Clocks, Watches/Emperor 100M

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Expert: Martin Meyer - 12/27/2009


Question
I have an Emperor 100M from my wife's grandfather.  It was running fine until @ 10 years ago when the suspension spring broke.  I recently replaced the spring and blew compressed air on the works to clean out any dust (it was pretty clean# and got some clock lubricant and very lightly oiled the sprocket holes.  After I reassembled, the clock keeps running when the pendulum is not attached #of course very fast) and runs for two or three minutes when the pendulum is attached but then stops.  I have tried some minor adjustments to the anchor assembly arm but still get the same problem.  i would appreciate any ideas you might have to correct the problem.  Thanks.  Paul Russoniello

Answer

Pendulum Leader Assemb
Hi Paul,

When a pendulum only swings for a few minutes it is most often out of beat. When you say "anchor assembly arm" you may be referring to the crutch. I have attached a photo to help illustrate; it will  not be exactly like your clock but the basic parts will be the same. The beat is set by moving the crutch to one side or the other, but the amount of adjustment is in the thousands of an inch, so you have to be very precise. Also, you have to listen to the tick or use a timing machine to make the adjustments. This process is somewhat beyond the scope of this forum. In extremely abbreviated form, you are moving the crutch in tiny amounts to get the tick sounding "tick-tick-tick" like a metronome. If it goes "tick-TOCK-tick-TOCK", that is, makes an uneven ticking sound, then it is out of beat.

You said you oiled the sprocket holes. The sprockets are the spoked wheels on a chain-driven clock which hold the chains. If you only oiled these bearings, then you need to oil every hole where an arbor (gear shaft) goes through the front and back main plates. The compressed air was probably not a good idea. It may have forced dirt into some of the bearings, causing your problem. However, it is much more likely that the pendulum beat is the problem.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com

Martin Meyer

Expertise

Can answer repair and service questions for most types of clocks, antique and modern, mechanical and battery. NO watches, appraisals, identification, history, dating, or questions about cuckoo clocks. Website for Modern and Antique Clock Repair: Clockmasteronline.com

Experience

24 Years as owner and repairman of clock repair business, 28 years in the field. Factory Independent Service Center for Howard Miller, Ridgeway and (formerly) Sligh Clocks. Specializing in Fine Antique Longcase (grandfather) clocks. Clock repair Website: (Please remove "Not" from the address - this is a spam protection): www.NotClockmasteronline.com

Organizations
AWCI (American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute) and NAWCC (National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors)

Publications
Am also an Expert in the "AllExperts-Antiques-Antique Clocks" Category.

Education/Credentials
Trained by a former Rolex Asia watchmaker, and by a Master Watchmaker/Clockmaker.

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