The size of the screw driver and type will differ for each clock. The most likely problem that ellicits that customer comment is that the lubrication on the mainspring has failed due to age. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Wall Clocks May I use a car analogy? Over-winding a clock is impossible unless the clock is an antique from the 1600s to 1700s, when the mechanics of the clock were weight-oriented and the pulleys and ropes inside would get tangled together. Simply over swing the pendulum slightly and the beat will set itself. Most likely problem: In actual fact it is almost impossible to overwind a clock. The last thing you wanna do is pour the weights up to high when you’re winding the grandfather clock. The image above shows some of the special equipment we use to unwind and remove mainsprings (note the gloves for safety!). We then determine if we can clean and lubricate it or if we have to replace it. This may cause cracks over time at the end of the mainspring. Apply a small drop of oil on the nut holding the hands to keep them from sticking. IF YOU RELEASE THE KEY WHILE THE RATCHET IS OFF THE CLOCK MAY SLIP ITS MAINSPRING. Oil, like in any mechanical device, becomes old, dry and dirty and needs to be removed and replaced. Something is preventing it from running. Carefully replace the housing into the body of the clock, closing the back and reattaching the hands to the face. Carefully replace the housing into the body of the clock, closing the back and reattaching the hands to the face. The other thing I suggest is to rotate the clock backwards and forwards with a twisting motion along the axis of the spring wheel (which should go backwrds and forwards under the action of the escapement wheel) - when you feel you have done this enough and the clock still doesn't work then give up! One end of the mainspring hooks on a winding arbor (the thing your key goes onto when you wind it). In case you do not feel fully confident to do this job on your own, you can always consult a professional. The only way to truly overwind a clock spring is to turn it so tightly that the spring actually breaks. Those that have floating or platform balances and are in good repair can run fine without any concern for level. Unfasten the clock hands by holding the minute hand and turning the nut to the left. Alarm Clocks My wall clock won't wind for the chime.? Open the movement case and under a bright lamp light and with the aid of a magnifying glass inspect the gears, cogs and springs for dust, dirt and dark oil build up. Gently clean and wipe away any debris using toothpicks or a clean, lint-free cotton cloth. Wall Clocks how do i fix my overwound grandmother clock? It can be very dangerous to remove a powerful steel spring from a clock mechanism, so please don’t try to do it yourself without proper tools and training. This will only clean the large pieces of the clock thoroughly. A full removal of the mechanical parts for cleaning will be needed. I have seen some clocks that have been forced so hard that the arbor actually has snapped. Wind it up until it stops. To complete the cleaning process, apply small amounts of clock cleaning fluid with a bristle brush in places where you find heavier deposits of old oil. These factors cause friction in the movement of the spring coils. How to fix an overwound clock How to fix an overwound clock You should let the clock naturally wind down over the next period of time. Once the coils of a flat mainspring are in firm contact with one another, than the spring can not be physically wound any tighter. Turn the key slowly and just a half turn at a time. The rules are completely different for grandfather clocks that are more than 50 years old. So, when the day comes that you wind your clock and it stops or breaks, the first thing you think is that it must your fault! Subscribe We respect your privacy. If it is close enough to look good, that is good enough. Turn the cuckoo clock over and remove the back of the clock. Even though clock owners still use the term "overwound," the problem is more likely that the clock requires a good cleaning and a few basic adjustments. The Art of Triathlon. Is it for you? Remove the pendulum if the clock has one before moving it from the wall or shelf. Do not force it, be very gentle. Alarm Clocks Hour chimes do nt stop on Westminster. Wall Clocks how can i fix my smiths westminster hourly strike? Apply new clock oil to the gears one drop at a time so as not to over lubricate any areas. You can only wind a spring drive clock so far and then either the spring will break, or the key will break, or one of the gears will be ripped loose. The only way to truly overwind a clock spring is to turn it so tightly that the spring actually breaks. You may have inherited a clock from your parents or grandparents who warned you not to over-wind it. Adjust Kundo Electronic Swinging Pendulum Clocks, How To Repair Clocks: Clock Repair Tips and Tricks, R.Nance Antique Clocks: Frequently Asked Questions, "Clocks Magazine": Tips for the clock enthusiast. Make sure that the watch was wound properly before you attempt more ambitious repairs, as opening a watch risks breaking it further. Spray any areas with signs of lint or dust with a can of compressed air. Maybe you have owned a clock for years and have wound it hundreds of times. Many owners of mechanical time pieces find that winding a clock is a special and enjoyable part of their routine. Open the watch to diagnose the problem. Cathy Lavender started writing in 1979 for her high school newspaper. This may cause cracks over time at the end of the mainspring. Mechanical clocks do need to be handled with care and can be sensitive, but you shouldn’t have to be fearful of winding your clock. The clock back is removed by using a screw driver, unscrewing the back screws and pulling the back up and off. Wind it up until it stops. The owner then winds the watch believing this is all that is needed. The other end hooks onto either the inside of a drum or on the corner post of the clock movement. Friendly advice and general diagnoses are always free, and we love inspecting new clocks! Over the years, the grease will become dry and sticky, and the mainspring may become rusty or corroded. If the old oil dried up, then this would cause too much friction for the clock to run with the weights power. Do not try to force it to wind any further. Her other half "OVERWOUND"it! If we suspect mainspring troubles in your broken clock, the first thing we do is remove the mainspring from the clock movement. Eventually the spring becomes so dry and gummy that is can’t release anymore, or the spring metal becomes worn out and corroded and may break! “I think I’ve over-wound my clock!” is the most common thing we hear from customers visiting our clock repair shop. Turn the clock upside down and grasp the chains firmly in both hands. Is your clock stuck or operating sporadically? Feel free to give us a call or stop by. If you’re having mainspring issues, it’s also a good indicator that we should clean and inspect the rest of the clock at the same time. 