Expert: Martin Meyer - 9/25/2008

Question
Searched but did not find similar problem - just recovered from an uncles garage an old (date unknown) Waltham 31-day "made in China" pendulum chime wall clock, manuf by Spartus Corp.  Rehung pendulum, weights, and wound it up. It runs and chimes, but pendulum only swings for a short time (5 min maybe) before slowing and stopping.  Seems to tick well while running, just not for very long. Thanks for any help.

Answer
Hi Pete,

There are many possible causes for your clock's stopping, but the most likely is that it is out of beat. I recently described the beat-setting process in my answer to "Don - Lenzkirch Beat Setting". The differences between that clock and yours are most likely: 1) the pendulum and crutch will be on the front of the movement; you will have to remove the hands and dial, but not remove the movement from the clock. 2) your clock will not have a pendulum leader, but just a pendulum wire extending all the way from the post to the pendulum connection. 3) the crutch on your clock is probably a wire with a horizontal loop at the bottom, which goes around the pendulum wire. Other than these differences, the process of bending the crutch wire to set the beat is the same.

If, when the beat is properly adjusted, the clock still stops, it may need lubrication or have worn bearings and need an overhaul.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com