8 Ways on How to Fix Grandfather Clock Wound to Tight:
- 1. Stop the Pendulum for Five Minutes. ...
- 2. Remove the Pendulum and Pendulum Rod. ...
- 3. Wrap a Rubber Band Around One Weight Shaft. ...
- 4. Place Three Rags Between Weight Shaft and Dial. ...
- 5. Use Small-headed Needles to Adjust the Regulator. ...
- 6. Move the Regulator Down One Note on the Music Box. ...
- 7. Use Lubricants to Fix a Grandfather Clock. ...
- 8. Use a Screwdriver. ...
Full Answer
How do you fix a grandfather clock?
How do you fix a grandfather clock movement?
- Weight. Weights control the grandfather clock movements.
- Checking the Weight. Examine and see if the weights are aligned properly.
- The Hands.
- The Pendulum.
- The Moon Dial.
- Check the Level.
- The Ticking.
- Shifting the Clock.
What would cause a grandfather clock to stop working?
What Causes a Pendulum Clock To Stop?
- Pendulum Strike. Grandfather clocks should sit level. Pendulums must swing freely. ...
- Hands Stuck. Free the hands to restart the clock. ...
- Tangled Chains. Cuckoo clock weights are tangle-prone. ...
- Oil and Debris. Dried oil and debris can clog and stop the clock mechanism. ...
- Movement. Sometimes the pendulum stops because the clock movement needs a good cleaning. ...
How to maintain a grandfather clock?
Thoroughly Clean a Grandfather Clock in 8 Steps
- Remove the Clock. If you are comfortable with how your grandfather clock fits together and if it will help in a thorough cleaning exercise remove the pendulum ...
- Clean the Back. Move the clock case away from the wall to clean the back. ...
- Cleaning the Glass Panels. ...
- Cleaning the Woodwork. ...
- Weights and Pendulum. ...
- Batons and Face. ...
- Replace the Clock. ...
How much does grandfather clock repair cost?
There are a number of things that will affect the price you pay for your grandfather clock to be fixed. Most repairs will fall in the range of $100 to $3000. The main factors affecting repair cost are: Type of Clock The type of grandfather clock you have will play a large part in deciding what a professional will charge you for repairs.
What do you need to own a grandfather clock?
How to tell if grandfather clock is accurate?
What happens if the pendulum does not swing?
Can a grandfather clock be moved?
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About this website
What causes a grandfather clock to stop?
Often a pendulum clock will stop when it has been moved, bumped or even a too aggressive push to restart a pendulum. It is not broken, only out of beat. This only takes a few minutes to readjust and all pendulum clock owners should learn how as this will happen eventually.
How do I get my grandfather clock to work?
1:413:20How to easily wind & set your vintage grandfather clock - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMoving it over and letting. It find its way back and forth. Now the movement of the pendulum. We'llMoreMoving it over and letting. It find its way back and forth. Now the movement of the pendulum. We'll start to get the clock ticking. It's on nice solid ground here.
Is it worth repairing a grandfather clock?
Aside from stylish appearance, antique grandfather clocks are worth fixing simply because they can run for a very long time. They do not rely on batteries or electrical power, which can subsequently save a lot of money.
Why does the pendulum stop swinging on my grandfather clock?
The reason a clock pendulum often stops swinging, after being moved, is because the clock case now leans at a slightly different angle then it did at its former location. Don't worry about making your clock absolutely level with the floor and don't use a level.
What causes a pendulum to stop swinging?
The pendulum stops eventually because of air resistance. The pendulum loses energy because of friction. Only in a theoretical situation when there is no friction the pendulum will oscillate forever.
How much does it cost to fix a Grandfather Clock?
Specific clock services and their costsServicePriceGrandfather clock setup$60 to $150Grandfather clock overhaul$550 to $2,500, depending on the number of trainsSpring replacement$10 to $30 per springDamaged tooth repair$10 to $30 per tooth8 more rows
How long do grandfather clocks last?
Most quality new grandfather clocks will run about 20+ year if you set one up and never maintain it, but oiling every few years may make the clock last a lifetime (or two).
Are grandfather clocks still popular?
"Grandfather clocks are classic items - not a fad," said Kerstin Chelius, president of Sandmark House on Beach Boulevard. "They've been around for hundreds of years and will continue to be around for hundreds more."
How often does a grandfather clock need to be serviced?
Clean the Clock Movements Every five to ten years, the grandfather clock should undergo a deep cleaning of the movements. The servicing should only be done at a professional clock repair shop. DIY repairs could result in lost parts or screws, or even damage to the movement, causing more harm than good.
