Expert: Michael Radi - 12/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: I recently purchased a Schatz Helmsman Ship's clock with a Hermle 577-071 battery operated movement.  It rings correctly on the hour, but it is an hour behind on the bells for the half-hour.  Is there any way to adjust this, or is the movement shot?
Thank you.

ANSWER: Ship's bell movements are tricky. If the strike rack and cams are on the outside of the movement there may be a way to adjust it. Can you send me a photo of the front of the movement?
Michael
www.norkro.com

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

QUESTION: I took a photo of the bell side of the mechanism with the bell, and then I removed the bell and took another picture.  If the front of the movement is the side that is against the face I'm not sure how to get the mechanism out to get that picture.  I'll attach the two pictures I have here and hope they help.  Thank you so much for your reply!  I guess if nothing else I found a replacement mechanism online for around $85 and I can figure out how to replace it.
-Suz

ANSWER: I need to see the other side of the movement. If you purchase a new movement you will need to take this one out anyway. You must remove the hands. Then there should be a nut at the base of the handshaft that you unscrew. The movement might have some two sided tape on the front of the movement holding it to the case.


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

QUESTION: Well it was a bit more than double-stick, but its out!  Here is the front of the mechanism.  One other symptom, the clock keeps sticking right before it rings seven bells (which should be one bell anyway) - every four hours, on half past -twelve, -four, -eight the hands stop moving before it gets to the bell sounding.
Thanks again!
-Suzanne

Answer
Thanks for the great photo. Let's try this:
There is a large white plastic disc on the hour hand shaft. It is built with three segments. There is an arm just to the right side of this disc. That arm drops onto each level of that disc twice. This first time it drops onto each segment the clock should strike the odd number, the second time it drops down it should strike the even number.
Put the minute hand on the movement and check to see if this is correct. If it is not, see if you can rotate that disc far enough to get the order of odd/even strikes correct.
Let me know if this does not fix your problem and I'll think it through some more.
Michael
www.norkro.com