"i just noticed that the flyback function (ie
depressing the pusher at "4") only works when the sweep hand is between
"12" and "5" only..."

i'm no expert, but on my val 230 version, the pusher at 4 o clock aka reset/flyback works with the second hand in any position.

"the standard stop/reset using the pusher at
"2" and at "4" works fine regardless of where the sweep hand is..."

as it should, i would think, and as does mine.

"is this normal?"

unless i'm misunderstanding what your saying?...i'd say it's not normal and something is amiss. on my val 230 version...if the second hand is between 0 or the starting point...up until 29 or 30 seconds..the second hand flys back counter clockwise to 0 again. if the second hand is between 30 or 31 up to 59..it flys back clockwise. either way it flyback everytime at any position to zero when the reset pusher is pushed...this is my only flyback chrono though, so i don't know how each movement works...i'm assuming they are all similar, but i don't know as i've never had another to see how it works.

let's see what the bund experts say, though. they will likely have allot more input on it than i do.

j.h.