Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 6/5/2009

Question
I have a Seth Thomas clock that strikes very rapidly. To explain it a little more, the strikes are in too rapid succession, it will strike for 12 o'clock in about 5 or 6 seconds. I have opened it to take a look and I feel that the fan fly rotates too fast. There are some blobs of solder on the fan wings. Could you suggest a remedy ? Thank you.

Answer
that little brass fan should be friction fit on its' shaft- it may be loose enough to allow the shaft to spin with out the fan moving at the same speed. If so the quick fix is a very small dab of glue on the center of the shaft. Proper way is to remove the gear and tighten by hand - but that is not for non-pros to do. The solder should NOT be there and was added by some "shoemaker" in the past. OK to leave the solder.