Vostok Komandirskie not running

I got this watch on June of last year. It ran fine for around a month then it just started seizing up randomly. The weird thing is when it warms up, like when it's been on my arm a bit it will start running again. When it's cold it's dead as a doornail. Anyway, I popped the caseback of to see if I could spot anything obvious and I didn't. When I puffed a bit of air on the balance it would run for a few seconds and stop. I think it's probably a lubrication issue. I will probably try to sell this watch as a non-runner on eBay to put toward a new one because the cost to service this watch would be about as much as a brand new one. It's a bummer but there you have it.

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Luckily these watches are inexpensive. In my area a service would easily be more than the cost of replacement. And that's assuming you can even find a watchmaker who'll touch it.

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foghorn

Luckily these watches are inexpensive. In my area a service would easily be more than the cost of replacement. And that's assuming you can even find a watchmaker who'll touch it.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. I really like the watch but not running is kind of a deal breaker.

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Rather than selling for short money on ebay use it as a "practice" watch.

Try to take it apart and see if you learn anything.

Much more valueable in the long run.

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foghorn

Rather than selling for short money on ebay use it as a "practice" watch.

Try to take it apart and see if you learn anything.

Much more valueable in the long run.

Thought about that also

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ZenWatchGuy

Thought about that also

I actually thought about just buying a new movement and attempting to swap it out.

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foghorn

Rather than selling for short money on ebay use it as a "practice" watch.

Try to take it apart and see if you learn anything.

Much more valueable in the long run.

Thats what i would do as well, and try put it back in one piece. While at it, lub it. 

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ZenWatchGuy

I actually thought about just buying a new movement and attempting to swap it out.

That is a viable way too🙌🏼

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Are you sure the movement is dead when it dies or could it be the hands are catching each other at certain angles. Just asking because I did notice my Scuba Dude hands will catch once in a while when setting it. I'd just operate on it myself as I don't suspect you'd get much cash for a broken Vostok on eBay to warrant the hassle of shipping it. Bear in mind it's minus 30 Celsius where I live so I try to limit anything that requires me to go outside.

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Did you get it from Meranom? If you did you can email Dmitry at support@meranom.com and you can get the watch fixed (read: movement replaced) for free, since all of Meranom's watches come with a 1-year warranty. It's totally worth it, although you might be waiting a while for the watch to come back to you.

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Was this watch made on or Monday or a Friday? 

Lame joke about the Russian way of life, I know.

I'll  see myself out.

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Have you hand wound it, or are you relying on the rotor to wind it?

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thatguy306

Are you sure the movement is dead when it dies or could it be the hands are catching each other at certain angles. Just asking because I did notice my Scuba Dude hands will catch once in a while when setting it. I'd just operate on it myself as I don't suspect you'd get much cash for a broken Vostok on eBay to warrant the hassle of shipping it. Bear in mind it's minus 30 Celsius where I live so I try to limit anything that requires me to go outside.

I think it wasn't lubricated properly. Or perhaps the oils have congieled. Because as it warms up to body temp it starts running fine. As long as it's warm it will run all day. As soon as it cools it stops.

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NeatlydoneZ

Thats what i would do as well, and try put it back in one piece. While at it, lub it. 

Lubricating a watch correctly is a pretty valuable skill, and by no means easy. The movement may not come fully together again, but it would surely be a lesson.

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TheThing1982

Was this watch made on or Monday or a Friday? 

Lame joke about the Russian way of life, I know.

I'll  see myself out.

😂

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ofQuartz

Did you get it from Meranom? If you did you can email Dmitry at support@meranom.com and you can get the watch fixed (read: movement replaced) for free, since all of Meranom's watches come with a 1-year warranty. It's totally worth it, although you might be waiting a while for the watch to come back to you.

I didn't unfortunately. Got it from Amazon and that was a big mistake. I actually paid to ship it back to the seller in Russia but the watch came back to me 3 months later and it was clear it never made it the guy. If I get another I will use Meranom.

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MASP7GMT

Have you hand wound it, or are you relying on the rotor to wind it?

Yep it's fully wound.

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ZenWatchGuy

Yep it's fully wound.

I think you know your issue then- the old Russian non-synthetic oil has dried up to the point it stops the movement when it gets cold.

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Make it into a coffee table 😉

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hbein2022

Lubricating a watch correctly is a pretty valuable skill, and by no means easy. The movement may not come fully together again, but it would surely be a lesson.

Absolutely, i was thinking since he might be swapping the movement, no harm trying with some seiko lubs (there are a few for different areas), just give it a go. 

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Max

Make it into a coffee table 😉

As commented over youtube, its a very cool idea and you made it happen👍🏻

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Max

Make it into a coffee table 😉

Like the dude with the fake Panerai! I saw that video today!

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Max

Make it into a coffee table 😉

Only a crazy man would do that!

It actually turned out great, although I would put a circular piece of glass on top of it. 

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ZenWatchGuy

I actually thought about just buying a new movement and attempting to swap it out.

If you decide to go for that it would be great to get an update on how it went later down the line!

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Psylo88

If you decide to go for that it would be great to get an update on how it went later down the line!

Sure thing👍