Can you lay a Grandfather Clock on its back?
We don't advise laying the clock on its back, side or front when moving a grandfather clock. It's best to transport a grandfather clock standing up, so that you don't damage or break the inner workings or outside of the clock.
How do you fix a pendulum on a clock?
1:312:39How to Regulate Pendulum Clocks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to lower the pendulum Bob by turning the nut to the left or if it's a wall cuckoo sliding.MoreYou want to lower the pendulum Bob by turning the nut to the left or if it's a wall cuckoo sliding. The pendulum Bob downward.
Can you Overwind a clock?
It's actually impossible to overwind a clock, whilst you can wind a clock until it cases internal damages and breakages, it's impossible to continuously wind a clock.
How do I get the chimes to work on my grandfather clock?
Remove the nut and the minute hand. Check that the bushing is not lose in the hub of the hand. You can tighten the bushing by placing the hand on a hard surface such as an anvil and them striking the hand bushing with a hammer. Replace the minute hand so that it points to the quarter hour that the chimes just played.
How do you start an overwound clock?
Turn the key slowly and just a half turn at a time. Wind it up until it stops. Do not try to force it to wind any further. Even though it is impossible to over-wind your clock, it is also not necessary to wind it until the last possible click of the ratchet.
How do you set up a grandfather clock after moving it?
Grandfather Clocks: Quick Setup GuideSTEP 1: Unpacking the Grandfather Clock. ... STEP 2: Level Your Grandfather Clock. ... STEP 3: Remove Grandfather Clock Chime Rod Packaging. ... STEP 4: Remove Movement Packaging. ... STEP 5: Do Not Remove Styrofoam Blocks. ... STEP 6: Hang the Pendulum. ... STEP 7: Hang the Weights. ... STEP 8: Set the Time.More items...
How do you reset the chimes on a grandfather clock?
0:083:51How to Fix Clock that Doesn't Chime on the Correct Minute - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSort of let the hand you know sort of sway back and forth and stop in the middle and you tighten itMoreSort of let the hand you know sort of sway back and forth and stop in the middle and you tighten it up and run it up to the top of the hour and it should hit on the dot.
Grandfather Clocks Movements – Replace or Repair
In more modern grandfather clocks, there are 3 major categories of grandfather clocks with related movements, which are cable driven grandfather clocks, chain driven grandfather clocks, and quartz grandfather clocks, which are battery operated (there is also a tubular chime grandfather clock which has yet a different movement, but these clocks, while perhaps the most collectible, are the least ...
How to fix grandfather clock movement?
You can also try slightly greasing or oiling your grandfather clock movement, which doesn’t lose more than three minutes in an entire day. This method works best when the clock is running at least one note lower than it should be. This is much like winding a watch and letting it run down before adjusting again.
How to slow down grandfather clock?
Another way to slightly slow down a grandfather clock that is wound too tight is by moving the regulator down one note on the music box if your clock has one. This will decrease the speed of the weights just enough so that it keeps good time but doesn’t gain any more than about three minutes in 24 hours.
How to fix a clock that is too tight?
If your clock is wound too tight, you can try using a flat-head screwdriver by removing the screws holding the top board down. You can now use this screwdriver to lift on the bottom corner of the board just enough so that you can turn the weights slightly. The clock will now run slower, which will make it take longer before it loses time again.
How to tighten a clock regulator?
To do this, remove the two screws holding the regulator in place enough so that you can push it up or down to get it started in either direction. You must then carefully but quickly move the regulator until you find its proper position. Once the clock is running at or close to its proper speed, you can now tighten the two screws back down again.
How to remove the bottom board of a grandfather clock?
The baseboard can be removed by removing the screws holding it down. Set them aside in a safe place where they won’t get lost or damaged. After getting all four corners loose, this part of the case should come off exposing the movement.
How to keep a clock from running too fast?
If the clock is not running fast enough to need a rubber band, you can try placing three rags or folded pieces of paper between the pendulum rod and dial. This will slow the movement down just enough to keep good time but doesn’t lose any more than about three minutes in an entire day.
What happens if your grandfather clock is too tight?
If your grandfather clock is wound too tight, it won’t keep accurate time. As you now know from the first part of this series, the clock will run slow and lose time. So what can be done to fix a wound grandfather clock that is too tight? In this section, we will look at several ways on how to fix grandfather clock wound too tight.
How to set grandfather clock?
