1908 Gilbert Clock Mechanism Timing Problems

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:10 pm     Post subject: 1908 Gilbert Clock Mechanism Timing Problems

I pulled the mechanism from a Gilbert Steamer #46 that I own. It had a broken clicker spring on the wheel that winds the main spring. I disassembled the mechanism carefully, took the rivet out that held the old clicker, replaced with a new clicker, pressed the rivet in place and managed to get it back together. Now the strike side of the mechanism won't stop. It just goes and goes. The "hour counter" wheel that has the "mountains and the valleys" on it lets the paddle go down in the valley but then it hops right back up and taps on the mountain part of the wheel. I realize there are some other levers and cams down below this wheel, but is there a certain position these cams and cam followers need to be in when the paddle is either on top of the "mountain" or when it's sunk down in the "valley" of the "hour counter" wheel. I don't know what all these wheels and gears are called so I hope you can follow my goofy description. Any information on how this mechanism is supposed to work would be greatly appreciated. Thanks - Duane

Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:32 am     Post subject:

its too complcated to explain here - a good book is Donald DeCarle's practical clck repairing.

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:48 pm     Post subject:

Impossible to say without looking at it, but it sounds like a lifting piece is not dropping when it should, or a stop wheel pin is not connecting with a flag.

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:47 pm     Post subject:

Thanks for the information clokfxr and Ragamuffin. I will need to get that book and study how mechanisms are supposed to be timed. When I turn the clock hands it will start the strike mechanism at the 12 o'clock position BUT it will stop the mechanism only at the quarter past the hour or 90 degrees rotation of the minute shaft. It will start the strike mechanism again at the half past position and then continue to run until the minute shaft has rotated to the quarter till the hour position. So basically once it is activated it will strike uninterrupted for 15 minute intervals. There is a little tab on one of the wheels that catch a lever cam and stops the strike, so I think that part is ok but just out of time. That must be the stop wheel pin and the flag, huh? It looks like it could be the lifting wheel not dropping when it should. Is that a wheel that you would rotate 90 degrees (after disassembling the mechanism of course) to set in time or is the setting as fine as a 1-tooth-at-a-time setting? Again, thanks for the input.

Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:20 pm     Post subject:

Do you know if the movement was running correctly previously? What you need is the movement in your hand and in front of you. With the minute hand pinned back on, go to each quarter slowly and observe what is happening on the quarters which operate correctly. This will give you a rough idea of what should be moving and lifting, and will put you in a better position mentally to work out what is happening and how things should be working. It might be something simple like a sticky lifting piece etc.

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:14 am     Post subject: I fixed the strike timing issue

Hey guys! I turned the minute hand slowly and just observed. That was good advice! I just needed to study the relationship of the wheels. I loosened the nuts holding the mechanism together and took the top left corner nut completely off. The wheel that has two tabs (flags) on it needed rotated clockwise about 240 degrees in order to catch a hook when the paddle dropped down into the "valley" of the hour counter wheel. Again, I don't know the proper terminology but the mechanism is ticking away, keeping good time and striking properly. Thanks for all your help.