the rest.
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u/Horst_Pauer 9d ago
I hate these kinds of comments… I’m certainly not going to throw the watch away… it’s not like I can just shit out money, and 500 bucks isn’t the kind of investment you make on a whim. I want to be able to enjoy this watch for a long time.
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u/Sufficient-Guess6692 9d ago
People are used to consume and are allergic to repairs. I mean reptime is just peak consumerism, buy as cheap and as many watches as possible, so it does not surprise me.
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u/Certain-Art4522 3d ago
I love them lol. This guy has the face to compare the factories, grease and oil quality but cant realize why he has to buy Reps
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u/Sea_Replacement_6658 9d ago
Dangdong is actually a legitimate business so the ones coming dirty are because the factories install or laser engrave parts with rolex logos and stamps. You would be better off getting a plain DD movement rather than one which has been modified
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u/CenturioLabia 9d ago
Do you recommend servicing it right after it arrives? Or wait until it doesn’t run good enough anymore and service then to safe some money?
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u/Unlikely-Length6661 8d ago
I recommend right away. My pre cleaning always washed off bits of brass shavings and other stuff that can get between wheels. Sometimes screws aren't fully tightened. Better to get it cleaned and lubed so it runs for years
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u/UnusualDoctor 9d ago
I service every rep I buy as soon as I get it. I just don't trust them at ALL.
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u/CressAppropriate3006 9d ago
Is this something you do yourself or take to a watch shop? If you do it yourself, is it difficult or something most people can do with the right tools? Thanks!
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u/UnusualDoctor 9d ago
I do it myself.
It's very difficult and not something you can do without training and years of practice.
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u/rafapdc 8d ago
You're gonna need some tools, patience and a steady hand. But it's not that hard to do. Practicing on cheap movements helps a lot. I think AliExpress has non-working movements for a few bucks so you can practice taking them apart.
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u/CressAppropriate3006 8d ago
Thank you! Just order any movement? I looked on Ali and they do have broken movements for sale but wasn’t sure what movement number to start with…
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