Commodore LED Fixable?

[L.E.D.Fox]

Hi guys, yeah, newbie here!

Having just started a new job that requires me to keep track of the time, i decided to buy a watch for the first time in years!

I searched eBay and saw what i thought to be a really stylish, space-agey watch, the CBM Time. I was gonna buy a modern watch but once i started looking at the 70s LED's there wasn't much competition especially when some of these can be bought relatively cheap!

Anyway, like I said, i plumped for a Commodore LED which has some faults i was hoping i might be able to fix? The first problem is one of 'running fast'. i have yet to receive my watch, its in the post, but it was described as running fast and i was assuming there's not much I can do about this, I hope to be proved wrong about this?

The second fault is one of the... hmm what do you call them? Diodes i guess? is on the blink! or rather not on the blink as the case may be! Is there any way i can replace these parts and if so, is it an expensive job? Anyway, thanks in advance for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

[bucko170]

Welcome to the forum.

I think the best thing to do would be to purchase a replacement module, they have been offered for sale on eBay with a 'summer price' of £19.99 check item number 280367380493 on the completed listings. I would drop the seller an email and ask if he has any more for sale.

The quartz crystal can be replaced cheaply enough this would probably cure the problem with the watch running so fast, the missing segment would be much more tricky and costly to repair and the repair would probably cost much more than the replacement module would.

[L.E.D.Fox]

Thanks for the speedy reply Bucko!

Excellent, so I take it then that a new module will contain both a new quartz crystal and a full set of segments? That deffo sounds like the best solution thank for your help!

Oh, one last thing, what do you reccommend for polishing out any light scratches on the glass/plastic face?

Thanks again fella!

[rewolf]

Thanks for the speedy reply Bucko!

Excellent, so I take it then that a new module will contain both a new quartz crystal and a full set of segments? That deffo sounds like the best solution thank for your help!

Oh, one last thing, what do you reccommend for polishing out any light scratches on the glass/plastic face?

Thanks again fella!

Be careful not to pay too much (probably too late), the Commodore watches are highly overrated IMHO.

As for polishing: I use "Displex", (mobile phone display polish). For heavy scratches first very fine sandpaper (1200, wet), then Displex

[bucko170]

I think the modules are NOS (new old stock) but clarify with the seller before buying - they should work 100% with no missing segments, if they don't shop elsewhere!

For the scratches Displex is cheap to buy off eBay and does the job although I prefer Novus as it seems to give a better finish - see item 400058930378, if the crystal still has its logo be careful not to polish it away - it's a good idea to cover the logo with a piece of sellotape before starting, I also cover the buttons and around the crystal as the cleaning stuff tends to get everywhere, for an expert job the crystal can be popped out, polished and then replaced but this takes a little more care and time.

[L.E.D.Fox]

Cheers guys, i'll get some of that Displex ordered today!

As for the Commodore LED, I only paid £17 for mine, i have seen them for silly money on some websites in NOS condition, which i still do not fully understand, but yeah, if I was gonna be spending £150+ i'd prob look beyond the Commodore LED too!

Thanks again.

[Led-Time]

I could help you out with your CBM led, I've got a stock of NOS modules for them. If you want to send me your watch I'll fully service it for you i.e. ultrasonically clean it, fit a new module, polish the plastic face, lubricate the buttons and fit new silver oxide batteries.

I'am needing something to do you see...

[L.E.D.Fox]

Wow Cheers Klippie, thats some offer right there!

I'm expecting it to come through the post tommorrow so if i can bear to part with it for a few days i'll take you up on it..! Of course, we'll have to sort out a price!

Cheers fella...

[L.E.D.Fox]

Hey Klippie,

just wondering if you've thought any more about a price for servicing my watch?

I have been waiting just over a week for it to arrive in the post and now its finally here!

If only the Royal Mail was as fast as the CBM Time!! I set it to the correct time when i got it (1:22) and then, 1 hr later it was showing 3:19! so its gaining about 1 hr per hour!!! lol

Now don't get me wrong, its a Beautiful item, and yeah i'd happily wear it just as it is, but on a practical level, i could do with it fixing - after all i did get it for my job!

So, thanks again for the original offer, heres hoping you still have some free time on your hands. In the meantime i'll keep my eyes peeled on eBay for any modules that might turn up...