Expert: William J Perkins - 7/3/2009

Question
Recently purchased a Howard Miller Wall Clock model
612-227.  Problem is after winding it does not stop chiming.  Hope you can help me as it is a pretty clock.  Thanks

Answer
Without actually seeing the clock I would guess you have a problem with a lever, a pin or a spring.  To determine if this be the case you would need to gain access to the front of the movement, behind the dial.  With access you would see an arrangement of gears, levers, springs etc., located on the front of the movement.  This is called the time works.  With an open view to this works you should be able to see why the chime keeps running.  The most common thing would be the pin that is supposed to engage a ratchet tooth is either missing or damage.  That being the case you would need to repair or replace the pin.  The next most common failure would be that the pawl carrying the pin from above is slipping on it shaft.  This is a tapered shaft so you only need to push it back towards the frontplate to re-establish its friction grip.  The next possibility is that the spring exerting pressure upon the ratchet, is broken, worn or out of place.  There are of course many other possibilities, I have enumerated only the most likely.  Regards WJP