how to repair an overwound clock

10 Ways on How to Fix an Overwound Clock.

• 1. Remove All the Batteries: This one may seem like a no-brainer; however, it’s worth mentioning if batteries power your clock. Sometimes you cannot ...
• 2. Turn it Upside Down:
• 3. Change the Strength of the Spring:
• 4. Tap the Clock on Its Side:
• 5. Use a Pencil:

Full Answer

Did you over-wound your clock?

You may have inherited a clock from your parents or grandparents who warned you not to over-wind it. So, when the day comes that you wind your clock and it stops or breaks, the first thing you think is that it must your fault! “I think I’ve over-wound my clock!” is the most common thing we hear from customers visiting our clock repair shop.

How do you fix a clock that won't turn?

Apply a small drop of oil on the nut holding the hands to keep them from sticking. If the clock's gear box gets damp, place it on a sunny window sill or desktop for 15 to 30 minutes to let it dry. If the clock is not working after cleaning, have a professional clock repair person check it for worn or broken parts.

Why does my clock keep overwinding?

The clocks do not actually overwind, but it is possible for the mechanisms to stick after winding or for the chain to end up off of the sprocket wheel, and then it may not run properly. Blow compressed air over the entire clock, including the inside of the clock.

How do I Wind my Clock?

When you do wind your clock, just make sure you have a tight fitting key and that it is inserted all the way. Turn the key slowly and just a half turn at a time.

How do you release the spring on an overwound clock?

2:595:01005 Clock Mainspring - How to let down the power... Safely! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPlace the mainspring let down tool onto the square of the barrel Arbor. This is a good opportunityMorePlace the mainspring let down tool onto the square of the barrel Arbor. This is a good opportunity to see how strong the spring is. So give the clock a little bit of a wind.

How do you fix an overwound alarm clock?

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 to do if you Overwind a clock?

Turn the key slowly and just a half turn at a time. Wind it up until it stops. Do not try to force it to wind any further. Even though it is impossible to over-wind your clock, it is also not necessary to wind it until the last possible click of the ratchet.

Can you Overwind an old clock?

It's actually impossible to overwind a clock, whilst you can wind a clock until it cases internal damages and breakages, it's impossible to continuously wind a clock.

How do you release an overwound grandfather clock?

A clock can be overwound, resulting in the weights being stuck in the highest position. When this happens, gently move the minute hand past the quarter hour and listen for the chime. This should release the weight.

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.

How do you fix a grandfather clock that has been wound to tight?

Strike weight stuck With some cloth gloves on, or at least a cloth of some kind, pull down on the weight some. Again, this is the same as making the weight weigh more. Doing this will make the clock strike. Advance the minute hand and let it chime each quarter until it plays the top of the hour song.

Can you fix an overwound watch?

2:307:55HOW TO RELEASE A LOADED MAINSPRING INSIDE ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere are two ways to rewind the mainspring the first method which is quite dangerous butMoreThere are two ways to rewind the mainspring the first method which is quite dangerous but recommended if you are learning to become a watchmaker.

What causes a pendulum to eventually slow down and 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.

When winding an old clock it is important not to overwrite it?

Overwinding occurs when the main spring is almost fully wound, but the operator continues to turn the winding key. This causes the main spring to coil too tightly, and might even break it.

How much does it cost to repair a clock?

Different clocks and their repair costsTypePriceClock with an hour strike$320 to $400Clock with an hour strike and tune$380 to $500Anniversary clock$145 to $200Cuckoo clock$150 to $4005 more rows

How do you clean a wind up clock?

0:221:26How to Clean Antique Clocks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 3 clean the nooks and crannies with sharpened pegwood and clean the pinion leaves with theMoreStep 3 clean the nooks and crannies with sharpened pegwood and clean the pinion leaves with the brush and rag wipe the teeth of the wheels with pith. Step 4 clean the mainspring. And find pivots.

How do you fix a grandfather clock that has been wound to tight?

Strike weight stuck With some cloth gloves on, or at least a cloth of some kind, pull down on the weight some. Again, this is the same as making the weight weigh more. Doing this will make the clock strike. Advance the minute hand and let it chime each quarter until it plays the top of the hour song.

What is overwound clock?

When the condition of a clock is described as "overwound," there is always another underlying cause for why the clock will not run. The clock ends up fully wound because winding is the first thing we try when a clock has stopped. It is difficult to determine the cause without inspecting the movement.

Can you fix an overwound watch?

2:307:55HOW TO RELEASE A LOADED MAINSPRING INSIDE ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere are two ways to rewind the mainspring the first method which is quite dangerous butMoreThere are two ways to rewind the mainspring the first method which is quite dangerous but recommended if you are learning to become a watchmaker.

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.

10 Ways on How to Fix an Overwound Clock

This one may seem like a no-brainer; however, it’s worth mentioning if batteries power your clock. Sometimes you cannot tell that this is the problem, and the clock will run again once the batteries are placed back in.

Some Tips and Suggestions

1. Never use a tool to unwind the clock. The force of the gears rubbing against each other will cause uneven wear and may prevent you from winding your clock properly in the future.

How Do You Release a Clock Mainspring?

If your clock’s mainspring is overwound, you’ll need to release it before you can wind it up again. To do this, remove the hands from the clock and locate the winding stem. You should see a small hole in the center of the stem.

