Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 1/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: My mantle clock has three wind up springs. The center one which is for time runs for a day or so and stops, because I can only wind it about one turn before it appears to "release" and lose tension. It seems that the sring has become detatched or something. Is this a matter of replading the spring. If so where could I buy one. Thank You

ANSWER: Your movement is a German Hermle # 350-060 Here is the spring and barrel you need:

http://www.timesavers.com/catalogmain2.asp?ProductID=14218&submit1=Search

Remove the mechanism, unscrew the little screw holding the ratchet gear on the center square winder shaft--remove the winder shaft by pulling and the old spring barrel pulls out.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the excellent reply.
I have a wall pendulum clock with the same problem (Davis 351-03). Is that the same barrel?

Also for both clocks, can the existing barrel be repaired so that I don't have to replace them?

Thank You!

ANSWER: never heard of a Davis anything and 351-03 means nothing either. Neeed the numbers off the back of the back brass plate of the movement to id properly.
  Barrel is not the root problem --the outer end hole in the spring has ripped out and no longer hooked to the outer endge of the barrel. Spring can be repaired by a pro - but would cost you as much or more than a whole new spring in a new barrel that you could install yourself.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Davis and the numbers "351-03" are what is on the brass back plate.
The web site you referred me to in the initial question shows a 351-03 movement  using Hermle #52 for Time.  My clock's time barrel which was working, but has developed the problem I told you about, has a barrel with a 50 stamped on the Barrel cap. This clock was repaired by a professional about 10 years ago and I suspect, now, that he substituted  a 50 where as the clock was made with a 52.
I don't know which one to purchase. That is why I now ask if I should use a 50 or a 52. Are they interchangable?

The outer edge of the spring appears to be secure. It seems as though the inner edge is slipping out of the grove in the key turning shaft. I will need to remove the barrel cap to see.

Thank you for your patience with my questions.

Answer
Still do not know "Davis" and the number should be the Hermle complete number of :  351-030   not 03
  the 50 and 52 barrels are the same the 50 spring is .02mm thinner than the one in the 52. The 52 came about when Hermle decided they needed a slightly stronger spring to run the time train on the pendulum equipped version (ie.--the 351)of the 350 movement. Either will do fine IMHO.
  You might indeed have the center eye loop of the spring broken or mis-shapen- so the center arbor finger does not catch properly on winding. This you might be able to re-form with long nose pliers to fit snugly. Bit testy though for a layman.