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HELPFUL HINTS
TIMING
  • -To regulate your pendulum clock and make it run faster- rotate nut at the bottom of pendulum to the right- this way effective pendulum length become shorter and your clock will run faster than before
  • -To make it slower- rotate nut at bottom of pendulum to the left, this will make pendulum longer, and make your clock run slower.
Tip: every time, when you adjust clock to run slow, make sure pendulum bob going down, because if not you just changing position of small nut and not achieve any changes in clock timing(pendulum bob stay at same position)- and guess what- you going farther and farther without any progress, until one day pendulum of your clock slide down on the rod half inch or so and your clock now loosing 10-15-30 minutes a day (depending how deep it goes down) To avoid this simple mistake, please make sure there is no gap between pendulum bob and nut at the bottom of the rod after any changes on pendulum, and always set your clock to correct time after each adjustment.
To get best result set your clock to correct time, after 24 hour period adjust pendulum nut accordingly, and write down how many minutes your clock gain/loose and how many turns or lets say half turns you rotate pendulum nut.( if your clock a little bit of, rotate nut one half turn and wait till next day to see result. For fine tuning we adjust 1/4 to 1/8 of the turn sometimes).
Please be patient and repeat this process until your clock can be accurate up to 1-2 minutes a week (for most clocks) Because of the nature of mechanical clocks it's almost impossible to get accuracy of quartz or electrical clock, but we still love them, right!
MOON DIAL
  • If your clock is equipped with moon dial here is easy way to set it :
  • -You need find out recent full moon date( from internet, newspaper, weather channel etc.)
  • -Rotate moon disk clockwise until moon symbol at top, or under number 15 on moon dial and stop, now its your starting point
  • -Next step- count how many days between today and last full moon date.
  • -Now rotate moon disk from start point clockwise same amount of clicks,
  • 1 day=1 click (most Herschede clocks 1 day=2 clicks)
  • For example, if full moon date was 8 days ago- rotate moon disk clockwise until you count 8 clicks (16 clicks for Herschede)
HOW TO SET IN BEAT PENDULUM CLOCK
  • If not " in beat"clock will stop after some time, even if movement in perfect running order. Two ways to check it out:
  • -Visual: from neutral or 0 position (when pendulum stopped) pendulum should travel same distance left and right when clock running, otherwise it not in beat.
  • Tip. Place piece of masking tape( with 0 point and equally spaced marks on each side from zero) on back of clock case.
  • When clock stopped, align pendulum tip and "0" point on tape,by moving tape to the left/right.
  • Now move pendulum slowly eater side until you hear first click sound (Tick) and make pencil mark on your scale (when still holding pendulum at the point with your other hand)
  • Slowly move pendulum apposite direction (passing 0 point) until you hear second click sound (Tock), and also make pencil mark on scale. Measure distance between 0 point and left/right marks on the scale-it should be same, if not- your clock not "in beat" and needs adjustment
  • - By sound:
  • As you know, running clock create Tick and Tock sound, and goal to get same rhythmical intervals between "Ticks and Tocks".
Tick-tock,Tick-tock,Tick-tock.......... clock not "in beat" tick- Tock, tick- Tock, tick- Tock............clock not "in beat" Tick-Tock, Tick- Tock, Tick- Tock............clock "in beat"
  • For most modern grandfather clocks with self adjusting escapement (please double check manual) - wide gentle swing will fix a problem, for other types of clock there is a couple solutions:
  • You can lean clock case to the left or right until you see or hear your clock "in beat"
  • tip. place penny or other coin under left/ right side of your mantel clock, or move bottom of your wall clock to the left/right and secure to the wall with small nail or pin. (if clock mounted on the wall by single point)
  • Professionals will set clock case and level adjust the escapement verge inside until the clock "in beat"-sound amplifier or clock timing machine recommended and adjustments need to be accurate to thousands of the inch!
  • Remember, not all clocks created same, some have different type of escapement, please call us for any questions and for a free consultation.
OILING.
Timepieces are like any other machines, they need regular maintenance (2-3 years) to function properly and the fact that they have run without service for the last 30 years, and now mysteriously stopped, its really not a surprise!
- Lubricate your clock front (behind dial) and back sides,using high quality oil and grease. Correct amount of oil needed for every pivot hole: - lack of oil means shorten run life and more wear - to much, and oil will run down on the plate, out from pivot sink, creating a mess and leaving almost dry pivot behind. - also escapement , levers, ratchets, striking and chiming systems, etc. must be oiled/greased. Professional help advised.
DO NOT SPRAY WD-40 OR OIL ON CLOCK MOVEMENT Spraying the clock movement with oil or WD-40 achieves nothing, but a problems. It actually accelerates the wear on the pinions because works like a dust magnet. For example, it's like opening the hood of a car and throwing a bucket of oil at the top of the engine instead of normal oil change. WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement, 40th formula" it contains less than 25% of mineral oil and works like a grinder on rotating pivots and pinions. WD- 40 as bad for the clock, as an amateur with garage tools, who think's if he can change spark plugs, he can fix clocks!
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