Expert: Martin Meyer - 5/29/2008

Question
We have a clock with a Hermie movement ( model 340-020 ). As you are probably familiar with it, it chimes every 15 minutes.  The problem is that it recently started chiming 15 minutes LATE.  In other words, the HOUR chime occurs at 15 minutes after the hour.  How can we reset the chime to work correctly ?

Answer
Hi John,

There are two possibilities here as to what is happening with your clock. Additionally, I need to distinguish between the "chime", which is the Westminster melody played in sections every quarter, and the "strike", which is the hour count on the hour.

First, make sure that your clock is chiming and striking in the correct sequence, all the time, even if the sequences are occurring at the incorrect quarters. In other words, the clock should chime four descending notes at a (any) quarter, then two 4-note sequences at the next quarter, then three 4-note sequences, then finally four 4-note sequences plus the hour strike.

Carefully observe that the clock is chiming and striking as above, and not occasionally failing to chime altogether at a quarter, or chiming multiple sequences occasionally (such as chiming the single 4-note sequence and then continuing to chime the double 4-note sequence directly afterwards). If these sequences are always correct, but are just happening at the wrong quarters, then the minute hand is mounted on its shaft in the wrong position. To correct this, turn the minute to each quarter, stopping to let the clock chime before turning ahead to the next quarter. When you reach the point where the clock chimes four 4-note sequences, plus the hour strike, unscrew the hand nut and remove the minute hand. Now, replace the minute hand pointing to the "12", and replace the hand nut. If necessary, adjust the hour hand to point the the correct hour (the number of hours that the clock has just struck) by moving the HOUR HAND ONLY; the minute hand will not move when you do this. Your clock will now chime and strike correctly.

The second possibility is that the clock is not chiming the sequences correctly, as I described above. If it is missing or repeating chime sequences, this is an internal problem with a number of possible causes, and should be addressed by a professional clock repairer.