Expert: Martin Meyer - 6/18/2009

Question
the clock was given to us as a gift and we are having a hard time of knowing how to hang the chimes back on the chains. there are 5 chains hanging and we have 3 heavy chimes. How do we put them back on?

Answer
Hi Trenice,

There are three chains to hold the three weights. One end of each chain has a hook on it and holds the weight, the other end hangs free and you pull it down to wind the weights back up when they get low. If you only see five chain ends hanging, then one of the chain ends is all the way up inside the movement.

If it is the Pull end of the chain, you may be able to look up inside the movement, see the chain end, and pull it down. If it is the hook end (that the weight attaches to) you may be able to hook the weight on it if enough of the chain is hanging free. If there is not enough of the hook end showing to attach the weight, the problem will be more difficult. If it is either of the side chains and the clock has small panels or doors on the sides at the level of the dial, you may be able to reach in through the side openings, find the sprocket, and manually rotate it until enough chain comes down to attach the weight.

If it is the center chain that is the problem, correcting it will be much more difficult. It is occasionally possible to reach up inside the movement with a long screwdriver or rod and push it against the sprocket so that the sprocket rotates until enough chain shows. Usually, however, this is very difficult to do, and you must be extremely careful or you can damage internal parts if you hit them with the screwdriver or rod. I would strongly recommend having a professional clock repairer do a service call to correct the problem if it is the center chain.

Finally, when you attach the weights, the heaviest one goes on the right (as you look at the clock), and the lightest one goes on the left.  http://www.clockmasteronline.com