Hi everyone,

Just be aware of that...

After a few emails exchanges and quite some time spent explaining my disappointment, Locosys after sale is claiming that it is impossible to replace the broken band on this model.
I made it clear that I was not asking for a warranty case but was asking to have the watch repaired at my cost. I don't support brand (even if their product is top) that won't assume to repair something that is still fully functional.

Now I am left with a highly polluting rubbish and no possibility to get it fixed.

Here their fisrt reply, which just suggest to buy a new one....!


Second reply still not technically reliable in my opinion

I don't know what type of discount the shop may offer me (I know they dont take much margin on these) so I would rather buy an other model.

If any one have any suggestion on an alternative replacement please let me know here.

Cheers

See this post..... www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/GW60-Warranty

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watermonster said..
See this post..... www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/GW60-Warranty

Thanks,

Why did they not give you a new GW60??? If it gets broken then it is too weak... Good to know how tough it is to get this thing fixed. If my one fails it would be 100% Sayonara for the Locosys. Can Suunto provide the same info as GW60 (2s, 10s, 100m, 250m, 500m....) ?

TM

Mmm, disappointing response from Locosys tech.

I wonder if part of the issue is the strap length? On top of my wetsuit, I have to use the last hole, and its still tight. This will be stretching the strap and eventually snap. I tried the strap extension, but I can not get the right adjustment with it, to tight or to lose!!!

After reading about all these strap fails Iv'e stopped using it and gone back to my GT31. I'll use the GW60 in the summer when I wear a short arm wetsuit.

Mean time, I think I'll be looking at some sort of GW60 mod to get around the weak strap, and incorporate some sort of lanyard so I can't lose it

I wonder if something like this would work

www.seabreeze.com.au/Photos/View/12871575/Windsurfing/ApplewatchWaterproofcase/

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mark62 said..
Mmm, disappointing response from Locosys tech.

I wonder if part of the issue is the strap length? On top of my wetsuit, I have to use the last hole, and its still tight. This will be stretching the strap and eventually snap. I tried the strap extension, but I can not get the right adjustment with it, to tight or to lose!!!

don't think so as here one gw 60 bands broke straight out of the box after charging it, never used !......
expensive piece of garbage.......

Well I think the design is very weak if the force is applied with the band open, I mean just by opening the wrist band by hand more than it is design for is enough to tear out material on the corners, once a small crack is there the stuff will fall apart with the slightest force applied. This is what happened to mine, I found it broken after having stored it in the front pocket of my foil bag, it was only cracked but the band split very easely.

So, from what I can gather from the pics, band is a moulded part of the watch chassis and no original or aftermarket replacement band available. Only solution is to cut both bands off and put it in an aquapac?
Surely not!!!!!!

Having had my watch fail after using 70 times the warranty experience was painfull for myself and the retailer as well. It took six weeks to get a replacement and I had to pay for postage myself.

Being proactive... if the watch is a precision instrument, then maybe it needs to be treated like one. I am storing mine closed around a bit of pool noodle, thus putting no stress on the band/chassis join, in a box and out of sunlight. I also have a loop of shock cord linking the two band halves around my wrist in case one breaks while on the water.
Anal??? Definitely!

Mikey, If your's breaks, that will indeed point to a weak strap.

I thought I looked after mine fairly well, maybe I'll revise my technique.

Surely a watch is meant to be worn on the wrist! Thats the point Locosys has to acknowledge,

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mikey100 said..
So, from what I can gather from the pics, band is a moulded part of the watch chassis and no original or aftermarket replacement band available. Only solution is to cut both bands off and put it in an aquapac?
Surely not!!!!!!

Only cut on off as the other has the antennae... which one????

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BSN101 said..

mikey100 said..
So, from what I can gather from the pics, band is a moulded part of the watch chassis and no original or aftermarket replacement band available. Only solution is to cut both bands off and put it in an aquapac?
Surely not!!!!!!

Only cut on off as the other has the antennae... which one????

I have heard the antenna is under the writing on strap.

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decrepit said..
Mikey, If your's breaks, that will indeed point to a weak strap.

I thought I looked after mine fairly well, maybe I'll revise my technique.

From what I have heard/read some breakages are after outward flexing of the band which appears to be moulded in a curved shape.
Pretty obvious the band isn't doing what it is designed to do, so not being able to afford having to continually buy replacement watches, I will just be VERY careful of it when it's not on my arm being used.

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mikey100 said.. From what I have heard/read some breakages are after outward flexing of the band which appears to be moulded in a curved shape. Pretty obvious the band isn't doing what it is designed to do, so not being ab le to afford having to continually buy replacement watches, I will just be VERY careful of it when it's not on my arm being used.

