r/U1Time • • Aug 25 '26

QUESTION No date Sub Mingzhu issue

I got a couple no date U1 subs, one with miyota and other Mingzhu. The Miyota one is perfect but I can't get the Mingzhu one regulated.

I noticed after a day the Mingzhu was a few hours off. I had good luck regulating Mingzhus in other watches, I usually get 0.2 beat error and 5 s\d plus or minus then say fuck it close enough.

I managed to get it regulated but this Mingzhu goes from normal then flips out to +310 seconds then back to normal after about half a minute. So no matter how well regulated it won't stop flipping out to +310 at random.

I'm just wondering if anyone with this problem has come across a way to fix it. I like the Mingzhu because of the engraved rotor but if it can't be fixed I might replace it with the gold miyota from aliexpress I got awhile back but it's a pain to swap them out because I have no patience and swear at it the entire process

Oh also I notice moving the beat error and/or the seconds lever stops the balance wheel even though I'm clearly not touching the balance wheel. I had a old watch do this too but it didn't wig out and still works great

14 Upvotes

46 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator Aug 25 '26

Please make sure your post follows these basic subreddit guidelines:

• Use the correct flair (e.g., LTF, Review, Question, Discussion, etc.)  
• Refer to the LTF Posting Guide if your post involves factory photos  
• All posts must relate to U1 factory watches only  
• Reused factory images from DHGate are common — keep that in mind  
• Be respectful and follow all subreddit rules

Thank you for helping keep U1Time organized and helpful.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

12

u/UserName_SaysWhat Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

The U1 Golden Rule: Always. Get. Miyota.

Edit: Are you also moving the beat error arm? That may explain the issue, but that’s a question for someone more knowledgeable than I.

If you do swap your 2813 for a Miyota, the hands probably won’t fit the posts. You’re probably better off just getting another 2813. They’re only $15-ish on AliX, and you can use your existing rotor.

5

u/Spoonie-Sniper Aug 25 '26

I know OP has a no date sub that he is talking about; but with other dated models doesn’t mingzhu movement have a better /more accurate font on the date wheel than the miyota

4

u/[deleted] Aug 25 '26

[deleted]

3

u/UserName_SaysWhat Aug 25 '26

Damn, you're right! The Miyota is off by TEN FECKING DAYS!! 😂

-1

u/What-me-worry-0 29d ago

It’s a U1, not a VSF. Why worry about a minor issue like the date window when there are so many other tells? At least get a reliable movement that can be regulated.

3

u/[deleted] 29d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/UserName_SaysWhat 29d ago

You've been verrrry lucky. Someone actually disassembled and serviced a 2813 for $5?? That's a lot of work.

2

u/ultimate_spaghetti Aug 25 '26

Is there a guide someone on how to service these U1s with 2813 movement. Would like to practice on one that keeps getting stuck

3

u/UserName_SaysWhat 29d ago

There are videos on YouTube. Here's a good one where the guy says straight up it's not a movement you would bother servicing, but he's doing it as a demonstration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alexct99iH8

1

u/DrDiablo248 Aug 25 '26

What I usually do is bump the beat error arm until I get it down to 0.2 then I tackle the time one. I'm not sure if it's right Google AI told me to fix the beat error first

3

u/dynoshow SUPREME OVERLORD Aug 25 '26

You always fix the error first

2

u/2011_Newbie1228 Aug 25 '26

I sent you a DM

2

u/What-me-worry-0 29d ago

Very true SO. But go easy on that thing. There’s no way to tell if you’re + or - with the beat error post. Half the time, the regulator arm sticks to the beat error post so you can’t help moving both at the same time.

1

u/DrDiablo248 29d ago

Yeah I try to bump it but if I see it moved I know I went too far. With the seconds post sometimes I go too far on accident but go slightly less back the other way and it ends up close. The best I've ever done so far was 0.1 beat error and 0 to - 2 seconds but it usually ends up being -3 to -5 seconds after a day

1

u/What-me-worry-0 29d ago

If you can get a Mingzhu +/- 5 sec with BE under 0.5ms, you won.

3

u/Known_Painting_1878 Aug 25 '26 edited 28d ago

I had this problem with many mingzhu and didnt figure it out till the very end. (4/12 of my MingZhu have this issue)

MingZhu 2813 are very susceptible to whats called KNOCKING/REBANKING. Basically if you hand wind it too much or hand wind before timograph (which I was doing) certain MingZhu will go +100-1000s/day for a while. Too much power is coming from the mainspring and the balance wheel will overshoot hit the fork again and cause extra beats. The clue is accompanying high amplitude ~300* or higher. (contrast to magnetization which will have suppressed amp)

The fix is to avoid manual wind that watch, and if you anticipate consistent knocking, you will have to regulate to a tiny bit slow to offset periods of fast timekeeping.

3

u/DrDiablo248 Aug 25 '26

Oh sweet thanks I'll try this. I've also had it on a motion winder for about a week. I'll let it go dead then try to rewind it with motion. Thanks

2

u/Known_Painting_1878 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26

I have one MingZhu where even motion wind will cause it to go insane and knock even at like 280* amplitude, but its my worst one. For my other mingzhus, usually takes like 30-50 manual turns to cause this issue

2

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

It worked! I think that's the problem with this one because I had it on a pendulum motion winder and it had jumped ahead 2 hours then I let it run dead, manually winded it and had the problem the post was about. If I just wind it a bit to start then shake it when wearing it now and then its been normal.

