Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 3/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Why does my old Seth Thomas always run fast. (1 hour in a day and 1/2????)
Is it possible the pendulum is not correct??
thanks joe

ANSWER: seemingly not the right length anyway-can you adjust it longer- move the disc or bob down with the adjuster nut underneath?

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick response.
Bob does not have a adjuster nut. The clock has a "Slow/Fast" adjustment on the face. I tried moving it all the way to "slow" (counter clockwise) still no luck.
Could it be the weight of the bob. How could I tell.
Thanks again...so much
joe

ANSWER: not the weight, only making it longer will slow it down. make a S hook out of a paperclip or such and turn the top of the S 90degrees from the bottom of the S and hang it on the back wire and hook the bob on the S hook so the bob is lower and try it.

The adjuster may not be working - watch in the back while turning from the front an see if the adjuster assembly moves up and down.

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

QUESTION: Thanks again..I can see it move.
what about the Bob could that be wrong?? how can I tell??
Hope I'm not being a PAIN!!!
regards
joe

Answer
no pain - no gain

make sure you are turning it the right direction. The adjuster varies the "free" bottom length of the pendulum -longer is slower.

Either a fork surrounding the flexible strip is raised or lowered OR the top of the flexible strip is lifted or dropped through a fixed fork. Make sure the "waggling" length below the fork is increased to slow it down.

sure the bob could be wrong, the size of the bob does not matter really, just the overall length from top to bottom- got a photo?

Try the above and the the S hook experiment mentioned and you will know if you need a longer bob after checking all else and it keeps good time when you make it longer with the S hook (which you can leave on there if it works- the clock could care less!)