Expert: William J Perkins - 4/14/2008

Question
QUESTION:  i have a Tempus Fugit Herschede clock! i tried to move it and the chime on the left side fell off, so we screwed it back on to the chain, but now the chime or the swingie thing doesn't work! did i break it? did i pull the chimes up to high? how can you help me? i have only had it for 2 months, but it is a older clock, i got at a sale, can you walk me through the steps to try to fix it? also there are 2 strings one on the right and one on the left, don't know if those should be connected to the little hooks on the side of the clock! please help!!!! thanks penny

ANSWER: You do have a heap of troubles!  Unfortunately I don't understand what you are trying to tell me.  Could I prevail upon you to explain, as best you can, what is or is not happening?  If I understand correctly the left side weight fell off and you screwed the hook back on and rehung it, then, the pendulum would not swing.
If I am getting this right tell me if the clock ever ran properly while in your possesion.  When you brought it home did you remove the weights and pendulum before moving the clock, then install them when you got it into position?  When you attempt to get the pendulum to swing does it swing for quite a while or stop rather soon?  Does the clock tick while the pendulum is swinging?  I need your help to help you.  Regards WJP

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

QUESTION:  HI! Its me again! Well it stopped now. you can hear it trying to chime, and i was thinking that it was to tight! and there are 2 strings one on the right and one on the left side (inside) the clock. the one one the left will dong when you pull it down, the one on the right does not do anything. and now the pendulum will not keep swinging, it did chime if i make it but then now you can only hear it trying to. if i give you my phone number are you able to call me? i need to get this fixed cause it is my baby! i miss it so.  THANK~YOU!

ANSWER: Hi Penny,  Again I need your help in order to help you.  PLEASE read very carefully my initial response and answer the questions I have posed. Hershede has made literally hundreds of different movements.  If I am to help you I must be able to visualize the correct model of movement in your clocks.  These questions lead me to recognition.  Now with your current follow-up I have more questions.
1.  Are the weights of your clock suspended on chains or cables?
2.  When you suggest you can make chime.  How can you make it chime.
3.  When you say "you can hear it trying to" what do you mean?
4.  Does your clock play more than one melody?
Now as to trying to walk you through on the phone, that could, and probably would, end up costing quite a bit of money.  We can do this just as well this way.  It will take longer, but will be more efficient and cost effective.  Let's give it a try.  Okay!!  Regards WJP

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

QUESTION: Hello, I am Penny's daughter, and am trying to help her with the troubleshooting of this clock. answers to your qustions:
1: weights are suspended by chains
2: when in working order , you can make it chime by      moving the hands of the clock.
3: when she says it tries to chime, she means that you can hear a clicking and you can also hear the motor.
4: it plays only one melody and also dings/dongs on the hours etc. (when in working order)

Answer
Okay, now we can get going.  In your first inquiry you spoke of two strings, one on each side.  These strings are there to cause the clock to strike or chime, on demand.  The one on your right is for the chime, (the melody) and the one on the left the strike, (the hour).  Simply pull down to cause the action you want.
Before going any further let me explain a bit about your clock.  From your description it has a 3 train movement, which are essentially 3 separate motors.  As you face the clock the weight on your left drives the strike train.  This is the one that gongs out the hour for you.  The center train is called the time train.  It drives the gears etc. that carries the hands around the clocks face to tell you the time.  In addition, by a series of gears and lifts it causes the chime train to start every 15 minutes, at which intervals it plays progressive parts of the melody, at 15 minutes past the hours it plays 4 notes, at the 30 minute quarter it plays 8 notes of the melody, at the 45 minute quarter it plays 12 notes and at the hour, 16 notes, the entire melody.  When the chime train completes playing the entire melody (on the Hour) it causes the strike train to commence running and it will strike the appropriate number of blows to announce the hour.  The fact that you hear the motor running tells me the trains are running but for some reason the hammers are not hitting the chime rods.  You need to expose the movement so that you can observe exactly what is going on with respect to the lifting and dropping of the hammers.  Watch the action caused by your actual moving of the hands and by letting the clock do it by itself.  By your description the clock will do its thing when you physically move the hands but does not when left to itself.  You will need to observe this very carefully so that you can describe the difference.  I suspect the problem is in the lifting process.  Why?  Because the forced movement of you physically moving the hands exerts more force than when the clock tries to do it itself.  I know you don't understand what I am talking about but this is what you need do, if you are truly observant you will note a difference.  Having that difference related to me will allow me to suggest corrective measures.
Before trying the above make sure your weights are hung in their proper order.  The heaviest weight must be hung on right side train, as you face the clock.  The other two will be about the same weight, so it doesn't matter which one you hang center or left.
I hope we are beginning to hit the mark.  Regards WJP