GMT Master 2 winding

[crown&T]

Hi everyone,

I am onto my second Rolex, as I have recently picked up a GMT Master 2 (BlackBlue on Jubilee aka Batgirl). My first is a Milgauss.

Posting here as I have a feeling something is off when I wind the Batgirl, and namely that after a few winds I start feeling a crunch and resistance to winding, which I never feel on the Milgauss (or my Tudor BB41 with the METAS certified movement). Now I expect that resistance in manual wind watches, but AFAIK it is impossible to overwind an automatic, and I have never encountered this response in any other automatic watch I have owned.

Is this to be expected on this model with a caliber 3285 or is it a fault?

Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts!

Cheers,
John

[Subshark1861]

My 2023 GMT is very smooth when winding.

How old is yours?

[Rolex1982]

Is it after a few winds when the power reserve was empty? Isn’t it just the mechanism that prevents overwinding? When my GMT is fully wound it also has some resistance.

[painexpert]

Maybe the watch is fully wound when you wind it. I have heard the crunchy sound when you try and wind it in this circumstance. If the watch is not fully wound I would have it checked out.

[Krash]

It’s hard to say? My GMT feels normal. Is it running okay. Maybe let it run 70 hours and see what happens?!?!?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KatGirl]

If’s easy to freak out ,when you feel something you haven’t noticed before. As long as it’s running OK, and it’s not a ridiculously crunchy grinding feeling, don’t worry about it. It’s under warranty, so you’re golden. With my new pieces, I’ve decided, that at 41/2 years, I will send them in for warranty service, whether they seem to need it or not.

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Harry-57]

The 31 based movements are so silky smooth and silent that the 32 based movements can tend to feel stiff and gritty. But it's all relative. Probably nothing to worry about but if in doubt send it in.

[Moonwatcher]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Is it after a few winds when the power reserve was empty? Isn’t it just the mechanism that prevents overwinding? When my GMT is fully wound it also has some resistance.

Same here. You can hear and feel the clicking of the overwinding prevention mech.

[yankeeromeo]

If it's the initial crackly resistance.... That's how I describe it. that's fine

My GMT did that and never had any issues

[EEpro]

Sounds like you're done winding and you're feeling it slip.

[EaglePilot]

My GMT is exactly like yours (Batgirl, but 2022)and has the exactly same behavior.
When the mainspring is fully wound, it starts the "crunch" feeling when winding.
It really annoys me!
But it only start this crunch feeling when the mainspring is fully wound,
If the power reserve run out and you start to wind again, the first turns of the crown were smooth until the mainspring is fully wound, and then the winding crunch starts again....

[vesnyder]

I have two 6 digit GMT II's and they felt crunchy for the first 12 months I owned them. I've had my CHNR since 2019 and outside of my CHNR needing a warranty service in 2022, it has would silky smooth. Not sure what it was during the initial break-in period, but since then it has been good. Give it a while and see if it goes away - I suspect it will.

[Insert User Name]

I have a 116710ln that is from 2014 and a 2 month old 126713grnr and both wind like butter. The 2014 has not been serviced yet.

Where did you "pick" yours up at?

[crown&T]

.

[crown&T]

Originally Posted by Subshark1861

My 2023 GMT is very smooth when winding.

How old is yours?

It is pretty new. I got it in October.

[crown&T]

Originally Posted by Insert User Name

I have a 116710ln that is from 2014 and a 2 month old 126713grnr and both wind like butter. The 2014 has not been serviced yet.

Where did you "pick" yours up at?

Yeah, so does the Milgauss, that's why I'm worried. I picked it up at Weir and Sons in Dublin. Brand new.

[crown&T]

Originally Posted by EaglePilot

My GMT is exactly like yours (Batgirl, but 2022)and has the exactly same behavior.
When the mainspring is fully wound, it starts the "crunch" feeling when winding.
It really annoys me!
But it only start this crunch feeling when the mainspring is fully wound,
If the power reserve run out and you start to wind again, the first turns of the crown were smooth until the mainspring is fully wound, and then the winding crunch starts again....

That's exactly what's happening. In a way, good to know that it's not just me. Let's see if it resolves itself.

