Clock begins chime 3-4 minutes too soon

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:59 pm     Post subject: Clock begins chime 3-4 minutes too soon

I have an antique german wall clock with westminstral chimes that had not been run for several years. In Dec 08 I took it in to be repaired. When the clock came back, it did and still does appear to keep time properly. However, the chiming at the quarter hours was not in the proper sequence. I cannot get the clock repairman to make good his warranty, so this forum is my way of correcting the problem myself.

I have read that I can correct the problem of 4 chimes at Q1, 8 chimes at Q2, etc., by putting the minute hand back 15 minutes and readvancing it 15 minutes until the correct sequence of chimes is attained. I did this and it seems to work done manually. However, when I allow the clock to move normally, the chiming starts about 3-4 minutes too soon and continues until the minute hand reaches the quarter hour. No matter how I set the minute hand or the hour hand, the chiming always starts too soon, and because it does, 4/8/12/16 chime sequence does not work.

Can you please tell me how to get the chime to start at the quarter hour as it should? Thanks for your assistance.

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:52 am     Post subject:

I'M SURPRISED THE REPAIRMAN DOESN'T WANT TO CORRECT A SIMPLE PROBLEM AFTER BEING PAID - IF I WERE IN A POSITION OF POWER THEY WOULD BE NAMED AND SHAMED SO PEOPLE KNEW NOT TO GIVE THEM ANY BUSINESS AT ALL!

You should NEVER NEVER NEVER take the minute hand backwards unless you know exactly what you are doing. to correct the sequence - take the minute hand forwards towards the quarter SLOWLY until you hear a very quick, short run of the mechanism about a few minutes before it chimes. then take the minute hand backwards about about 5 - 10 minute minutes and it will chime. do this until you get it right and it will NOT damage anything. let it chime fully before going to the next quarter.

you may have forced the minute hand backwards on the centre boss a bit which is what it sounds like if the clock chimes ok but is just a few minutes before every quarter.

i have explained this proceedure in a previous post. take the minute hand off and fit onto a little square usually found on the tail end of a small file or similar. hold file in a vice and use a small amount of pressure on the minute hand AS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE AS POSSIBLE in a clockwise direction to correct your problem.

Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:50 pm     Post subject: Thanks.

Thanks for the information. I will try to use it to fix my clock.

Re' naming and shaming, when I did get to speak with the repairer, he said that he was taking medication for a chemical imbalance. Although I do not know exactly what this means, I certainly do not want to cause him more stress than he is already under. Of course, I think he should make good his repair of my clock; but, at this point, I am not sure that I can trust him to do the repair properly, no matter the simplicity of the problem.

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:28 am     Post subject:

i think you should probably find someone else and explain your problem. \maybe they will be sympathetic and help you out or at least be able to do the simple repair for you.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:12 pm     Post subject: Not very good at this

I did remove the minute hand as you suggested; but the hand was on a square post, so I could not determine how to use the square end of a small file as you suggested. Perhaps I misunderstood your instructions.

So far I have not been able to find another clock tech in the College Station area. Will continue to look. Thanks.

Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:39 pm     Post subject:

In regard to minute hand adjustment - a square file will work. You may also be able to use needle nose pliers instead. What you want to do is grip the hub on the backside of the hand. The hub (which contains that square opening) will rotate independantly from the hand, which is what allows you to adjust the hand for any time loss or gain (in terms of minutes). The file works in the same way in that it will insert into that square opening. When the file is rotated, it will allow the hub to rotate independant of the hand. Hope this helps...

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:38 pm     Post subject: Clock begins chime 3-4 minutes too soon

Thanks, Chris and Clkfxr.

After I wrote Clkfxr back, I took another look and realized the square in which the file end would fit is on the hand and not on the part that the hand fits on.

I have bought a small file and am trying to get the correction made. I am probably doing something wrong because, though the chime now starts on time, it seems to chime forever. Any suggestions on getting this corrected? Thanks.