Expert: William J Perkins - 4/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a Montgomery Ward CPM 9084 Grandfather clock and the center chain came off. I`m guessing that someone pulled on it causing it to come off. Is there an easy way to put the chain back on? I`ve tried to put it back on but I don`t want to damage the clock. Please help!

ANSWER: Without a special tools to accomplish, there is only the hard way.  This can be a very frustrating experience because of the propensity of the chain to thread over adjacent shafts, and to jump off the wheel before you can secure it, which would, of course, never do.  To avoid this, I suggest you remove the movement from he case so that you can view the progress of the chain over its cog wheel.  Before beginning, and if there are still chains still properly hung, be sure to secure them in their place be wrapping bread ties around them.  This done you can remove the movement from the case and move it around without fear of dropping another chain off its cog.  When you have removed the movement from it case, turn it so that you can look directly down from the bottom.  You will note the cog wheel the chain fits around.  Using a skewer, or other similar implement, push against the cog to turn it.  You will note that in one direction the cog will ratchet and in the other lock.  Remove the hook from the end of the chain and feed it into the cog as far as you can.  Using you skewer cause the cog wheel to ratchet, this will feed the chain over the cog wheel.  As you are feeding the chain, rotate the movement so the chain stays flat against the cog,if you don't the chain will feed over the top of adjacent shafts, which is a no-no!  In this manner continue feeding the chain until you can grasp the emerging end of the chain and pull it downwards to where you have reached 50-50 expanse of chain on either side of the cog.  This achieved, use a bread tie to secure the chain in place, replace the hook to the end of the chain and proceed to the next chain.  This can be a very time consuming and frustrating experience.  Hang in there.  You can do it.  Regards WJP

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

QUESTION: Sorry to bother you again. When you said that i needed to remove the "movement" from the case,what exactly did you mean by that? Is the movement the gold colored back piece of the clock?

Answer
The movement is the clocks motor.  The thing with all the gears and stuff.  It sits upon what is called a seatboard and is held down by a bolt on either side.  On most clocks the order of things to remove in order to take the movement from the case you must, remove the hands, remove the pendulum, remove the weights, secure the chains with bread ties, remove the hold down bolts (mentioned above), lift the motor up from the seatboard and remove.  To install, reverse the procedure.  If you have never done this before and/or can't figure out how to do it, get a repairman to do it for you.  Watch carefully how it is done so that you can, thenceforth, do it yourself.  Regards WJP