Post by ayubmd on Oct 15, 2016 11:41:26 GMT 5.5
Pendulum will not swing / wall clock repair
Wall Clock1. Have you wound up your wall clock and started the pendulum? Wall clocks have either a swinging pendulum or a balance wheel to regulate time keeping. If you don't see a pendulum attached to your clock movement, then your clock is regulated by a balance wheel. The pendulum/balance wheel is driven by a powerful spring. First, be sure that you have wound up the pendulum spring. Wind it up all the way. It is a myth that you can damage a clock by overwinding, unless perhaps you choose to attach a pipe wrench to the end of your winding key! If your clock chimes and/or strikes, and your not sure which arbor operates the pendulum, then wind them all up! Next, reach into the clock and gently swing the pendulum to one side with your hand. Your clock should now be up and running! Clockmaker's secret: If your clock has a balance wheel, all you need to do is wind up your clock, and the wheel should automatically start ticking. You should hear a ticking sound similar to that of a mechanical wrist watch.
2. Are the clock hands touching? Touching hands are guaranteed to stop your clock! Look at the hour and minute hands closely. If they are touching, the movement will jam and the pendulum/balance wheel won't swing. Clockmaker's secret: Try moving the hour hand slightly back and forth while pushing it towards the dial in order to clear the minute hand (but make sure it doesn't touch the dial!). If they still touch, you can bend the hour hand slightly back or the minute hand slightly towards you, allowing clearance.
3. Have you moved your mantel? The reason a wall clock with a pendulum stops swinging after being moved is because the clock case now leans at a slightly different angle on the wall then at its former location. Or, while winding, you may have moved the clock by accident. So, be sure that your clock is not cockeyed on the wall! Clockmaker's secret: Wall clock movements are adjusted so that their pendulums swing properly when the clock case is level. However, over time clock cases warp, or the pendulum adjustment may be knocked out of kilter. So you may have to put away your level! Simply start your pendulum swinging, then listen carefully to the tick-toc sound. Push the left side of the clock slightly. Does the tick-toc sound seem more balanced? If not, push the right side. When you hear an even, balanced ticking, you're done! Your wall clock should now be in perfect "beat." If your clock has a balance wheel instead of a pendulum, you're in luck! You don't have to worry whether the clock is level at all.