Conclusion

Overwinding your clock can result in the hands flying off and damaging other components. To fix an overwound clock, you need to release the tension on the springs that are wound too tightly by turning them counterclockwise with a screwdriver or hex key until they stop moving back and forth.

Identifying an overwound clock

If your antique clock is old you might be wondering whether it has become overwound, this can occur when the clock has been mis-wound many times in its life. If you find that your clock has been mis-wound, start by checking for two components that are likely to be affected: the pendulum mechanism, and the escapement.

Solutions to overwound clocks

Begin by removing the outer shell of the clock, exposing the mechanism. The clock mechanics are often delicate and tricky, if you feel yourself to be heavy handed, or impatient it may be best to see your local clock repairer for advice.

How does a clock wear down?

A mechanically-driven clock wears down from day-to-day running, producing minuscule metal filings in the gears. Eventually, the coils and springs begin to stick. Over-winding a clock is impossible unless the clock is an antique from the 1600s to 1700s, when the mechanics of the clock were weight-oriented and the pulleys ...

How to unfasten a clock?

Unfasten the clock hands by holding the minute hand and turning the nut to the left. Both hands will now be removable. Remove the screws that hold the movement housing in place. These are usually located toward the front or back of the clock case.

Why is my clock not working?

One potential cause of the clock not working properly after winding is that it has dirt on it that's causing it to stick. Spraying the compressed air will remove any dust, dirt or similar problems from the clock.

How to turn a cuckoo clock back on?

Turn the cuckoo clock over and remove the back of the clock. Look at the sprocket wheel of the cuckoo clock and adjust the chains so they dangle around the wheel. Pull both sides of the chain until it wraps tight against the sprocket wheel. Continue holding the chain so it stays tight against the wheel and turn the clock back to an upright position.

What is a cuckoo clock?

Cuckoo clocks are clocks which require winding to keep it running. One problem that can happen with a cuckoo clock is overwinding. The clocks do not actually overwind, but it is possible for the mechanisms to stick after winding or for the chain to end up off of the sprocket wheel, and then it may not run properly.

How to clean a clock with a screwdriver?

1. Remove the back of the clock with a small screwdriver, like those designed for eyeglass repairs if needed. Once you expose the inside of the clock, take out any parts that relate to the floating balance and any plastic gear levers you see if you have any. Set those in a safe place during cleaning.

How to clean a clock?

Set those in a safe place during cleaning. 2.Dip a 12mm paintbrush in rubbing alcohol and slowly brush it over the pinion teeth and pivots. The rubbing alcohol completely cleans the clock movements, and then naturally evaporates.

How to dry clock movements?

Direct a hairdryer at the back of the clock and turn it to the lowest setting. Slowly move the hairdryer around the back of the clock, using the low heat to dry the clock movements. Once the clock movements are completely dry, turn the hairdryer off. 5.

Why is my clock not running?

is preventing the clock from running. It is not because you "over wound" or "wound the clock too tight". First you can try to run your clock manually by moving the minute hand clockwise stopping to let the clock chime this will relax the chime mainspring if your clock has chimes, moving the pendulum back and forth will relax the mainspring ...

Why does my clock not work?

If you wind a clock completely to the end and it does not work; something else such as wear, dirt, or old sticky oil is preventing the clock from running. Clock movements are delicate and important features of any clock. When the movements are dirty, it causes the components to move sluggishly or unevenly. This makes the clock run slower and, in ...

How often should I clean a mantle clock?

Cleaning a mantle clock is a process you should undertake once every five to 10 years to keep the interior mechanisms working properly and to remove any dirt or buildup trapped inside the clock.

Can you unwind an overwound clock?

How to unwind an overwound clock? You cannot over wind a spring driven clock. This is misinformation that has. been handed down through the generations. If you wind a clock completely to. is preventing the clock from running. It is not because you "over wound" or "wound the clock too tight".

How to wind a clock?

When you do wind your clock, just make sure you have a tight fitting key and that it is inserted all the way. Turn the key slowly and just a half turn at a time. Wind it up until it stops. Do not try to force it to wind any further.

How long is a clock mainspring?

A clock mainspring is made of spring steel and is about the width of a ruler (but not quite as thick). They are on average 7 to 8 feet long! One end of the mainspring hooks on a winding arbor (the thing your key goes onto when you wind it).

Can you remove a steel spring from a clock?

It can be very dangerous to remove a powerful steel spring from a clock mechanism, so please don’t try to do it yourself without proper tools and training . The image above shows some of the special equipment we use to unwind and remove mainsprings (note the gloves for safety!).

Do you have to be afraid of winding your clock?

Taking care of your mechanical clock. Mechanical clocks do need to be handled with care and can be sensitive, but you shouldn’t have to be fearful of winding your clock. Because of this fear, some of our customers do not wind their clocks enough (and you don’t want to have to wind the clock twice a week or more)!

10 Ways on How to Fix An Overwound Clock

• 1. Remove All the Batteries:
  This one may seem like a no-brainer; however, it’s worth mentioning if batteries power your clock. Sometimes you cannot tell that this is the problem, and the clock will run again once the batteries are placed back in.
• 2. Turn it Upside Down:
  Believe it or not, this has worked for me on more than one occasion. Changing the position of the clock hands seems to reset whatever mechanism is causing it to be overwound.

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Some Tips and Suggestions

How Do You Release A Clock Mainspring?

Conclusion