Expert: Harold Williamson - 10/23/2009

Question
Good Afternoon ...  

I have a Howard Miller grandfather clock I purchased in 1991. I need to oil it .. ordered an oil kit ... now what??  No manual to be found, but with some direction, I feel I can do this. Do I access through the side panels or will I need to remove the face?  It became very slow to chime last month and I stopped it while I ordered the oil kit.  Thank you so much for your help!

Answer
Hello Vicki,
Most clocks need to be removed from the case after about 10 years and dissembled,cleaned and tweaked then oiled.  Oiling over the gunk that has built up with clean will only cause the clock to run in new dirty gritty oil.  

But here goes,
you will need access to the front, back and sides of the movement.
A good light.
You put a drop of oil at every location that a pivot goes thru the front and back plate.  It is ok to oil what you can reach inside the plates where the pivots enter the plates.  Put the min. hand on and watch as the clock starts its chiming sequence and if it moves put a drop at the point of contact.

Looking at the top inside of the clock you will see what looks like a crutch top that rocks on and off a round wheel with teeth.  oil the pivots but don't put oil on the surface of the crutch that touches the escape wheel.  No need to put any oil on any of the teeth on any of the wheels.  The weight and wheels on the right run the chiming, the weight and wheels in the center run the time and the weight and wheels on the left run the strike.

Again I say you really need a clocksmith to service your clock.  Be careful who you choose.

Good luck

Harold
919-304-7651
fulltimeclockrepair@gmail.com
Mebane,NC