Howard Miller expert: Help!

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:35 pm     Post subject: Howard Miller expert: Help!

I have a Howard Miller clock, model 612-389 Quartz pendulum hour and half hour strike movement wall clock. I got the clock new as a gift in the early '80s. Sadly it has stopped working properly. The bim-bam chime will still strike, but the clock will only run for about 12 to 24 hours before it begins to lose time and stop. have contacted Howard Miller and they have indicated this particular movement (No. 124 Quartz Pendulum, Hour and Half Hour Strike Movement) is no longer manufactured. Any tips on getting it to work properly or where I can obtain a satisfactory replacement movement.

Thank you

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:54 pm     Post subject:

Bear in mind that quartz movements are not made to last forever. Generally, if you can get 10 years or so out of any particular quartz movement, then that is pretty good. Just don't rule out the option that you may have to replace the movement. Luckily, quartz movements are pretty versitile, and switching movements is not as compliacted as it may seem.

Before replacing the movement, there is something you could try. Generally quartz movements are secured with a hex nut. If your movement is secured by a hex nut (which is threaded onto the center hand shaft in front of the clock face), you can try to loosen the nut slightly. If the nut is too tight, this may inhibit the hands from keeping proper time.

You can also rotate the time set knob to see if the hands themselves are intruding with one another. If they would happen to come into contact with one another, this would impede timekeeping as well.

Beyond this - You may have to look into a replacement if the problem can not be corrected...

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:57 pm     Post subject:

One last thing - when checking to ensure that the hands are not touching one another as they rotate around the clock face, you should also make certain neither hand (partcilularly the minute hand) is not touching a front glass panel (if applicable). If the minute hand should rub against the glass, this will also slow/stop the movement.

Hands are typically made out of light-weight aluminum - and can be bent rather easily to adjust or compensate if the need should be.

Hope this helps...