In order to set the correct time and pendulum beat of a grandfather clock, make sure that it is on level ground. Then, carefully adjust the hands until they show the right time and set the pendulum swinging. Make sure that the pendulum continues to swing freely and evenly and the hands show the correct time. If not, a small adjustment is usually all that is necessary for your clock to keep accurate time.
How to keep grandfather clock accurate?
1. Place your clock on a level surface. Grandfather clocks rely on gravity to keep accurate time. If your clock is on a surface that tilts it in one direction, this will throw off the timekeeping mechanisms. Try adjusting your carpet or bringing the clock away from the wall.
How to slow down a pendulum?
Tighten or loosen the pendulum if the clock is gaining or losing time. At the bottom of the pendulum is a bob with a small nut underneath. Turn the nut to the right very slightly to speed up the clock. Turn the nut to the left to slow the clock down.
How to stop a clock from touching?
If they are touching something, hold the hand of the clock with two fingers near the center. Use your other hand or a needle-nose plier to gently pull it away from whatever it is touching.
How to set the clock back to the time?
In order to set the time without playing the melody, move the minute hand counterclockwise. Winding the minute hand 1 full rotation counterclockwise will set the c lock back by 1 hour. Do not move the hour hand.
How to wind a clock?
1. Wind your clock and start the pendulum. In order to wind your clock, determine if your clock is crank-wound or chain-wound. Look at the face of your clock. If there are 1-3 small holes, these are winding points for a crank. Insert the crank and wind either clockwise or counterclockwise, whichever feels most smooth.
How long does it take for a grandfather clock to adjust?
Give your clock a few hours to self-adjust. If you recently set up your grandfather clock, it may need an hour or two for the mechanism to adjust. Check on your clock after about two hours to see if the issue has resolved.
Why is my grandfather clock stuck?
Grandfather Clock Weights Stuck. The Grandfather clock weights can get stuck in the high position if over wound. Some larger clocks have over wind protection to prevent this. The grandmother and grandfather chain drive units often do not have this feature. When winding the weights up make sure the top of the weight can be seen when done.
What to do if all else fails on a clock?
If all else fails, and it’s a chain driven clock, you would need to cut the chain in half, or break a link, to take the movement out of the clock. With the movement out of the clock it can be fixed.
How to handle a time weight pendulum?
This is the hardest weight to deal with out of the three. Try pulling down some while swinging the pendulum. See if it starts running on its own when letting go. If this does not work, take off the pendulum. All it will have is the pendulum leader hanging on the back of the movement.
Where is the strike weight on a clock?
The strike weight is on the left as you face the clock and has the lightest weight. Only after the chime weight is operating correctly can you work on the strike weight. If the clock does not run through the chime sequence it will not get to where it strikes out the hours.
How to get a chime weight stuck?
The chime weight is on the right as you face the clock and has the heaviest weight. Using cloth gloves, or at least a cloth of some kind, pull down on the weight some. This is the same as making the weight weigh more. At the same time, turn the minute hand past the quarter hour to see if it will engage the chime.
What is a grandfather clock?
Grandfather clocks use a rack and snail counting system. This allows for the proper number of strikes to be heard on the hour. The rack is the saw like thing that drops down onto the snail looking thing that is part of the hour hand tube.
How long does a German grandfather clock strike?
This article will address the German Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction issue. This is where the clock will not strike the correct number of hours. This includes if it is striking any hour for two hours in a row. Also if it is striking more than 12 hours at a time, or even striking forever. The correction does not require the removal of the clock movement. Only the removal of the dial needs to happen. So the movement can sit in the cabinet like always, but the hands and dial need to be off the clock.
Does the German grandfather clock strike the correct number of hours?
This article will address the German Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction issue. This is where the clock will not strike the correct number of hours. This includes if it is striking any hour for two hours in a row. Also if it is striking more than 12 hours at a time, or even striking forever. The correction does not require the removal of the clock movement. Only the removal of the dial needs to happen. So the movement can sit in the cabinet like always, but the hands and dial need to be off the clock.
Does a German wall clock stop?
My spring driven German wall clock stops although the pendulum swings and produces the normal sounding tick tock. In less than 15 minutes or so the clock will just stop. At his point manually advancing the minute hand results in some resistance that can only be overcome by moving the hand a little backwards. The hands do not have any mechanical touching or other interferences. The escapement advances normally. The rocker part of the escapement seems to float rather than maintain an adjustable position. The clock is level.
What is a grandfather clock chime?
