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Clocks, Watches/1977 Ansonia Ezee Set Westminster Chime mantle clock

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Expert: - 11/12/2009


Question

Ansonia Ezee Set Westm
As an amateur antique clock hobbist, I am repairing the mentioned clock for a coworker's Mother ! Works great now except! (after 2 days running & chiming just fine. the chime & strike will stop working.) Clock continues to run fine, and a partial turn of key on right chime spring will activate a few chimes, Am not able to remove spring barrels to clean or oil, seems like chime spring although not wound down, sticks at this point? Am assuming this is 7/8 day not 30 day clock? If Chime spring is sticking after 2 days of running? is it possible to carefully drill small hole in spring barrell ?? at a particular spot?? to be able to get some oil to the spring? I know the proper way would be to disassemble the movement and barrel, but that is beyond my expertise ! Have unwound all springs at least a couple of times by hand, and even thought of using a heat gun to maybe soften things up? Looking for a short cut since the owner cannot afford to have a real professional Clock Doc. do it! Will attach picture of clock, it has Hermle movement with the plastic snail. Thank You So Much for sharing your knowledge, not many people do that anymore. Woody

Answer
the barrels come out and apart easily.

unwind the chime spring fully

on the front of the movement remove the slotted bolt holding the clip over the shaft end and the ratchet gear on the shaft

pull the shaft and gear straight out and the entire chime barrel falls out

pry the cover off and see if some lube is needed.

you may find a bad tooth on the barrel or the shaft it drives above it in the clock may be bent

it is an 8 day clock

most probably there is wear in the chime shut-off cam shaft (round with steel pin on the back) on the front of the movement on the top front right side, just to the left (wear shows  as up and down slop in the shaft hole in the brass plate)and driven by the 4 lobed chime cam

the wear causes the chime train to jam up intermitently as the spring winds down. These Hermles have this spot as their real weakness. no  real fix except a pro rebuild or replacement.
You could convert it to a hour strike only (no Westmister quarter chimes)- just remove the drive gear on the back bottom left of the mechanism that drives the chime drum. Should still run the gearing with the chime hammer lifting no longer required of the chime train- and yet trip the hour strike to work.
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 9Politeness = 10
    CommentVery fast response ! info will help, possibly a little over my head but very helpful, thanks so much ! Woody


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Kenneth Saunders

Expertise

any mechanical clock question -no watches- no battery clock questions and no appraisals-ie: "how much is my clock worth?" type questions please! Attach a photo if possible and note all markings on the rear of the mechanism- thanks 40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner

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40 years as a professional clock repair person- still a full time clock repair service owner.

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