Dad's Westminster Chime Clock

[ChrisJ]

Need a bit of help and advice lads, me dad left me this clock which I have had since 2003 been running perfect, it stopped a few weeks ago, and I cannot seem to get the pendulum in the back to keep moving, I'm a bit gutted can anyone advise please?, thank you in advance.

 

[Spark plug]

I gather it's wound up?

First thing to look for is that the escape mechanism is operating, as the pendulum swings can you hear it tick?

But without better pictures of the movement it's hard to say what it could be.

 

[Spuddevans]

Also check if it is sitting as level as before, some of them can be very particular about how they are sited ( one my friend had wouldn't keep going if it was bang on level, it had to be chocked up on one side in order to keep running )
Tim

 

[ChrisJ]

I gather it's wound up?

First thing to look for is that the escape mechanism is operating, as the pendulum swings can you hear it tick?

But without better pictures of the movement it's hard to say what it could be.

If I manually swing the pendulum I can hear it tick but it gradually slows down and stops after a minute or so have added a better picture of the mechanism hopefully!!

.

 

[Spark plug]

Ok if you can, if you look behind the brass plate at the top ware the pendulum pivots. You may need a small mirror, you should see the escape mechanism, it will look something like this:

When the pendulum swings you should see the the pointy gear (escape wheel) indexing round, as in the video.

 

[ChrisJ]

Ok if you can, if you look behind the brass plate at the top ware the pendulum pivots. You may need a small mirror, you should see the escape mechanism, it will look something like this:

When the pendulum swings you should see the the pointy gear (escape wheel) indexing round, as in the video.

thanks spark plug will do

 

[CKJDJK]

I think it needs a good clean. On mine, I tried blasting with brake cleaner but that did not help. In the end, I took it to bits. Cleaned each part carefully (lots of photos) then reassembled. A tiny drop of oil on the pivots. Its worked great for three years now. And its not to fussy as it used to be on being level. Just as well with our floors.

 

[Cobbler]

If it gradually comes to a stop, it sounds like it wants cleaning & oiling. The power in the movement is very small by the time it's run through the gear train & as the pivots get dirty & the oil dryers out ther is insufficient power left to keep it going. Not really a DIY job unless your brave & get a book on how to set up the strike. I used to do them as a bit of a hobby at one time, but a Westminster chime is not really the one to start on.

Edit. Beaten to it.

 

[Spark plug]

I think it needs a good clean. On mine, I tried blasting with brake cleaner but that did not help. In the end, I took it to bits. Cleaned each part carefully (lots of photos) then reassembled. A tiny drop of oil on the pivots. Its worked great for three years now. And its not to fussy as it used to be on being level. Just as well with our floors.

That is the most likely probloem, but basics first, a clock unlike a gearbox must run extremely freely as the gearing from the spring to the escape wheel could be something like 1500:1 or more and the slightest friction can cause problems.

 

[the snooper]

not over wound is it

 

[Cobbler]

If you do decide to strip & clean it, don't forget to take the tension off the springs before you start by releasing the pawls & "unwinding" it with the key. Quite tricky, but unless you release the tension it will all go off with a boing & probably break the pivots. The going train is easy, you can just remove the pendulum escapement & let it run down.

You might get it running for a while by removing it from its case & oiling the pivots using proper clock oil, dipping the tip of a darning needle in to pick up a drop & oiling each of the pivots. You will have to remove the hands & it from is case to do that to get at the pivots on the other side

 

[Ton-up]

As said, probably dust if you cannot see anything amiss. The right oil is a must too. I used to find 3in1 oil was ok (not a spray version) some oils go thick over time and brake the pivots.

 

[Gareth J]

As above, try a non destructive cleaning.

Before you go bananas and pull too much apart, see if you can get enough access to scrub everything with a small, stiff brush. Ideally you could pull the mech out complete to let you swoosh solvent around with reckless abandon. But if not, don't worry, just try to mop as you go to minimise damage to the case. White spirit should be fine.

If it's out of the case, carefully dry with compressed air, if not, swab dry. Then lubricate it again. Just buy a small pot of clock oil. Little pots are not expensive on eBay and while you could get away with using something else, if you're unlucky, it'll dry out and gum up even worse. If there's anything in there that looks like it bears heavily and turns slowly, a light lithium grease may be better here. Possibly the pendulum pivot...

I'm applying the logic I use when doing old speedos but should be appropriate.

If it was working and it's not now, unless something has gone twang, it should be fine.

The most important thing... DO NOT get any solvent on the face or hands. If they are not dirty, don't even get water on them.

 

[the snooper]

ive got a old smiths mantle clock that belonged to my grandparents, no real value just memories, it sat on their mantle ticking well before I was born but has been sat in a cupboard ever since they passed away, very similar movement but only a single charm

 

[Cobbler]

Looking at the picture, it's looks if there's quite a bit of wear there, it might be just the lighting on the picture, but looking at the pivot to the right of the escapement screws it looks to me the the shaft is running off centre to the oil sink or countersink. It appears that the bearing hole has gone oval on this & some of the others. What ever you do will be a short term fix, but not a problem to a clockmaker to rebush. This would give it many years of life before needing attention again. Not pennies though.

 

[Cobbler]

ive got a old smiths mantle clock that belonged to my grandparents, no real value just memories, it sat on their mantle ticking well before I was born but has been sat in a cupboard ever since they passed away, very similar movement but only a single charm

Probably bought "on-tick" snooper

 

[the snooper]

Probably bought "on-tick" snooper

no chance lol they didn't ever do credit, I don't either

 

[the snooper]

if you are lucky what you see there may just be the lubrication dried up and coming out as said earlier try cleaning those parts and lube them again

 

[brightspark]

Probably bought "on-tick" snooper

nahh its a windup

 

[the snooper]

I'm calling time on these jokes