[Subshark1861]

I'd pop back to the dealer and ask their opinion.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by crown&T

It is pretty new. I got it in October.

It sounds pretty normal from regular reporting of 32xx movement characteristics.
Be thankful it's running fine but if need be you should simply check with a dealer by having them take a look at it

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by crown&T

It is pretty new. I got it in October.

Here is how the 32 series movement feels in your BLNR:

I If the movement is stopped and you are starting at the bottom to wind it all the way up, the first 30-45 winds will feel very smooth. Then when you are at the top of the mainspring and all the way wound, the winding action feels very gritty and “clicky”. This is normal as the spring is slipping in the barrel as a protective action as to not overwind the mainspring. (you can’t overwind a Rolex for this reason)
The best way to test this is don’t wear your watch for 3 days and let it unwind all the way until your movement stops. Then wind it up and you will feel the difference.

[EaglePilot]

Is this true for Rolex?:
https://youtu.be/I3IOy9QXGHw?si=5GxOCoPrv9kDYZPF
I mean, if you continue to wind the watch when tbe mainspring is already fully wound it can accelerate the watch wear? (I know in rolex the mainspring slips inside the barrel wall when fully wound, but did this cause more wear?)

[Tools]

Originally Posted by EaglePilot

Is this true for Rolex?:
https://youtu.be/I3IOy9QXGHw?si=5GxOCoPrv9kDYZPF
I mean, if you continue to wind the watch when tbe mainspring is already fully wound it can accelerate the watch wear? (I know in rolex the mainspring slips inside the barrel wall when fully wound, but did this cause more wear?)

Don't know, don't watch you tube chatter.

When the mainspring is fully wound, continued winding does turn the mainspring in the barrel. The spring has "feet" that press out against the barrel to hold it in place, as well as some notches for grab. Constant turning will, and does, scrape those feet across the surface and in and out of the notches. It is greased, but it is still going to wear, and if dry, scrape the barrel enough so the bridle will no longer hold, reducing power reserve considerably - over time.

[Bobfreddy]

It's always exciting to add another Rolex to the collection. As for the winding issue, it's possible that there might be something off with the watch. While it's true that automatic watches shouldn't be overwound, feeling resistance and crunching sounds during winding isn't typical. It might be a good idea to have it checked out by a professional watchmaker or take it to an authorized Rolex service center.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by EaglePilot

Is this true for Rolex?:
https://youtu.be/I3IOy9QXGHw?si=5GxOCoPrv9kDYZPF
I mean, if you continue to wind the watch when tbe mainspring is already fully wound it can accelerate the watch wear? (I know in rolex the mainspring slips inside the barrel wall when fully wound, but did this cause more wear?)

No. A automatic will continue to wind via rotor when it’s at the top of the mainspring and cause no damage. To cause damage to the barrel via manual winding would require ocd amount of daily winding. FYI in the 32 series movements, the mainspring is disposable so at regular services you get a new spring and barrel anyway.

[favx]

Originally Posted by subshark1861

i'd pop back to the dealer and ask their opinion.

+1

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

The 31 based movements are so silky smooth and silent that the 32 based movements can tend to feel stiff and gritty. But it's all relative. Probably nothing to worry about but if in doubt send it in.

Agree 100% with this ^^^

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Sounds like you're done winding and you're feeling it slip.

This exactly.

Some are more pronounced/gritty when the spring slips inside the barrel, some are smooth as butter.

[crown&T]

Funnily enough, when I wound it today it didn't do it. Maybe it needed time to "break in"?

[Mgf8462]

I got a new sub and felt the same thing when winding. A little gritty as soon as the spring has any tension on it. Very unlike my other models. Almost feels like it is over-winding itself after a couple hours of wear.

I sent it in, they checked it out. Took 3 months and the day I got it back the issue was still there. It works fine and keeps good enough time (slightly on the fast side) but I figure I'll send it back one more time before my warranty ends to see if after a few more years of wear the problem is more obvious mechanically speaking.

As long as it keeps accurate time, I'd just wait until your warranty is closer to expiration, then send her in.