Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Martin Meyer

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YongHwe wrote at 2012-01-09 16:02:51
I am from Malaysia and just bought one from US on-line. I have a similar problem with my Waterbury repeater (runs for awhile and stop). Over here, not all clocksmen know about repairs and servicings. They are more familiar with quartz. Even if there are repairmen around, it would cost a bomb to get them to fix winding clocks. So, it's all DIY or you are stuck with a non-working clock.

I dismantled the casing (very easy), removed the back door & the three glass panels and check on all the pivots, rocker arm, balance wheel, hairsprings etc. I oiled all the pivots, moving parts and taking extra care not to bend or damaged the balance wheel, hair spring etc. The clock hands need to be checked on too.

After 1 day, I finally found the problem - 1) the small hand was attached too close to the clock face therefore restricting movement.

2) The rocker arm & pivots needed oil badly as they were totally dry. I have got the clock fixed up, beveled glass pane cleaned, ringer bell re-adjusted and re-installed into the casing and am totally pleased that the clock is now running perfect. I have all-in 30 over clocks from Holland, Germany, France, Japan, China, US, England & Russia and; I thoroughly enjoy servicing my own clocks.  

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Tan Yong Hwe wrote at 2012-03-15 13:33:09
Ok, just when I had sorted out my clock ticking problem and enjoying a perfectly running clock for one week, the ringer spring failed me. What luck I have.

Back to online store to order replacement springs (extras also just in case).

This time I have no choice but to dismantle the clock right to the bones. Since I am at this stage, might as well clean all the gears, plates & everything that can be cleaned. I used Zippo lighter fluids for cleaning agent. It works well living no stains or deposits. Got the spring in wire fastened form and gently pushed it into the winding barrel. Making sure that the outer catch secures nicely with the outer end hole of spring. A bit of adjustments and the brand new spring is loaded perfectly.

The really tough part is re-assembling every piece of gears, pins, levels into it's correct position. (Lots of photographs should be taken during disassembling stage for easy reference).

I have minimum tools but relied heavily on pincers to complete the job. A small magnifying glass does come in handy.

After 2 attempts, I managed to put every piece back to its original position. A bit of oil on pivot holes and moving parts will be good. I learnt never to oil the rocker arm which is driven by the balance wheel as this tend to get sticky and cause the balance wheel movement to be eractic and stop.

I am totally pleased with my brand new clock (almost new).

Material cost of repair US3.00  

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