Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 12/11/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a grandfather clock with a hermle 2071-850 / 94 movement, when i start the pendulum it swings but the clock doesn't tock, i leveled it but the only thing that i find that will move the second hand is pushing down on the middle weight, i know that they are all in the correct space because they have stickers on the bottom still, any suggestions?

ANSWER: hands touching?
second hand rubbing on dial?
hands rubbing on dial?
how old a clock?
did you give the pendulum a very very wide swing to balance the beat?

clock been moved and the weights taken off? -cable could be twisted on drum

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

QUESTION: The clock I built in school as a woodtech project and finished it last may. The movement we had sitting around for awhile in the box brand new. It had been moved once while I was away and the weights/pendulum might not have been removed. The only thing that will allow the clock to run is still just adding weight to the middle weight.

Answer
try this and advise:-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.
  Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement. Newer movements have a horizontal bar that fits in the brass suspension leader slot.
  Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other.
  If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely.
  If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
  There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!
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