Expert: Michael Radi - 11/23/2008

Question
I just bought a Ridgeway grandfather clock.  I don't know how old it is but the mo # is 138 the movement is E the finish is Prov. the serial # is 8171.  I don't know if the chains and weights were off when my husband picked it up, but when he got it home they were all down in the bottom of the clock.  Is there instructions on re-chaining it.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Elaine

Answer
You can run the chains back up into the clock and I'll tell you how.
Each chain has a chain gear that it rides onto. It is a large sprocket located at the bottom of the movement. I hope you can look into the side of the clock. Some have removable panels on the sides next to the movement to help you do this job. Start with the left and right chain gears because they are the easier of the three. The center one is harder to do.
All of the chains are the same but the hooks on the ends may be different. First, remove the chain end piece that is called the "pull". The pull is on the opposite end of the weight hook. You can take the small piece off the end of the chain by opening up the link with some pliers and slipping it through the open link.
Determine what direction the chain sprocket will turn. It will only go one direction. Put the end of the chain (the end you removed the pull from) onto the sprocket and rotate the sprocket. The chain should feed onto the sprocket and down the other side. When enough of the chain appears through the bottom you can pull on it. Drop the other end of the chain straight down. Now you can put the pull back on the chain and close the link.
Usually the outside chains are easy to put on but the center one is harder to reach. If there is a lot of room under there you might be able to feed the chain up with your fingers but usually there is not enough room for this. I use a piece of stiff wire, a coat hanger is OK but is very thick and stiff. I prefer something thinner.
I bend a slight hook in the top and then bend the top over so that I can put the chain up from the bottom and drop in onto the middle sprocket. This can take some time to get right but if you can get one or two links near the top of the sprocket, you can then turn the sprocket to advance the chain over the top and back down the other side.
I have spent up to 15 minutes getting the center chain on but I did one last week in two attempts (about one minute). I don't know if I'm getting better at it or was just lucky.
I hope this information will help you get your clock going again.
Michael Radi
norkro.com