Expert: Harold Williamson - 12/4/2009

Question
Hi...I put my friend grand father clock pendulum and "marked" weights back on after clock was moved. The time was ok next day but no chimes...I tried to move those spinning butterfly like mechanisms and everything looks good.
Now the clock is slow...and no chimes.
When weights were installed i ran them all the way up and the right and left never moved so i reset the chains on left and right and the left moves down but not the right weight.

Answer
Hi David,

Assuming the heavy weight is on the right as you are looking at the front of the clock there may be bushing wear on the chime side of the clock.  

The right weight runs the chiming of the clock and if it wont chime it wont activate the strike or left side of the clock.  

Try adding a couple of pounds of downward pressure  very carefully to the right weight as you turn the hand slowly past all the chiming points.  If it will chime with this extra weight and not without it there is bushing wear or dirty/no lube on several of the pivots in the clock.

If it has a chime selector or silence lever on the right side of the dial near the 3 push it up and down several times to see if it releases the chime sequence.  Move it rather quickly up and down.

If none of these tips work you might need to find a qualified clocksmith to work on it.  Can get a bit pricey but sometimes necessary.

Good luck.
Harold