Expert: Martin Meyer - 1/18/2009

Question
My mother has a 31 day chime clock. My father used to set it, however he has passed away and we have no instructions. I have tried to set and wind it for her as he showed me however the "pendulum" doesn't keep going for more than about 5 min. I have left it alone for a long while as not to break it or anything. Do you know the correct way to set and wind this clock or a web site where I could obtain directions?  Thanks for any information you might be able to send my way. Josh

Answer
Hi Josh,

Both winding shafts should be wound all the way, a far as they will go. This will be a considerable number of turns if you wind the clock once a month. You can also wind it weekly or semi-weekly and it will keep slightly better time.

This clock should be set my turning the minute hand forward only, stopping at each strike point to let the clock complete its striking before turning the hand farther.

The pendulum most likely stops because it is out of beat. With the clock hanging on the wall, start the pendulum with just enough swing to keep ticking. Now listen to the tick: if your clock is in beat, the tick sound should be "tick-tick-tick", steady like a metronome. If it is out of beat, the sound will be uneven, "tick-TOCK-tick-TOCK".    If your clock is out of beat, move it side-to-side on the wall in VERY small amounts, trying one way and then the other, until the beat evens out. The amount you move it will probably be less than you can notice when you're looking at the clock. If you have to move it so much that it looks crooked on the wall, then you'll probably need to have a clock repairer set the beat for you, as the parts which need to be adjusted are on the front of the movement in this clock, and the dial and hands will have to be removed to access these parts.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com