G-5700L-1JF The Clean-up

Collecting vintage G-Shocks is very interesting but it has it's ups and downs. I liked round G-Shock, e.g. DW-5400, DW-5700, G-5700. Sadly the bezel for these watches is hard to find. So I have to limit my hunger for these round G-Shocks. I got this G-5700 some time ago. This is the G-5700L-1JF, which is the L.X. series collaboration model. It came with leather straps. I changed the straps to the rubber bands with the intention to wear it as my daily beater. It has a very interesting mirror LCD. However this watch also suffered from some form of moisture ingression. I have wanted to clean it for some time now, but never got to it. Finally today I did it.

This is the watch before the clean-up. You can't really see the water ingression, but it is there.

As usual, out with the tools and clean up the area and the fingers. :) Remove the bands. This was not as easy as other G-Shock. The band is fitted tight to the case (have to remember this watch originally came with leather straps).

The bands removed. Now to remove the 4 screws. Again, removal in rotation and with the case back pressed down to prevent wrapping or the case back suddenly jumping out. Have to say that the screws on this watch seems larger as compared to the screws on the DW-5600.

The case back removed. We can see the module (2597) and the rubber protector. Be careful of the tiny spring that contacts with the case back (for sound making). Note at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position, there are 2 metal tabs. These tabs is linked to plates that hold the buttons in place. We will see them later.

This is where things gets interesting. The module in this watch does not fall out when you turn the watch over. It is held in place with 4 tabs, 2 at 12 o'clock position and 2 at 6 o'clock position. You can just see it in the photograph above, next to the groove at the 3 and 9 o'clock position (the watch is sideways). So we have to unlatch the module from the case. The photograph below shows the case minus the module. You can see the metal plates for the buttons.

Now the module. This is my first Tough Solar module removal. The surprise? It actually comes in many parts.

The solar panel (?). Notice the small spring next to it? There are 2 of these springs and they connect the panels with the circuit (contact points at 3 o'clock position). So don't lose them. Also the springs are Murphy proof as it is stepped in design, so you can't fit it the wrong way round.

The solar panel, front. This was the culprit. This was dirty and once cleaned, it looked good.

The display unit. This is the back view. Forgot to take the front view, sorry. Notice the spring holes at the 9 o'clock position. There is 1 spring in the hole. There are 2 other very tiny springs. I do not know what they do.

The CPU (?). The main circuit. Next to it is the battery module. If you look at the PCB, at 9 o'clock position, you will see the contact points for the 2 tiny springs. The 2 gold strips will align with the 2 black strips of the display module.

The battery module. Note the contact at the 3 o'clock position? This will come in contact with the PCB. We will see this in the assembly photographs.

The solar panel spacer. This spacer is position between the solar panel and the front crystal. I believe this acts as a shock spacer and also to prevent the solar panel 'knocking' the front crystal and damaging it. It is made of clear plastic.

With all the glass area cleaned, now to reassemble the watch. Spacer in first, followed by the solar panel. Next comes the display module.

Next comes the PCB. Don't have to worry about alignment, all will fall into place. Can you see the contact point for the battery module at the 6 o'clock position?

The battery module goes in next. Reset the module. Check everything works. See the LCD is clearer.

Fit the case back and bands.

And we are all done.