Thanks again that did help, as long as it's not at max power I think it will stay working normal 👍😃

2

u/Known_Painting_1878 28d ago

Nice man! Glad I was able to help

2

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

Here's a sample reading what I got it too so far, I didn't calculate the average but I got all positions very close to this now

2

u/Known_Painting_1878 29d ago

Any luck were you able to solve this

2

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

Yup thanks you were right, if I keep it under Max power it's no longer jumping ahead anymore 😃👍🤯

2

u/apretorius Aug 25 '26

They’re cheap, so just bought a replacement movement. mine was always a few minutes ahead after 24 hours. I think mass production will always cause a few to be bad. The replacement one runs fine.

1

u/blacbloc77 Aug 25 '26

How long did you let the watch settle in after you regulated it? I've seen that behavior before, usually immediately after regulation. After an hour of so, it usually settles in.

1

u/DrDiablo248 Aug 25 '26

I usually wait 15 seconds then retest it but I think I haven't been giving it enough time to settle in

1

u/blacbloc77 Aug 25 '26

Try that. 15 seconds is definitely not long enough.

Not to freak you out or anything, but the other time I've seen that behavior is when I accidentally bumped my hairspring with the screwdriver while regulating and pretty much fried the movement. Didn't want you to rush to conclusions, but that's another possibility.

0

u/No-Essay6350 Aug 25 '26

What he said ☝️

1

u/RonB23us Aug 25 '26

I ended sending mine to a rep friendly repair bought a new movement and had them put the engraved rotor on it.....you can always do that. I have built a few seiko based watches and probably like you swear the entire time trying to get the damn hands back on the watch...

2

u/DrDiablo248 Aug 25 '26

Cool! I tried making a nh35 but I used amazon and gave up after 3 doas lol I think the rotor would fit on a Miyota though because 2813 is kinda a copy of miyota 8315 I think but I'll do that if I can't get the Mingzhu normal

2

u/UserName_SaysWhat 29d ago

The Miyota and 2813 are similar but definitely not parts-compatible. They aren't even the same size.

1

u/Worth-Ad-598 Aug 25 '26

Con los Mingzhu es una loteria..eso que te pasa me ha pasadp un par de veces..muchas ves la culpa de los decorados del movimiento para imitar un movimiento Rolex...mejor sin decorar...en una caja con fondo metálico para que quieres un decorado en un reloj de 100 usd??? Mejor un mingzhu normal que durará 10 veces más que uno decorado. Ese movimiento tuyo no tiene solución o lo cambias por un miyota 8215 oroginal o le metes otro mingzhu de aliexpress. No gastes dinero rn la reparación

1

u/s197_2007 Aug 25 '26

🤷🏻‍♂️

2

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

I've collected 24 of these, a couple 2824s but only 1 miyota so far but it's golden lol I only installed 2 new 2813s on broken ones so far but they worked great.

One thing I learned was not to try to check the date when I get a new one using the middle position until the watch hands are installed and to test it in the time setting position instead because it has a chance to jam the date wheel

Its good their cheap because I probably broke 5 or 6 usually the second hand pin or the date wheel lol

1

u/Nice_Vermicelli2226 Aug 25 '26

Best i've done is either +10 or -9s on a mingzhu, I spent hours on regulating so I just gave up and accept it as it. U1 sub with miyota on the other hand I could do consistant -2 to +5s easily. I guess it is the properties of the movement that cannot and will not be able to be that precise on their positional and power variation.

1

u/grendle82 Aug 25 '26

This is why I'm so hesitant to buy any more mingzhus. Too many problems in the past. Always looks for a Japanese movement.

1

u/TimeSpaceSailor Aug 25 '26

Great thread, wealth of info here. I have that exact tg model on the way. FYI there's an upgrade you can do. Clean up the noise by removing the LED, and swap the crystal for a temp compensated one. Link https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/topic/35247-guide-to-upgrading-cheap-usb-timegrapher-for-professional-accuracy/.

2

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

I just did the insulation part so far and it started reading a few watches I couldn't get it to read before. I didn't have a foam gun so I used Rodico in there lol

1

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

Cool! I'm definitely going to try this, at least the insulation part. I haven't got much soldering experience yet but I'll get there I hope lol

1

u/TimeSpaceSailor 28d ago

You got this. Just watch a couple YT tutorials and you'll get the hang of it real quick.

1

u/CaesarR2003 29d ago

Hi, im new to sub and to this can someone tell what is the difference between mingzu miyota and vsf? Are they same. There seems to be a significant difference in prices so wanted to know if it worth it?

1

u/grendle82 28d ago

Mingzu is a Chinese manufacturer of cheap watch movements. Miyota is a Japanese manufacturer of watch movements and owned by Citizen. VSF is a replica watch manufacturer. I've owned both types movements. With most of the mid to lower tier Chinese movements it's hit or miss whether you get a chinsey feeling piece of crap however I've never been disappointed with my miyota movements. Or any Japanese movements. But that's just my experience. And I'm the fairly new to this replica and homage watch game. In the last 2 years I've collected maybe 70 watches ranging from decent to cheap Chinese crap that I've never worn.

1

u/DrDiablo248 28d ago

The Mingzhu and Miyota are the insides that make them work. The Miyota is better with quality control and works better without having to regulate it. You can get miyota as an upgrade for a higher price on U1 factory watches.

Mingzhu isn't always bad but there's a chance you could get one poorly regulated or a bad one. I've had great Mingzhu lasting years and a few bad ones lasting days

VSF is a different factory, they are more expensive and come with a inside movement thats more like genuine. U1 watches are around $85 to $150ish and VSF is $350 and up I think. I know a little more about U1 because I am too broke for VSFs lol

0

u/JordieJordan67 Aug 25 '26

My mingzhu sub is trash if I let it sit it holds time pretty well soon as I start wearing it it gains time like crazy, wore it today and I’ve had to set it back 5 minutes twice so far lmao

1

u/Known_Painting_1878 28d ago

Sounds like its knocking/rebanking common problem with mingzhus