Chimes sounding off tone

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:00 pm     Post subject: Chimes sounding off tone

I have the Front Mounting 8-Day Westminster Movement. The clock is all set and has been running for a week with very good time keeping. The chimes started out very well but now after a week have progressed into some interesting off notes.

I set them up as per the instructions and made sure that the hammers are hitting the chimes squarely and not resting on them. But the chimes are now sounding quite terrible. Any thoughts? Do I need to move the chime unit so the hammers are hitting a different spot? Right now they are about an inch from the end plate of the Chime unit.

Thanks - Hans

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:20 pm     Post subject:

Hans, the note or frequency of a chime rod is determined by its length and diameter. The quality of the note is determined by outside factors such as debris on the rod, rod touching something, hammer material (leather/plastic/metal) and firmness of the chime rod assembly's mounting to the clock. Chime rods are mounted in the gong base by either screwing them in or pressing them in. If yours is the screw-in type, remove the gong assembly and make certain they are tight to the point of breaking your screwdriver. If they are the press-in type, give them a good solid whack with a hammer to assure firmness of fit. Placing the gong assembly back into the clock is just as important: It MUST be screwed down TIGHT! Now look to be sure the clock backboard is not loose and proving a sympathtic vibration. You should have, by now, solved th problem.