How Often Should I Service My Clock? (2024)

FAQs

How Often Should I Service My Clock? ›

How often should my clock be serviced? Routine cleaning and servicing will get you a long way in keeping your clock in good shape. Experts and collectors recommend having the timepiece serviced by a professional every 2 -5 years. This is based on the temperature, humidity, and dust the clock is exposed to.

Wall & Mantel clocks should be cleaned & oiled every 3-5 Years. Floor clocks should be cleaned & oiled every 3-5 Years. Again, the conditions & environment the clock is subject to may vary, but on the average, these maintenance practices should keep your clock running for years to come.

You need to check regularly if a grandfather clock is lubricated just enough to move easily. It doesn't mean that you have to oil every time you check. Most grandfather clocks require to be oiled once in two years. Oiling a grandfather clock can be tricky as it should be not too much or too little oil.

Clock movements should be oiled every 3-4 years, making it a fairly low-maintenance item considering its longevity. People often think that oiling and cleaning your clock are synonymous terms, but clocks don't need to be cleaned as often as they used to.

Wind firmly to the point of resistance: the key will stop when the clock is fully wound. Aneight-day clock should be wound once a week, as the mainspring loses power after seven days. A 30-hour clock should be wound daily; a good routine is to wind it every night before bedtime. The key should fit tightly.

And you must know where to place the oil (and where not to!). Don't use 3-in-One or even worse, WD40.

Is my clock worth fixing? It depends on why you want your clock fixed. Antique clocks often have sentimental value attached, and if the cost of the repair is worth being able to hear your Great Aunt's mantel clock ticking once again, then, of course, it is worth fixing (even if a replacement would be cheaper).

Priory Clock Oil is a semi Synthetic, medium viscosity, high purity mineral oil especially designed for all clock movements.

Your grandfather clock may well outlast you. Generally, a well-crafted and properly maintained grandfather clock can last for generations, potentially exceeding 100 years or more.

Products that you should NEVER use to oil a clock: WD-40, silicone lubricant, kerosene, graphite, sewing machine oil, motor oil, 3 in 1 oil or mineral oil.

Is gun oil ok for clocks? ›

Gun oil is thicker and made for heavy parts. Might work on mainsprings but not small parts and pivots. A man with a clock always knows the time.

If the microfiber cloth does not completely remove the dirt or oil, do not press harder in an attempt to scrub it off. If necessary, dampen the microfiber cloth with a commercially available LCD screen cleaning fluid or with 70% or greater isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Never spray the clock directly.

Clocks were made to be wound completely. If it's not running, more often than not it is either a lubrication problem on the balance wheel, or a dirty or rusted mainspring.

There is actually no such thing as 'over winding' of a clock, but nonetheless it is possible to cause some damage by over zealous winding.

Sometimes while setting the clock, the hour hand might accidentally get moved or 'dragged', which would cause the clock to strike the incorrect hour. This is why it is important to only move the minute hand until the clock reads the correct time, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Advantage Spin Free Micro Ball Bearing Oil is a 100% Synthetic Oil Blend specially designed to lubricate and protect precision parts within Grandfather Clocks, Cuckoo Clocks, Mantel Clocks, Desk Clocks, and Wall Clocks.

To run properly, it must be wound completely tight. Depending on the movement, key wound clocks will stay running one day, seven days, or thirty-one days. Weight driven clocks will usually run for seven days, and should be wound before the weights reach the bottom.

On average, a clock movement lasts for approximately 10 - 15 years, though often these movements can be faulty and need replacing much earlier than this. If the movement on your wall clock requires replacing, often the job is quite simple and only requires a new movement, some tools and a keen eye.