Expert: John Newman - 11/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: I, too, have this chiming wall clock; mainspring is broken; do you know
a parts supplier where I can buy a mainspring?  Thanks, John! Jerry
Summers

ANSWER: Hi, Jerry.  In answer to your question, some of the parts suppliers I use are Timesavers, Merritts, R&M and Mile-Hi.  The contact information can be found by Googling their names or by searching under clock parts suppliers.  Most of them now have on-line catalogs.  I was just on the Timesavers Website and their part number for that spring is #23138.

Now, let me ask you this.  If you are not familiar with the suppliers, are you experienced in replacing a mainspring?  The reason I mention this is that I never recommend anyone working on a clock movement that is not familiar and experienced with the process.  I have conducted clock repair classes and I compare mainsprings to rattlesnakes.  If you are not experienced with handling them, you can get bitten.  I have seen people with ugly scars from mainsprings that have let go during disassembly, especially the ones on the 31-day clocks that are extremely powerful.  The mainsprings have to be contained before the plates of the movement are separated to remove them.  Professionally, after this is done, the parts are cleaned and then inspected for wear or defects.  When a mainspring breaks and lets go, it can damage other parts, and the have to be replaced or corrected.  Then the movement has to be reassembled and aligned.  I might mention that the Asian 31-day clocks have a history of excessive wear, partially due to the "overpowered" mainsprings required to run them for a month.  I convert most of the ones that come into my shop with a quality German chiming movement done in a way that does not alter the appearance of the clock.  Some of them have very nice cases and these clocks do have sentimental values for the owners.  I hope this has helped a little.  If you have any more questions, get back with me.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much, John, for the info & advice.  I do have some limited
experience w/clock repair as we inherited a great french westminister
chime clock & have "re-gifted" a few others.  The mainspring on the
inexpensive Korean clock is broken right beyond the winding shaft &
totally unwound, therefore safe to disassemble I would think.  These
clocks are so common & relatively inexpensive ($150-175 in good
order) don't want to invest too much in repairs so a quality German
spring is probably not feasible.  Thanks again for your kind &
generous response!  I may decide to pursue replacing the spring ...
very carefully!  Jerry

Answer
Jerry, if you do try to replace it, you must be cautious, as the other mainspring is "ready to strike" also.  Also, the only mainsprings I know of for these clocks are the Asian ones that are made to the original specifications.  I have never seen any other manufacturers shown.  These seem to always be listed separately, as they are much longer than the nominal lengths.

John Newman