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Clocks, Watches/Antique James Farnham Grandfather Clock

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Expert: - 7/10/2008


Question

clockworks
Ken,

I appreciate your response so far on my grandfather clock rope issue and sorry I had to start a new thread. It would be great if I could talk to you but I assume that isn't done. I have quite a bit of mechanical aptitude so working on things like the clock aren't scary.

In your last response you told me to just switch the lead donut for the pulley and weight. However when I pull on either side of the front sprocket where the weight is currently connected, the clock hand moves back and forth. So I assume that means the weight should be on that side because it drives the clock work. It seems to me that the rope is not threaded properly and I can't translate the drawing you sent to how the clock should be wound. I'm sure you've fixed dozens of these but it seems more like the clock is threaded wrong than the weights are on the wrong sides. I've included another picture. The left sprocket is the front of the clock that currently has the weight on it that moves the hands when I pull back and forth on it.

Again sorry for continuing to ask but not sure any other way to get the clock working again with the new rope.

thank you
Michael Bartholomew

Answer

threading
do not quite understand the confusion here-- the two rope sprockets are ratcheted so they only move one direction to wind and the other way to power the movement.Thus you know which way they need to be pulled by the weight to drive the clock! It may be that only one is ratcheted now that I think about it. If there is a rope sprocket with no ratchet -applying power by hand to the gear attached to the sproket will tell you if the clock strikes properly in that direction or the hands move clockwise properly--right? see photo showing all 4 possible rotations of the front vs rear sprockets

Kenneth Saunders

Expertise

any mechanical clock question -no watches- no battery clock questions and no appraisals-ie: "how much is my clock worth?" type questions please! Attach a photo if possible and note all markings on the rear of the mechanism- thanks 40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner

Experience

40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner.

Organizations
NAWCC

Education/Credentials
above----------

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