Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 8/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi, I work on cuckoo clocks as a hobby so have some knowledge of clocks: was asked by friend who received her fathers grandfather clock after he passed away if I would help level it & get it running, they took weights & pendulum off & layed it in back of truck to haul. we put all items back on but noticed pendulum rod rubs wooden frame, there is a place for a suspension spring to go at top & what looks like a stud with brass ring fitted on end of it, no suspension rod anywhere to be found, has small suspension spring screwed in at top but nothing to connect it to the bottom to hold pendulum rod back away from wood. Is suspension rod or spring what is missing or what is missing & how would I get the part. have several catalogs from Timesavers for parts but can't find anything in their book that looks like what I need, any help will be greatly appreciated by me & this lady who wants to have her fathers clock working again.

ANSWER: csan you post a photo? of the back where the problem is?

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QUESTION: no I can't post pic. didn't have digital camera with me when I went over there. the part in question is suspension spring from top of movement to back side of verge, is it 1 long spring or is there a rod attached to suspension spring? 5" long. if it were attached it would hold verge back and let pendulum swing without rubbing the wood frame.

Answer
yes they have a metal "leader' that hooks to the bottom of the suspension spring, connects somehow with the verge crutch or pin and then has the top of the pendulum hook on to the bottom of the leader- need to know the markings on the back of the mechanism itself to determine the model and make of the works ........