Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 5/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have a grandfather clock given to me after my father died.  I can start the pendulum and hear a tick and a metallic tock for about five minutes and then the pendulum stops.  If I remember correctly, this clock always gave a pure tick-tock sound.  Any ideas on what the problem could be?  The clock movement is definitely a Hermle 451-053 with a 24" pendulam.

ANSWER: try this and let me know: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!


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

QUESTION: I would appreciate any suggestions on another problem.  The grandfather clock nows runs and keeps good time but does not chime.  I know it used to chime on the hour and every fifteen minutes a long time ago.  The hammers are touching the bars as they should be.

Answer
shut off switch exists on the right side by the number 3 on the dial.
the heaviest of the three weight needs to be on the right side ( the #3 side) next heaviest in the middle.
  Try pulling on the right hand weight a bit while moving the minute hand through the quarters.