Expert: Martin Meyer - 7/24/2008

Question
I have inherited my Mom's grandfather clock bought probably 30 years ago or
so.  I cannot see anyway to install the center weight and chain from the back
opening or from underneath.  The right and left weights and chains seem to
be in position and OK.  If there an on-line instruction manual of how to
install the center weight and chain if would help me a lot.

Thank you so much if you can help.

Rick

Answer
Hi Rick,

Please excuse my delay in getting back to you; I had a computer crash problem which took several days to correct.

Installing the center chain can be much more difficult than installing the two side chains. The best way to do this is to first remove the movement from the clock. I'm not able to give instructions on this, because there are many different ways that movements are mounted in the clock case. This is an operation which you really have to figure out for your particular clock.

Once the movement is out of the case, remove the pull-end from the chain (one end should have a hook for the weight, the other a tab to pull the chain). Next, move the sprocket wheel to determine in which direction it turns. Then thread the chain onto the sprocket from the end that you you have removed the pull-end from. Finally, reattach the pull end when the chain is threaded all the way onto the sprocket.

If removing the movement seems too difficult, it is possible, but difficult, to thread the chain onto the sprocket with the movement in place. As above, remove the pull end first. Then work from underneath the movement, feeding the chain end up onto the sprocket by use of a screwdriver or piece of wire such as a coat hanger, bent into a slight reverse hook, so that it can hold the chain end as you feed it up. Once you manage to get the chain end hooked onto a tooth of the sprocket, you can turn the sprocket to feed the chain through the rest of the way. As I said above, this is not the ideal way to do this operation. It can be difficult and frustrating, and you must be very careful not to damage any internal gears while doing it.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com