Grandfather Clock Chime Issues. When a grandfather clock has issues with the chime functioning these are some basic corrections. The chime is the song that plays every 15 minutes and not to be confused with the strike. The strike is what calls out the hours after it is done with the chime song.
How to check the weight of a clock?
This is the chime side of the clock and requires the heaviest weight of them all. Check the cables or chains that they are not rubbing anything on their way down to the weight. In other words, the chains or cables do not rub the seat board, pinch or wrap around the movement pillar, or anything like this. They should be straight from the ratchet wheel or cable drum and straight down to the clock weight with nothing rubbing. If the cable or chain is rubbing something it will cause resistance. Resistance is what makes a clock stop because there is not enough weight to drive through whatever is rubbing. So if the chain or cable is rubbing something it's the same as not having the right amount of weight on the clock.
Why are my Westminster clocks silent?
There may be a switch at the 3 o'clock and this switch turns the chimes on or off. If the clock is a triple chime movement, meaning it has three songs, it will have the song selection and also silent on this switch. The movement may have this switch but the dial may not have a slot to get at it on some Westminster only units. If this is the situation access it from the back of the clock instead. Not all movements have the silence switch. So if there is no switch then this cannot be the reason for no chimes.
What does ANSO mean on a clock?
Higher end mechanical clock movements sometimes include an ANSO feature. This stands for Automatic night shut off, and the intention is to have the clock be silent automatically from 10pm to 7am (usually). It is possible that it thinks it's night when it's really day, and therefore will not chime.
Why does my clock not chime?
If the clock does not chime it will not strike, so therefore the clock remains silent. This being a mechanical clock, it has no sensors to determine on its own what is night or day. Solution is to go around 12 hours with the clock hands.
How long does a German clock chime?
Please note that post WW2 German mechanical clocks are designed so that if turning the hands fast or stop the clock for a long while it may not chime for up to 3/4 of an hour. This is because the clock is looking for the top of the hour so it does not lose its place as to when to chime.
Why does a clock stop?
Resistance is what makes a clock stop because there is not enough weight to drive through whatever is rubbing. So if the chain or cable is rubbing something it's the same as not having the right amount of weight on the clock.
What do you need to own a grandfather clock?
What You'll Need. Screwdriver. What You'll Need. Screwdriver. The most important aspect of owning a grandfather clock is to take care of the grandfather clock movements. Generally, due to the different types of clocks available, finding the cause of the problem can be confusing. The rules are completely different for grandfather clocks ...
How to tell if grandfather clock is accurate?
Examine and see if the weights are aligned properly. If they are misaligned, set them right by referring to the marks at the bottom. These marks indicated the exact alignment for the weights. Place the weights on the correct side, since only then will the grandfather clock movements be accurate.
What happens if the pendulum does not swing?
If the pendulum does not swing, it will lead the hands on the grandfather clock to freeze. The hands have to be unlocked. Pull the weights up, open the glass and gently move the hands away from each other. Be careful while doing this, as the hands are quite delicate.
Can a grandfather clock be moved?
Constantly shifting the position could lead to problems in the grandfather clock movements. It is advisable to keep the movement to bare minimum.
Step 1 – Weight
- Weights control the grandfather clock movements. A weight provides the power required for the time and chime of the clock to function.
Step 2 – Checking The Weight
- Examine and see if the weights are aligned properly. If they are misaligned, set them right by referring to the marks at the bottom. These marks indicated the exact alignment for the weights. Place the weights on the correct side, since only then will the grandfather clock movements be accurate.
Step 4 - The Pendulum
- Sometimes the pendulum can disrupt the grandfather clock movements. If the clock is running slow move the pendulum up the shaft, and if it is running fast move it down.
Step 5 – The Moon Dial
- Another cause for the inconsistency could be the moon dial. Observe the current phase that the moon is in. Now reset the moon dial with the observed moon phase. You can rotate the moon by gently pressing the dial.
Step 6 – Check The Level
- Check the platform where the grandfather clock has been stationed. If the platform is not in a level eventually it will affect the grandfather clock movements. Adjust the leveling of the platform. Test this by observing the swing of the pendulum. If the swing is correct this problem will not resurface.
Step 7 – The Ticking
- If you are unable to find a leveled surface, then listen carefully to the ticking. A more balanced ticking could be the solution.
Step 8 – Shifting The Clock
- Constantly shifting the position could lead to problems in the grandfather clock movements. It is advisable to keep the movement to bare minimum.
Step 9 – Word of Caution
- If you need to move the clock, get someone to help you do it together with you. Moving it on your own can create other unwanted hassles.