Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 2/25/2008

Question
Our circa 1970's Hermle grandfather clock stopped working. I took it apart to see if I could see something wrong and broke the susp spring. I've fixed that but now it looks like the verge isn't moving the gears teeth it just rocks back and forth. Also, it used to make a wound sound when it was working and after our son pulled the weights down it stopped making this sound. I've tried resetting the chains and pulling them down again, but to no avail. Any ideas?

Answer
unless it has been overhauled- the average 35 year old Hermle should be dead by now. The ticking should still work though. The heaviest weight goes on the right side as you face the clock.
   Never heard of a clock making a "wound sound".
This clock should chime on the quarters and strike the hour on the hour--but after 35 years this part is normally warn so badly it fails to work properly - try this reading for the ticking, but the rest probably needs a pro to replace the movement(cheapest and best approach)

-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.
  Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement.
  Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other.
  If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely.
  If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
  There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!