hermle movement won't run

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:18 am     Post subject: hermle movement won't run

We have had a franz hermle 340-020A movement in a mantel clock that we bought in the 80s. It appears that every so often( it used to be years, but now it's once or twice a year) the clock will stop running. It appears to be "over-wound" if there is such a thing? We used to take it in to be services. But they said that we should just start the escapement moving with a finger and do it until it starts ticking on it's own. That has worked once but it won't work now.

This problem shows up after we wind it up after it has stopped running while we are out of town and has run down.

The chimes work fine, it is the movement for the time hands.

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:40 am     Post subject:

once wound up it should go for week after starting. take it to a better repair shop. you shouldn't have to keep starting it.

make sure it has a even beat(tick) side-to-side ...this will stop it if it is uneven

Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:32 pm     Post subject:

There is no such thing as "over-wound" to be fair, but what you can get is the springs become dry, sticky and gummy inside their barrels, therefore not allowing them to exercise their full unwinding power. It sounds like the movement needs a proper service which should include removing the springs from their barrels to clean, grease and inspect them for tearing. When you take the clock in to be serviced, ask the repairman if he removes the springs, you may be surprised that one or two don't!