Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 9/14/2008

Question
I inherited my grandfather's Montgomery Ward clock (Model CPM 9084). He over-wound it and the weights were way above the area in which they should be. My dad and I worked the weights back down and set the pendulum swinging, only it swings for just one or two minutes and then stops. Also, when we advance the hands, it's supposed to chime on the quarter hours, but we only hear clicking and no chimes. I had the back of it open and was fiddling with some of the mechanisms back there (probably not the best idea), but I know the chimes work because they did chime, or at least the hours did and then the weight did fall a bit. I guess I'm wondering whether the mechanisms are broken, or if the pendulum spring is perhaps broken? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
the clock cannot be overwound.

your suspension spring might be broken or just the swing of the pendulum out of beat.

suspension spring looks like this:
http://www.clock-keys.com/CART/images/11611.JPG

check this out:-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.
  Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement. Newer movements have a horizontal bar that fits in the brass suspension leader slot.
  Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other.
  If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely.
  If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
  There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!