Repairing Guides

how to repair a clock movement

by Myron Hand Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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It is sometimes corrected by putting a matchbook or Small piece of wood under one side of the clock case to make the tick and the tock evenly spaced. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method however is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.

Full Answer

How to replace a bad battery operated clock movement?

How to Replace a Bad Battery Operated Clock Movement. Determine what is needed to access the movement. Remove the sweep-second hand of the clock if it is equipped with one. Remove the minute hand by turning its retaining nut counterclockwise by hand.

How do you replace a clock movement?

This is done by decoding the identification markings on the back plate of the movement itself. By knowing what the movement is, it can be replaced with a new mechanical clock movement. Purchase parts such as a pendulum. It is very difficult to provide a pendulum or a dial to a movement without knowing what it is.

How to make a reverse Clock with correct time?

Sync Time with Internet Time Server in Windows

  1. Search for Settings in the start menu and open the Settings app. You can also click on the “All Settings” button available in the notification center.
  2. In the Settings app, go to “Time & Language -> Region”. On the right panel, find the “Additional date, time & regional settings” link and click on it.
  3. The above action will open the control panel window. ...

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How to clean a clock movement?

  • Introduction
  • Setting up the clock
  • Changing Suspensions
  • Putting it "In Beat"
  • Cleaning the Movement
  • Reassembling the works

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How do you fix clock mechanism?

0:558:58Save Money Quartz Clock Mechanism Repair - Fixing Disney "Winnie The ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPossible simple fix is to open the unit and realign the cogs.MorePossible simple fix is to open the unit and realign the cogs.

How do you fix a clock that stops ticking?

For mantle clocks with a pendulum, a temporary cure may be to place something under one side of the clock, such as a coin, and listen again to see if it's any better. If it's worse, place the coin under the other side instead and listen again. Add two or three coins if you need to until the tick sounds even.

How do you fix an old wind up clock?

17:5625:02How to fix an antique mantel clock. Service & lubricating an overwound ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOil i like to use a sewing machine oil good quality. Machine oil it's light. And it will do the jobMoreOil i like to use a sewing machine oil good quality. Machine oil it's light. And it will do the job fine for your home clock.

What causes a clock to stop working?

When battery operated clocks stop working, it's usually caused by one or more of the batteries. Either a battery has lost its charge, or battery acid has leaked, causing corrosion. Often, the internal mechanisms, such as the cogs, springs and other movements of the clock, are not faulty and are unaffected.

What causes a clock pendulum to stop swinging?

The pendulum stops eventually because of air resistance. The pendulum loses energy because of friction. Only in a theoretical situation when there is no friction the pendulum will oscillate forever.

How do I fix overwound clock spring?

Fixing An Overwound ClockClean The Clock. Sometimes cleaning your clock will get it working again. ... Lubricate The Mechanism. Like cars, all mechanical clocks need regular oiling. ... Replace The Springs. ... Find A Professional.

What are the 3 holes on a wind up clock?

In clocks with more than one keyhole, the left-most hole usually controls the hourly chime, and in clocks with three keyholes, the center keyhole is typically for the quarter-hour chime, although again this can vary from model to model.

What kind of oil do you use on a clock?

Synthetic clock oil is not cheap because it is specifically formulated for the metals used in clocks. Brass and steel are used in clocks because when properly lubricated with the right oil it forms a perfect bearing. Brass is a soft metal which is why you won't find it in car engines.

What is clock cleaning fluid?

It consists of an ammoniacal solution (to remove the tarnish from brass) with a surfactant (to help dissolve oils and greases) and a brightening agent (to brighten the brass parts).

What to do if your clock doesn't work?

If your clock doesnt work then cleaning it is a good first step to establishing what the problem might be. You need the thing to tick over under its own steam to diagnose problems beyond cleaning so its pretty much always the first job on the list. Any clock repair is going to involve this. Almost all clock hands are held on by one ...

How many screws are in a clock?

If you look in the back of the clock you will see its held in by four screws, one at each corner that are normally on extenstion arms. You should now simply be able to pull the clock movment from the rear of the clock.

Is it cheaper to service a mantle clock?

Servicing isn’t particularly cheap, or that expesive either so I now recommend a full set of springs on every service I do on mantle clocks. If you do that you really see and hear the difference and its cheaper in the long run which is what you want if your going to spend a fair amount of money anyway.

Can you get a dirty clock going again?

It wont get a really dirty clock going again but it will give a lightly soiled clock another couple of years service before it needs it doing properly by somebody like me. If you have a low value clock you want to repair get going just because you feel like it this is a great way of making fast cheap progress.

Why do we overhaul clocks?

One of the main reasons we overhaul a clock is because of worn bearing surfaces. The picture above shows a before and after of the same bearing surface. The left photo shows a worn bearing and the right shows the same bearing after a bushing was installed.

