Expert: William J Perkins - 4/6/2008

Question
I had not wound my clock in about two years.
I cleaned it and it is running fine.
However the chimes are not working.
Can you help?

Answer
I don't know how you cleaned your clock but I suspect you immersed the movement in a cleaning solution.  Hermle lacquers there plates, it is not uncommon to leave the clock in the solution to long resulting in the emulsification of the lacquer and its gathering in and around the pivots and pivot holes.  When the movement is tested everything appears to be fine.  Unfortunately since the chime is called upon to do its job every 15 minutes the balance of time is spent in a locked up position.  This gives the emulsified sludge time to harden, freezing the train.  The solution is to clean the clock again, but this time remove all the lacquer from the plates.  Where lacquered plates are involved special care must be taken during the cleaning process.  Regards WJP