Expert: Martin Meyer - 10/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: The pendulum on the clock does not swing back and forth. It keeps time and the chins/weights are fine also. How do I get the pendulum to swing?

ANSWER: Hi Janine,

I'm wondering if this is a quartz (battery) clock. In those clocks, the pendulum motion is independent of the time keeping. Quartz movements are not repairable and, if you have already tried replacing the batteries, your only option is to replace the entire movement.

Perhaps I'm somehow misunderstanding your question, but if your clock has a mechanical movement, that is, no batteries and the weights provide the power to run the clock, it is not possible for the clock to keep time if the pendulum is not swinging. This is because the pendulum IS the timekeeping part of the clock, and is what makes the hands move and the clock keep time.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the reply, but I had the problem all wrong.  The clock works, the pendulum swings but the chimes don't work. The weights on the clock goes down but the weight for the chimes doesn't move.

Answer
Hi Janine,

There are many possible causes of chime failure, but I can make a few suggestions. First, make sure that the heaviest weight is on the right (as you look at the clock). Look for a Chime Silent lever and make sure that the chime is turned on. This can be a lever extending through the dial, strings hanging down from the movement which attach to hooks on the sides of the case, or a large L-shaped lever on the back of the movement which presses against the chime hammers. Make sure that the chime hammers are in an even row, and not tangled with each other. If you have a Night Silent feature, make sure that it is turned off.

If none of these suggestions help, it is likely that the movement either needs lubricating or has wear in its bearings and needs an overhaul or new movement.