Expert: William J Perkins - 8/9/2008

Question
I have an old Howard Miller Grandmother Clock that is a weight driven #150 Westminster Chime movement. It runs fine and keeps good time. The quarter hour chimes work fine. The hour chime tries to work but the hammers contently fall too far back to allow the mechanism to cause them to strike. When I tip the hammers off there pivot point the hammers strike the rods for several hours and then fall back again.  How do I keep them engaged with the drive mechanism?

Answer
From what you tell me I would guess the locking screw on the strike hammer assembly has loosened.  To correct you need to gain access to the strike assembly, you do this by removing the inspection door on the left side of your clock.  Looking through this portal you will see, the hammer assembly and the shaft it is mounted on.  On the assembly itself you will see a set screw.  Using a screwdriver loosen this screw so the hammers can all be moved as a unit.  Locate the hammers so that they are 1/8th inches away from the strike rods, tighten the set screw and you should have corrected your problem.