Clock stops before striking

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:56 am     Post subject: Clock stops before striking

Hi, I would be grateful for any pointers how to deal with this problem.

The clock is not particularly special, but has great sentimental value. It's a mantel clock, 8 day, in a plain, inlaid wooden case that was my grandfather's, probably dating from the 30's. To the best of my knowledge, never serviced. The movement appears similar to this "ansonia style movement" http://www.hswalsh.com/Ansonia_Style_Movement_.aspx?i=CM230&t=276 with lantern pinions, etc, chiming on the hour and half hour.

The clock suffered a bit in recent years, living with my dad after he'd had a stroke. Let's just say his fine motor coordination was not all it was, and he may have forced the hands through by accident, chiming when setting the time.

When I got it, it occasionally stopped either at the "10 to the chime" or or the chime (either on the half hour or hour) and pushing the minute hand through a definite blockage (don't know how better to describe it) would free the mechanism. Also, it didn't run for long without stopping.

I know very little about clocks, but I play with old cameras and shutter mechanisms, so I felt giving a good clean and oil could do no harm. So, I used lighter fluid to clean the mechanism and then oiled using the watch oil I use for shutters.

After adjusting, the clock now keeps good time within a minute or so in a week, but the occasional stop at chiming problem is still there. Also, it strikes 12 at 1, too.

I'm guessing (hoping?) that these problems are related, and that the alignment of a pin and the chiming mechanism needs improving, would be very grateful for any guidance from someone who knows what they are doing (in contrast to me......)

I know that a clock repairer would do a better job - in fact I had a quote from one who said that he would refurbish the dial and the case....and I don't want that done. It would be like an 80 year old friend having a face lift. But I do like the idea of repairing it myself, so, any help much appreciated.

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:24 pm     Post subject:

It sounds like you have diagnosed the problem properly. The minute hand, if turned in a counter-clockwise direction and fource applied, can cause the striking control wire to bend slightly. This causes a bind when the clock is about to strike (a few minutes before the hour) If you turn the hand in a clockwise direction slowly and feel a tightness as you approach the 12, that is what is happening, probably. If you watch the center shaft in the middle of the movement as you advance the minute hand, you will see a strike control wire being lifted by half-moon shaped pins connected to that shaft. That wire that is being lifted, is probably slightly bent. If you bend it back to it's original position, the bind should disappear. This is very difficult to diagnose without having the movement in hand. I am in Louisiana, where are you? If you cannot figure it out, e-mail me at wilburno@suddenlink.net and I will try to help further

Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:18 pm     Post subject:

Thanks for that - I've gone ahead and poked around, and it looks like I had two problems. The other was that I reckon there had to be a thrust washer or the like over the minute hand originally. Without it, the hour hand together with cog and cam floated forward, allowing the peg to slip onto the "12" position when it should have been "1". I made up a little gizmo out of a small bit of phosphor bronze, and it seems to have done the job. Now to see if it keeps on running. Six hours and going strong.