Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 10/28/2009

Question
QUESTION: My Boston shipstrike keeps perfect time. However the "Bell" is 1/2 hour off. Ex. at 1730 it strikes 4 bells. I suppose I could let it stop and reset it, but would have to reset both hands. Reluctant to do so. Thank you...

ANSWER: letting it stop will do nothing for your problem.

when it strikes 4 bells it should read 6:00 on the hands or 1800  so when it does 4 bells move the short hour hand ahead 1/2 hour to point at 6--- remove the nut holding the minute hand on its shaft and remove the minute hand and turn it 180 degrees to point at number 12 - replace nut

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QUESTION: Upon paying closer attention I note that the error strike is only on the 1/2 hours, i.e. at 1230 two bells, at 1330 4 bells and at 1430 6 bells. The hours are correct. I am reluctant to have someone "fix" it as I have had disastrous luck in the past. BTW, the clock was bought in Sun City, AZ at another shop!

ANSWER: I told you how to fix it, above.

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QUESTION: Sorry I wasn't clear before. The strikes are as follows: 0030-2 bells; 0100-2; 0130-4; 0200-4; 0230-6; 0300-6; 0330-8; 0400-8. i.e. only even # strikes, no odd # strikes. It's a puzzlement. Thanks for all your kindness.

Answer
ok that is a bit different. This is an internal problem (minor adjustment) but is a job for a pro- there are several causes and it needs to come apart and get figured out.There is an internal system that is supposed to withhold the second bell at 0030 and not at 0100- it is not working and there are several systems different manufacturers used and I cannot recall or explain in order to tell you what exactly needs be done to fix it.