Urgos - I cannot get it to work

Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 2:42 pm     Post subject: Urgos - I cannot get it to work

I inherited a grandfather clock with Urgos movements. Everything appears to be there and in excellent condition. I cannot get it to work. Can anyone give me some pointers or advice on how to get it working?

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:46 pm     Post subject:

It must be clean and properly oiled first. The bushings and pivots must be tight. But, most important of all, it must be "in beat". Do you know how to put a clock "in beat"?

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:22 am     Post subject:

I know little about grandfather clocks. I inherited this one from my grandparents. The mechanism is quite clean, but I have not oiled anything.

I do not know what you mean by 'in beat'.

Any help would be appreciated.

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:32 pm     Post subject:

The movement being in beat basically entails that you have an even "tick-tock" sound coming from the clock. There are a few things to check to make certain the movement is in beat.

First - make certain the seat board (which the movement is mounted upon) is level. Most clocks have leg levelers mounted on the underside of the base assembly. You can use these to adjust the clock case and make certain the mechanism itself (inside the case) is level.

Second - The crutch arm (which holds the pendulum leader - the metal piece the pendulum is mounted to) needs to swing an equal distance from center point to left as it does from center point to right. It is located on the backside of the movement. This is how you adjust the beat (in most cases). You should initially check to see if your movement has an automatic beat adjustment feature. If it does, you simply over-swing the pendulum and the crutch arm will adjust itself. It may be necessary to remove side glass panels of the case (or even the movement) to allow for over-swing.

If you do not have this feature, you may remove the pendulum and pendulum leader. Note: In some cases, it may not be necessary to remove the leader. Take note of how the items were mounted and removed for re-installation later. Push the crutch arm to one side until you feel slight resistance. Bring it back to center and swing it to the opposite side (again until you feel slight resistance). This crutch arm (as previously mentioned) must swing an equal distance from vertical center to the left as it does from vertical center to right. To adjust the crutch arm to gain this equal swing from center to left/right, lightly push through the resistance on the side which has the shorter swing. This will automatically adjust the verge (which is the see-saw like gear at the top of the movement that is responsible for timekeeping).

For example: The crutch arm swings a longer distance from center point to left than it does from center point to right. Push the crutch arm to the right, pushing through the "slight resistance" point. Check the crutch arm again to see if you have an equal swing (up to the resistance point) after adjustment. If need be, make further adjustments. Once complete, re-mount the leader (if removed previously) and pendulum. Allow the clock to run to make certain the pendulum will continue to swing.

You should hear an even "tick-tock" if the movement is in beat. If you have trouble hearing the "tick-tock", then just allow the clock to run. If the pendulum is still out of beat, it will more than likely stop swinging. Keep in mind that this method of adjustment is general at best (and based upon the mechanical movements offered through Klockit). I do, however, assume that all mechanical movements would follow suit without too much difference.

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:28 pm     Post subject:

Oiling the clock is rather difficult without removing the movement from the case. If you have a syringe, fill it with clock oil and put a drop on each pivot (end of shafts where they connect to brass plates).

By setting "in beat", the simplist way to explain it is: The ticks must occur at the same place on the left pendulum swing as they do on the right swing. Start the pendulum swinging and listen to the ticks. If one sounds short compared to the other, move the top of the pendulum rod in the direction of the short tick until you feel resistance. Then slightly push the rod in that direction. Let it swing again and listen to the tick. Continue trying until ticks are even. It should continue running if you get it in beat