Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 3/27/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi
I recently aquired a Mason and Sullivan grandmother clock with movement #351-020/75cm.  It does not keep time,  the chimes do work.  Is it worth looking into having repaired,  or is it best to go with a new mechanism?

thanks so much

ANSWER: if it runs but doesn't keep proper time just raise or lower the round pendulum disk to speed up or down the timekeeping--no repairs needed!

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

QUESTION: Hi

I am sorry I did not ask the correct question,  the pendulum stops completely after a minute or two.  I have a feeling the main spring is too weak to power the pendulum...

bruce

Answer
probably not the spring - probably the beat or levelness of the movement. Run thru this check list I wrote up to see if this is it.

-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!