Expert: Martin Meyer - 4/10/2008

Question
On 10-31-07, I ask Tom Anderson about chimes out of sink. He told me to take it to an expert, I did, now it won't strike at all, told me it needed a lot of parts. I looked in the back & saw a small arm on the upper right & it looks like a "c" clip is missing. Is there any place on the net I can get a picture brake down of the working part?. Thank you Leon

Answer
Hi Leon,
    I don't know of a website which shows technical illustrations of Hermle movements. The best source I know of is the printed Hermle Service Manual, and Hermle Parts Listing, available from most clock supply houses.
    The only part that I can think of which seems as you describe, is the strike lifting arm. This is an L-shaped lever which is mounted on a post on the right side of the back plate, and is held on with an E-clip. The only other E-clips on the back plate are on the lower two of the three large chime gears, on the left part of the plate.
    If this lifting lever is missing altogether, the clock will not strike the hours, but other than that, this is probably not the source of the problem. The average lifespan of these small movements is 15 to 20 years, and your clock repairer may have been referring to wear in the movement's bearings, which requires rebushing or replacing the entire movement. This is the most common cause of chime failure in older movements.