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. When you do wind your clock, just make sure you have a tight fitting key and that it is inserted all the way. For some reason the watch has stopped running. Let’s take a look at what actually causes a clock to quit running or chiming after winding it up… A clock mainspring is made of spring steel and is about the width of a ruler (but not quite as thick). As a lubricant ages, it's viscosity slowly rises (it gets thicker). Open the movement case and under a bright lamp light and with the aid of a magnifying glass inspect the gears, cogs and springs for dust, dirt and dark oil build up. It should continue moving. You can purchase clock cleaning fluid at most jewelery stores. Generally, due to the different types of clocks available, finding the cause of the problem can be confusing. guide to the triathlon world. Over Wound Watch One of the most common complaints a watchmaker hears from a customer about a watch is that it no longer runs because it has been over wound (wound too tight). If these things do not fix the clock then it would be safe to assume there is a general lack of power in the time train. Turn the key slowly and just a half turn at a time. Can an over wound clock be fixed? Be cautious of repair people who believe an ultrasonic cleaning will do a proper job. Both hands will now be removable. A clock that has been wound too tight should not be unwound. Apply a small drop of oil on the nut holding the hands to keep them from sticking. A very small change in the position of the lever will dramatically change the speed of the clock. Once the clock has struck the hours wind up the time weight and start the pendulum.Hopefully this will have rectified the problem.If n… An introduction to clockmakers. If the clock is not working after cleaning, have a professional clock repair person check it for worn or broken parts. But how common is it to really over-wind a clock? Eventually, the coils and springs begin to stick. She wrote a weekly column for the "Bridgewater Bulletin." Wall Clocks Chimes not chiming on 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1 hr.? More recently, Lavender has been freelance writing for several websites, focusing on animal husbandry, sewing and gardening. 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. Remove the screws that hold the movement housing in place. In the same way, your clock is “full” and you can’t put any more “gas” in it. Answer #1 | 02/06 2015 18:49 If the pendulum easily moves, try to gently start it in motion, be very gentle. ? Luckily, the truth is that you can’t over-wind your clock. The Mechanical Clock Maintenance NEVER EVER LIST, Who will be fixing my clock? If you can not get the pendulum to swing, contact an antique dealer and ask their advice. Explore other popular Local Services near you from over 7 million businesses with over … What I have learned over the years is an old clock can generally be fixed -- often very easily. Swear a bit; 2. We have special tools and equipment here in our repair shop for handling all sizes of mainsprings. Because of this fear, some of our customers do not wind their clocks enough (and you don’t want to have to wind the clock twice a week or more)! Of course, this myth applies mostly to clocks with swinging pendulums. If the clock's gear box gets damp, place it on a sunny window sill or desktop for 15 to 30 minutes to let it dry. A mainspring must be fairly clean and have a proper lubricant (typically grease) in order to wind and unwind easily (therefore delivering power). These are usually located toward the front or back of the clock case. Apply new clock oil to the gears one drop at a time so as not to over lubricate any areas. The clock may be fast until the spring winds down. Home; Triathlon; Swim; Bike; Run; Gear; how to fix an overwound clock Wall Clocks How do I fix my over wound clock? And, if it can't be fixed, AND it is of a style that is interesting, it can always be converted to a quartz movement, but I only do that as a last resort. Unwind the carriage clock in half turns and release / apply the ratchet between the turns so that the spring pressure is always managed by either your fingers with a firm hold on the key, or by the ratchet being allowed to stop the backward movement. Remove the screws that hold the movement housing in place. They are on average 7 to 8 feet long! Use a knife or thin screwdriver and carefully pry open the cover to see where the problem is within the watch. One possible cause of this is that the strike weight has wound down before the time weight has wound down causing the strike to jam which can stop the clock.First wind up the strike weight a little and then slowly move the hour hand round to the hour position and allow the clock to strike the hours. Even though clock owners still use the term "overwound," the problem is more likely that the clock requires a good cleaning and a few basic adjustments. If you fill your car with gas, but you don’t drive it, it’s not going to use any more fuel, and the gas tank will remain full. Answer for question: Your name: Answers. https://www.hunker.com/13415975/how-to-fix-an-over-wound-clock Use only short bursts as longer bursts focus air on one area for too long, increasing the risk of excess moisture forming. Over-winding is basically a myth! Find the best Clock Repair near you on Yelp - see all Clock Repair open now. A mechanically-driven clock wears down from day-to-day running, producing minuscule metal filings in the gears. They are classified as antiques. My approach would be: 1. Actually this is a mis-conception and is not at all the case. Do not try to force it to wind any further. Fix Over Wound Clock - School House with Pendulum? How to Fix an Over Wound Clock 3 Instructions to Set a Seiko World Clock 4 How to Set a Seth Thomas Autoset Clock 5 How to Reset a Cuckoo Clock 6 How to Wind Up a 31 Day Clock Subscribe for weekly inspiration. Clips may also be present so unfasten those, too, taking care not to break the clips. If the clock is still working, I’d let it continue to run normally until the spring was more relaxed. Leaving the pendulum attached while transporting the clock, even over a short distance, can result in having to replace the suspension spring. I have a look a t a clock for a friend of my wifes. Look at the sprocket wheel of the cuckoo clock and adjust the chains so they dangle around the wheel. (If the hands lock while you are doing this stop and speak to a specialist clock repairer). If the clock is fully wound and the wheel on the platform escapement is not moving, carefully take off the clear plastic cover and very gently, give the wheel a slight touch on the top just enough to start it moving. It is time to give the Spring Driven Clocks clock a good cleaning and check it over for excessive wear. Your clock is fully wound up, but it is not running.