Expert: Martin Meyer - 4/14/2008

Question
I purchased my Ridgeway grandfather clock 2 years ago.Everithing was fine,until I've noticed that gradually my beautiful clock was beating irregularly(it still does).I started using some shims to tilt the clock, so I can hear  a nice and even beat,but it gets worse and worse.It is already eye soaring,and I refuse to tilt it more.I know that it's suppose to have automatic adjustment,because it's definitely newer than 20 years.I shouldn't have to take it in just for that(I hope).Can you please help me?Thank you

Answer
Hi Emil,
    Not all newer movements have automatic beat setting, and auto beat setting is notorious for being unreliable.
   First, remove the shims and level your clock. Then remove the side or back panels to access the back of the movement. You will see that the pendulum is connected to a strip of metal about 6 inches long. This is the pendulum leader. There will be another brass flat strip (the crutch) which comes out of the back top of the movement, bends to go straight down, then ends in a connection to the pendulum leader. This connection will be either a round post on the crutch going through a hole in the leader, or a forked end on the crutch going around the leader.
    Now move the crutch to either side. You will feel a point of slight resistance near the end of the swing. Push the crutch past the point of resistance, just a tiny amount. If the uneven ticking sounds worse, or if there is no tick, do the same thing in the opposite direction of swing. Do this in small adjustments on whichever side makes the tick more even, until you achieve the steady "tick-tick" sound.
    Adjusting the beat is a very delicate process, and it will most likely take a few tries for you to "get the feel" of the adjustment. But, if you do it patiently and in very tiny adjustments, you should be able to correct the beat.