Someone on this forum recommended Seiko when I asked about getting a good automatic watch. That was great advice. I’ve LOVED the unique experience of owning a good entry level auto watch with a skeleton back. What I wasn’t expecting is how addictive they are... especially the Seiko & Citizen divers.

I’ve had mostly an EXCELLENT experience and have been lucky purchasing used vintage 1980’s , 1990’s early 2000’s and a few 1970’s vintage Seiko & Citizen automatics. Yeah, with eBay you roll the dice sometimes and sometimes you win...other times...well you know.

Anyway, long story short my luck with beautiful yellow dial Seiko mod divers (4205-1055 midsize & 7002) has been bad. My 4205 ran fast, it needed work prior to me ....ahem using bad internet advice and “tapping” it a bit to briskly to see if it wouldn’t run so fast (already demagnetized it) and I knocked off the second hand.

The 7002 runs fine but if I set it down it does not keep time for too long. It will typically die within 8-15 hours of being set down.



It’s a neat looking watch. I am wondering how hard it would be to put in a newer movement (7S26 or 4R36 or even a recently overhauled movement?

I have a basic watch repair/tool kit heading my way and I plan on buying a few cheap seiko and Chinese autos to take apart. Can anyone recommend any good, inexpensive Chinese autos to disassemble and any good YouTube vids worth watching?

Thanks!

YouTube: Watch Repair Channel.

If you replace the movement, a 4R35 is what you want, date only movement.

Also, buy a good set of screwdrivers and a stone to maintain them. The crap in those cheap watch repair kits is, well, crap.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009...&qid=1549718659&sr=1

These are likely decent enough to get you going (I couldn't find the set I bought.) Whatever you buy, you will need a blade as small as 0.5MM.

EBay for the Chinese movements, Seagull and Peacock are reliable and run $60 and up.

Your Seikos likely need a good cleaning and service.

Good luck,

RMD

That's an early 7002. If it hasn't been serviced since it rolled out of the factory-- not unusual-- a simple clean/lubricate/adjust visit to a watchmaker might make it good as new. I wouldn't consider "major surgery" before that.

Nice looking watch.

Thanks guys!

Will a 4R36 movement drop right in? I wonder how hard it is to swap out? From what I’ve read that would be a nice upgrade over the current movement.

I love these Seiko Divers. I would like to be able to mod them and maintain them myself. Some of these old watches keep surprisingly good time.

My daily 6309.

I've never worked on a 7002. I ask some folks I know and get back to you.

RMD

O.K. the 4R is a no go due to the different crown positions in the two movements. The 7002 has a 4o'clock crown and the 4R at 3:45.

Best bet, have the movement cleaned and serviced.

Good Luck,

RMD

<<EDIT>> The movement fits fine, but the dial has to be modified by cutting the dial legs off and fixing the dial to movement with dial dots.

RMD

So it can be done but it’s a bit of a custom job?

Are there any other movements that would drop in?

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
So it can be done but it’s a bit of a custom job?

Are there any other movements that would drop in?

Its actually not that hard. You might have to source a new crown as well if you crown stem is one of the Seiko clamped on crowns. Not hard to find. The 4R movement will come with a stem.

Any of the Seiko watches with a 4 o'clock crown config should work.

RMD

Would a Seiko NH35A drop in?

https://crystaltimes.net/shop/all/movements/ct501/

Actually, if you have the modding bug, buy a cheap SKX 007 on EBay of somewhere and go to town. These are the most modified watch in teh world and lots of part area available as well as info on the process. Your 7002 is a nice vintage watch that deserves a better fate.

RMD

Also, I forgot to mention, when you go searching for a movement 4R35/36 is Seiko's designation for the movements THEY put in their watches. Those sold to the unwashed masses like you and me as complete movements are designated NH35/36, etc. They are identical movements, just different nomenclature.

RMD

I have the same watch in black face (must resist making bad joke..... )
and when it was doing the same 10+ years ago I sent it back to Seiko. It's been great ever since...

Awesome watches....bulletproof, if the zombies ever come my Omega will get traded for TP and the Seiko will stay!

Yeah. The NH35A is a nice movement for the money. When fully charged it is very accurate. I have two Invicta divers with NH35A movements, both have been surprisingly good..

This one is quite strong. I accidentally dropped it on a concrete floor . It did not sustain any damage that I could notice and kept on ticking. Still keeps great time.