Chime Clock Instructions
These instructions apply to many spring-driven quarter-hour chiming clocks.
Setup — Pendulum Mantel Clock:
Place clock on table with back facing you. Open the back door, hang the pendulum on the hook, and close the door. Carefully place the clock where it is to be used, on a stable, level surface. Lift one side of the clock gently two inches, then put it down to start the pendulum swinging.
Setup — Pendulum Shelf Clock:
Place the clock where it is to be used, on a stable, level surface. Open the front door and hang the pendulum on the hook (on many clocks the hook is behind the dial), give the pendulum a swing, and the clock will start ticking.
Setup — Pendulum Wall Clock:
Choose the proper size wood screw (typically a #8, 10 or 12) to fit the hanger at the top back of the clock, and long enough to go securely through the wall into a stud. Secure the screw into the wall, angled upward at a 45 degree angle, and hang the clock. Open the front door and hang the pendulum on the hook (on many clocks the hook is behind the dial), give the pendulum a swing, and the clock will start ticking. Move the bottom of the case to the left or right until ticking is even (or if there is a beat scale beneath the pendulum, move the case so the pendulum points to zero when at rest). Secure bottom of case to wall so clock is stable.
Setup — Balance Wheel Mantel Clock:
This type of clock usually starts by itself upon winding. If it does not, open the back door and start the balance wheel swinging by either of these two methods: 1) Quickly rotate the clock in the plane of the balance wheel to impart motion to it. 2) With a soft brush, rotate the balance wheel and release it.
Setting the Hands:
When setting the clock to time, move the minute hand clockwise, pausing at each quarter hour for the clock to chime.
Winding — Eight Day clock:
Wind the clock once per week, preferably on the same day each week. Turn the key with a smooth motion, stopping when the spring won’t wind any further. Never let the key snap back in your hand, always release it gently after each half-turn. Make sure the clock is fully wound, so keep turning the key until the spring won’t wind any further. The chime mainspring (usually the right hand winding square) will often take more force to wind than the other two springs.
Clocks with more than one chime melody:
Change the tune selector only when the clock is not chiming.
Timekeeping Accuracy:
This type of clock will be able to keep time within 3 – 7 minutes per week. You will need to do the final regulation once the clock is in its permanent location to achieve this accuracy. To check the clock’s accuracy, set the hands to the correct time, and then let the clock run at least 3 or 4 days. The main factors causing variations in rate are temperature changes, and the lessening tension of the mainspring as it runs down. Once the clock is regulated to keep good time, you will need to set the hands whenever the time is off by more than a few minutes — perhaps every week or two. Pendulum clock are usually more accurate than balance wheel clocks.
Regulating the clock — Regulating Square:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the small square on the dial. Turning it toward F speeds up the clock, and turning it toward S slows it down. The regulating square is turned with the small end of the winding key. Turn the square only a small amount each time.
Regulating the clock — Pendulum Nut:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the nut at the bottom of the pendulum. Turning the front of the nut to the right speeds up the clock, and turning it to the left slows it down (in other words move the nut up to speed up, or down to slow down). Turn the nut only a small amount each time.
Regulating the clock — Modern Balance Wheel:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the regulator, which is accessible by opening the back door. In this type of clock, the regulator is a screw near the balance wheel. With a small screwdriver, move the regulator in the direction needed (towards F for faster or towards S for slower). Move it only a small amount each time.
Regulating the clock — Balance Wheel with Pointer:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the regulator, which is accessible by opening the back door. In this type of clock, the regulator is a pointer behind the balance wheel. Push the pointer in the direction needed (towards F for faster or towards S for slower). Move it only a small amount each time.
Regulating the clock — Floating Balance:
The clock can be made to go faster or slower by means of the regulator, which is accessible by opening the back door. In this type of clock, the regulator is a pointer fastened to the balance wheel itself. Gently hold the balance wheel with two fingers, and move the regulator in the direction needed (towards F for faster or towards S for slower). Move it only a small amount each time.
ADJUSTMENTS
Chime Synchronization:
The vast majority of chime clocks have self-synchronizing chimes. If the chime sequence is wrong, it will correct it self within an hour to and hour and a half.
If Clock Strikes the Wrong Hour:
On most clocks, the hour hand is a friction fit on its shaft, and may be moved around to point to the hour that the clock struck.
Chime Sound Adjustment:
The hammers, which strike the chime rods, may be closer to or further from the rods to make the sound pleasant. When adjusting a hammer, grasp the shank at the end away from the head in small pair of smooth pliers, and with the other hand or another pair of pliers, bend the shank slightly up or down. In most cases, the hammer heads should clear the chime rods by 1/8 inch when at rest.
If clock does not run:
- Make sure clock is fully wound.
- For pendulum clocks, make sure clock is ticking evenly. Make sure clock is on a stable surface and does not rock. If necessary shim one or two corners with cardboard (for a shelf or mantel clock), or move bottom of clock to left or right (for a wall clock).
- Make sure minute hand is not caught on hour hand.