What is a bushing on a clock?

Bushings are small "donut" shaped pieces of metal made of brass or bronze, which are used to replace the metal in the badly worn areas.

What is the mainspring on the top of a clock?

The mainspring on the top is an old weakened mainspring. A mainspring like this is considered "set". If we put this mainspring back in the clock we run the risk of the clock not operating a full week on one winding. For comparison, the mainspring on the bottom shows a new one of same strength and length.

What do the dots on a clock mean?

The dots indicate the bearing surfaces. The arrows indicate those bearing surfaces which are worn badly.

How to tell if pallets are worn vertically?

The one on the left, before polishing, and the one on the right, after. If you look closely at the one on left (at the bottom) you should be able to detect a rut worn vertically across the center of the pallet face. The pallets and the escape wheel work together to make up a part of the clock called the escapement.

How long does it take to fix an Emperor clock?

This is a project, however, and should take about an hour to complete from start to finish, so do keep this in mind.

How long does a clock last?

Most clock movements will last about 20-25 years if properly maintained, but the first thing you can try if your movement suddenly stopped working is oiling it with a synthetic clock oil. If that doesn’t work, your movement likely needs to be replaced.

Is a clock movement fragile?

Clock movements aren’t necessarily extremely fragile, but as they do have small pieces like the exposed gears and levers, you want to make sure you’re always handling the movement by the edges to avoid accidentally breaking or damaging the movement.

What do you need to own a grandfather clock?

What You'll Need. Screwdriver. What You'll Need. Screwdriver. The most important aspect of owning a grandfather clock is to take care of the grandfather clock movements. Generally, due to the different types of clocks available, finding the cause of the problem can be confusing. The rules are completely different for grandfather clocks ...

What happens if the pendulum does not swing?

If the pendulum does not swing, it will lead the hands on the grandfather clock to freeze. The hands have to be unlocked. Pull the weights up, open the glass and gently move the hands away from each other. Be careful while doing this, as the hands are quite delicate.

Can a grandfather clock be disrupted?

Sometimes the pendulum can disrupt the grandfather clock movements. If the clock is running slow move the pendulum up the shaft, and if it is running fast move it down.

How to set the clock to 12 o'clock?

Set the hour hand to 12 o' clock moving it near its center. Ensure that it is parallel to the dial. The minute hand must also be parallel to the hour hand, without any contact.

How to remove a minute hand?

Remove the minute hand by turning its retaining nut counterclockwise by hand. If the nut is tight, use the combination pliers for extra grip and leverage. Hold the minute hand close to its center as you turn the nut.

How to remove battery operated retaining nut?

Remove the battery-operated movement retaining nut with an adjustable wrench. Place the leading end of the wrench jaws on the nut and turn counterclockwise to prevent scratching the dial. Support the movement with your free hand as you turn the nut.

How to remove sweep second hand?

Remove the sweep-second hand of the clock if it is equipped with one. Place your thumb and forefinger on either side of the center hub of the sweep-second hand. Pull the hand straight out and off from its center arbor.

How to correct a spring driven clock?

To correct a Spring Driven Clocks mantle or wall clock that is bonging the hour when the minute hand gets to 6 o'clock instead of 12 o'clock, just count the bongs, take off the minute hand and reinstall it on the clock pointing to 12 o'clock, then turn the hour hand to the hour you heard the clock bong and its done.

What is the movement part of a clock called?

The verge is the only movement part that touches the pendulum and whacks the pendulum back and forth. The verge is what gets bent or pushed when the clock is moved, without taking the pendulum off the clock. A verge that is pushed or bent effects the escapement of the clock; the escapement being that part of the clock that actually creates ...

What does it mean when a clock goes out of beat?

Out of beat is a term used in clock repair that basically means the clock is going to ck-tick, tock-tick, or ticktock, ticktock instead of tick tock tick tock. It is sometimes corrected by putting a matchbook or Small piece ...

What happens if you put a wrong pendulum bob on a clock?

It is commonly found in mantle clocks that the wrong pendulum bob has been put on the clock. Bobs are lost frequently like clock keys. If someone decides to replace the bob but hooks on a fatter one then the original, it may bump into the movement during its swing, even though the clock is level.

Why is the pendulum free?

The point is, to keep the pendulum totally free from obstructions because it uses its own weight and momentum to help keep the clock running.

What are the mechanics of spring driven clocks?

2. The Spring Driven Clocks chiming mechanics are out of synchronization and they are doing something to stop the movement. If the chime mechanics seems to be your clocks situation, it is recommended to read up on these parts with our E-Book.

How do spring driven clocks work?

There are only two general methods that a Spring Driven Clocks synchronizes the chime with what hour it is, these two methods are called Rack and Snail or Count Wheel. Both of these involve many interactions between the arms inside the movement (The arms are in the front of the movement in a rack and snail style movement).

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