Expert: Martin Meyer - 5/9/2009

Question
Hi Mr. Meyer,

Not sure if that's what it's called, but the dial with the picture of the moon following phases is not accurate. Is there an easy way to correct it?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Richard,

By "not accurate" I believe you mean that it is not set to correspond to the actual phase of the moon. To set the moon dial, rotate it clockwise. If your clock has small side doors or panels at dial level, open the left door or remove the left panel. Then you can reach inside and turn the moon dial by the large teeth around its circumference. If your clock does not have any side access, push the moon dial forward from the front of the clock with your finger.

When the moon image is centered in the moon dial window, a full moon is indicated. When you don't see the moon image at all, a new moon is indicated. The easiest way to set the moon dial is to find when the last full moon or new moon occurred, set the dial to that position, then count the days from that last full or new moon to today, clicking the dial forward one click for each day. (Some old and antique clocks require two clicks per day, but your clock will require one.)

Remember that the lunar month is approximately 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes long, so your moon dial will be off by a little more than a half-day each month. The remedy for this is simply to readjust the moon dial setting every few months.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com