2nd hand moves but won't advance

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:58 pm     Post subject: 2nd hand moves but won't advance

I have an inexpensive quartz movement AA powered clock. I LOVE it. The clock stopped all movement so I replaced the battery. After I replaced the battery I see a movement--a pulselike tic-- of the second hand but that hand, and the minute and hour hand will not advance.
Should I just seek a replacement of the movement, or are there any remedies I can try. I never touched the clock before and no trauma has ever been inflicted on it.

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:29 pm     Post subject:

There are a couple of things that you can check:

1.) Make certain the battery is inserted properly (according to the polarity [=/-] marking around the battery housing).

2.) Most quartz movements are either secured by a hex nut (securing the threaded portion of the clock shaft) or bushing (which would thread directly into the movement). Check to make certain this hex nut/bushing is not too tight. Finger tight is usually good enough - however if it is too tight, it can inhibit the quartz movement from keeping proper time. As a side note, there are rare cases where the movement is not secured by either of these methods. However, if this were the case, then this issue would more than likely not be something to check for.

If all else fails - standard quartz movements are rather inexpensive, and a replacement would be the next option for consideration.