Expert: Martin Meyer - 2/14/2008

Question
I built a GF clock case and purchased the above movement. I've had the movement for about 18 months , it took me some time to finish the case, so it's been around 9 months since I had the completed clock. It ran fine for the first 5 months. Since then I've had difficulties which I have been trying to diagnose. Merritt's  where I purchased the movement, since it's over a year old won't honor a return.
As you can tell I'm not a clock repair expert, but I've read and and made sure none of the common problems exist. I've made sure the case does not interfere in any way with the movement, the clock is level, I've oiled the clock according the the Hermle service manual etc. What I have discovered is that the end of the shaft (the tip) on which the gear for the night shutoff mechanism sits touches the face of one of the gears that drives the moving moon mechanism on the back of the clock face. I'm thinking that this is causing the problem ? The clock face came with the movement and is fastened to the movement using the studs, it is not attached to the case. This past weekend, I gently pushed the tip of a screwdriver where they touch, there is a little spring to the clock face. The clock ran for three days, until it stopped, now won't run more than 10 minutes.
Should these parts be touching ? If not how can this be corrected ?

Answer
Hi Gene,
    The night-off gear should not be touching the moon gear on the dial. It's possible that this could stop the clock because the night-off gear engages directly with a gear on the hand shaft.
    I'm not sure why these gears would be touching. If you have the correct dial, there should be sufficient clearance when the dial feet are attached to the movement.
    There is a very slight amount of room for adjustment by slightly bending the dial feet or VERY SLIGHTLY dishing the dial. But you stand a very real risk of damaging the dial when you do this. At the very least, numerals could fall off the dial. All I can suggest is that you very carefully examine the dial and the night-off mechanism for any defect, bent dial feet or loose gears.