Mantle clock working but hands not going round

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:12 pm     Post subject: Mantle clock working but hands not going round

Hi

I bought a mantle clock at an auction. I have managed to get the clock working ie the solid thin centre shaft is going round ok, but the piece that slides over this solid shaft (a tube with a cam for the half hour chime on one end and a small square section and which holds the minute hand on the other) just doesn't engage in order to drive the minute hand etc. It slips round the solid shaft.

How should these pieces be fitted together in order to drive the minute hand? Is it just a friction fit or sould there be something else to lock the two together?

I have never worked on a clock before, so I am hoping someone can help and point me in the right direction.

Thanks
David

Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 1:34 am     Post subject:

the hour hand should be a friction fit (smaller hand), on the shaft.

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:44 am     Post subject: minute hand not moving

One thing I have seen on several makes of mantle clocks is the pinion gear cracked. This gear turns the minute shaft around and therfore the hour hand. The movement must be dissassembled to check this gear. Look with a glass and you may see a small crack in the gear. Another thing to check is the friction clutch that alows you to move the hands in setting the time, it might also be loose or pin missing(easy fix sometimes)
Good luck.

Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 11:49 am     Post subject: Re: Mantle clock working but hands not going round

[quote="killid"]Hi

Hi, David.

It's OK if you've never worked on clocks before. Some of us older guys who do repair clocks are still around.

There should be either a small nut holding on the minute hand (look for small screw type threads on the minute shaft), or there may be a very small hole through the center shaft. If there's a small hole, you may be able to put on the minute hand and then slide a tooth pick through this hole. We use metal tapered pins in the clock repair business. In either instance, there are usually some small washers that go between the minute hand and either the nut or the tapered pin. These small washers help to keep the hands on tight. Companies such as Merritts (do a web search) can supply all these parts.

Good luck.

Clocks1024