winding spring slipping and stopping clock

Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:49 am     Post subject: winding spring slipping and stopping clock

I inherited an old "kitchen clock" that my dad put works into that were built by LaRose. It worked for him for a while, but has been a struggle to get it to keep running for the last couple of years. I think I've finally figured out the reason, but need some help with the fix. Looking at the right hand winding spring, it's loose on the shaft and slides backward after it's been running for a few hours and pushes against one of the gears, so the clock stops. How do I hold that spring forward? I put a screw in behind the works that pushes against part of that spring, but apparently it doesn't hold it evenly enough, and the clock just stopped again tonight after I did that. Is there a shim of some kind that I could put around the shaft to hold it steady? The other spring isn't this loose, and I can't see any reason it's any different.

Posted: Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:26 am     Post subject:

Almost sounds like the spring is not properly secured, the spring will always have tension on it when wound until about the 7th day. Does the spring appear loose? If it is loose then you may need to take it to a clock repair person to install a new one.

A picture would be nice so we could see the issue.

Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 5:50 am     Post subject:

the spring is actually in an enclosure, so I guess I should have specified that the enclosure itself seems to be loose on the shaft for the winder. There are 2 springs, and while enclosure on the one on the left doesn't slip back the one on the right does. I'm trying to buy an identical clockwork on ebay right now, but thought someone might be able to suggest a workable shim that would fit around the winder shaft. I'm finding it really hard to find a compatible works as the distance between the winders is only about 2 inches (and only about an inch from the winder to the center for the hands) and pretty much everything else I've seen is farther apart than that.