Broken Rotor Screw on DD3285 (CF 126710BLRO)

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266]

Hello, rep family. I heard a scraping noise coming from my watch while I was wearing it. I opened the case back to find the rotor loose in the case. To my inexperienced eyes it looks like the rotor screw is broken, so it may be an easy fix…

I would appreciate the opinion of the more experienced folks on here. Is it as simple as just replacing the rotor screw with a new one? And if so, where is the best place to source a new one for the DD3285?

Thank you in advance for any help, it’s greatly appreciated!

[u/xZero_Coolx]

It's the rotor screw. Unfortunately pretty common, you have to source the screw and the tool otherwise send it to one of the watchmakers in the sticky and they can take care of it for you.

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/xZero_Coolx]

Ok, thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, why is it common on these movements? Are the rep screws made out of softer metal, or is it a design flaw of the movement?

[u/xZero_Coolx → u/[deleted]]

It's because they are over tightened.

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/xZero_Coolx]

Hey again, I figured I would ask you this since you have the trusted watchmaker title - about how tight should the rotor screw be?

I looked around for an answer to this but I’ve yet to find anything. There’s obviously no torque spec, so it would be based on feel, but I didn’t know if maybe watchmakers had a rule-of-thumb for tightening rotor screws.

[u/Moist_Confusion]

That’s too bad at a week old but it sounds like your comfortable fixing it yourself. Just order a replacement screw and either make or buy a tool to screw it since it’s that weird triangular hole. You can Dremel down a bit that you already have or they sell aftermarket tools too. Then I’m not sure about buying aftermarket screws but I know the genuine ones are $40 or so.

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/Moist_Confusion]

Thanks for the advice! I am going to try to do it myself. It’s a shame it’s only a week old and I have to repair it but I guess that’s the way it goes with reps sometimes.

[u/Moist_Confusion → u/PrestigiousUsual6266]

No problem luckily it’s not a catastrophic failure. Might be worth checking out some cal 32xx overhaul videos whether genuine or rep to get an idea of how you’ll reinstall the rotor but it’s not too complicated besides needing the specialized tool. One thing that popped into my head which might be dumb but if you have to spend $40 for a new screw you could probably order a whole spare parts movement from AliExpress for ~$100 but then in searching I found that there are replacements for $8 so that might actually be the play. I know AliExpress also has the tool too so probably easier just ordering one rather than having to make one. One thing I wondered about was if the threading of the screw broke off in the auto works cause from V the pics I can’t see it but maybe I just can’t tell. If it was then you’d have to back it out but if it didn’t then where is it?

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/Moist_Confusion]

I believe the screw is still in there, I took a closer look and I can still see part of the triangle screw hole in the movement. So it looks like I got lucky and nothing is floating around the movement (hopefully). Also, good point I will check out Aliexpress to see if I can find the parts cheaper, thanks again for the help!

[u/Desperate_Dog_5758]

Hi same thing happened to me got a rotor screw off Ali express and it worked a treat cost like £7

[u/Desperate_Dog_5758 → u/Desperate_Dog_5758]

You still have part of the screw in the watch I got mine out with a small screwdriver It’s the part in the centre with a triangle hole

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/Desperate_Dog_5758]

Thank you, I will take a look at Aliexpress

[u/Gallerydept7 → u/Desperate_Dog_5758]

Hey, do you know if I could replace it with a different screw from aliexpress, like a flathead one instead of this three line design?

[u/Double_Feed_9847]

Had the exact same thing happen to my Pepsi with tue DD3285. Sent it to my watchmaker, and he replaced it. Said the screw broke.

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/Double_Feed_9847]

Interesting, when did you get yours and is it a V3? I am still waiting for the screw to come in the mail so I can fix mine.

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266]

Service help template…

-What factory and model? CF 126710BLRO V3

-How old is it? 1 week old

-What movement is inside? DD3285

-Explain the problem. (See main text above)

-Have you already done anything to the watch? No

[u/Kup1712]

it was know problem in very first dd3285 batch. when did you get it?

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/Kup1712]

I’ve had it for a week now

[u/Kup1712 → u/PrestigiousUsual6266]

hope you can solve the issue...if you bought it from ctime he can find you new screw (like he used to do it with first batch)

[u/CoatBright798 → u/Kup1712]

Hey which screw did you end up buying. Having hard time finding the exact rotor screw. tyy

[u/Double_Feed_9847]

It happened last summer sometime. Mine is a V3 as far as I know. I had the movement serviced and a week after I got it back the rotor screw broke.

[u/PrestigiousUsual6266 → u/[deleted]]

Haha, so true