Yep, I assumed the same thing, "bend it backwards and break it". I too am very careful not to do that.

Got to admit while the electronics are suitable for what we do, they are a bit ordinary on the construction and quality.
The buttons on mine started failing to work so as it was out of warranty i figured its worth trying to repair.
The yellow buttons just push a small metal plate to make contact with the gold edge on the circuit board. Problem is the metal
wears through the gold and there ends up being no contact left for the button to work.
I ended up trying the Conductive ink circuit pen (no good for this) then dabbed a bit of solder on the worn contact on the board.
Used it half a dozen times now with no probs so far
Fairly fine work to do but worth a try if youre handy, better that throwing out.
Would be nice to be able to use a watch with a quality build.

So Craig, you pulled it apart and put it back together again with no sealing problems?
How did you get the strap off without breaking it?

Locosys says the strap can't be reliably replaced, so they won't do it.

Is the antenna part of the strap, or does the strap just cover it?

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lunny74 said..
Got to admit while the electronics are suitable for what we do, they are a bit ordinary on the construction and quality.
The buttons on mine started failing to work so as it was out of warranty i figured its worth trying to repair.
The yellow buttons just push a small metal plate to make contact with the gold edge on the circuit board. Problem is the metal
wears through the gold and there ends up being no contact left for the button to work.
I ended up trying the Conductive ink circuit pen (no good for this) then dabbed a bit of solder on the worn contact on the board.
Used it half a dozen times now with no probs so far
Fairly fine work to do but worth a try if youre handy, better that throwing out.
Would be nice to be able to use a watch with a quality build.

Ok good to know.

So you mean that it is actually easy to remove the wrist band frame and put it back without any seal issues?

I had the feeling that Locosys after sale reply wasn't sound...

"If we try to repair & replace the broken band, there are much complicated work & risk* (*Waterproof functionality is made when production and might be invalid when repair.)"

Didn't see your post Decrepit, have basically the same question

Its just the 6 hex head 1.5mm screws holding the back cover on. Theres a fine silicone o ring type seal the same shape as the cover which you need to be careful not to crush or get dirty. (i smeared a little o ring silicone back on it)
The frame and band are all one moulded piece so theres no way of replacing the straps.
Also the GPS antenna isnt part of the strap, its just a separate little module that sits in a pocket wired to the main board.
If getting a new watch is the only option surely its worth having a go at a repair. Not sure why they cant sell a shell as a spare though?

Thanks Craig

Mine is a year old now and no sign of any cracks or breaks and I just chuck it in the glove box of my van when not in use.
Is this only a recent problem in the last few months, if so is their any batch numbers or manufacture dates on boxes of you guys that have broken straps that might identify a faulty batch from them. If so you may all hit locosys at the same time.
Just a thought.

Thanks Lunny, I will give it a go when I get back home next week and see if I can hack the frame in some ways.

So there is no excuses for LOCOSYS not to provide replacement frame. I kind of think that they could be attacked for refusing to provide the spare parts but I am no layer....

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Swindy said..
Mine is a year old now and no sign of any cracks or breaks and I just chuck it in the glove box of my van when not in use.
Is this only a recent problem in the last few months, if so is their any batch numbers or manufacture dates on boxes of you guys that have broken straps that might identify a faulty batch from them. If so you may all hit locosys at the same time.
Just a thought.

Mine was also a year old. I think it is not a quality but a design issue. although you could be right as the soft plastic showed to be quite weak.

In response to these posts I've finally got off my arse and fitted a safety cord

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Swindy said..

Just a thought.

Excellent thought Swindy. The serial number will be the indicator. I've had mine for a year and no problems and have used it approx 50 times. My serial number is 168601290. This number is either located on the watch's packaging box or the watch's firmware menu item. It will be interesting to know the S/N's of failed watches. The nose picking work experience molder in the factory ?. Maybe his boogy has contaminated the mold resin ?

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jn1 said..

Swindy said..

Just a thought.

Excellent thought Swindy. The serial number will be the indicator. I've had mine for a year and no problems and have used it approx 50 times. My serial number is 168601290. This number is either located on the watch's packaging box or the watch's firmware menu item. It will be interesting to know the S/N's of failed watches. The nose picking work experience molder in the factory ?. Maybe his boogy has contaminated the mold resin ?

mine is 168600249 and still going strong.
You would think that a precision gps company would have an ISO QMS to monitor and identify quality issues. Only they would know how it works but a similarity in numbers of failed ones may be an indicator. An ISO auditor would have far more idea than me though.

My first watch session was 11 dec 2016. The band has no sign of wear, and I've worn it for every session since, "I'll count them later",
serial number is S168600117R00