Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 12/22/2010

Question
I inherited my fathers clock Model 120 series, movement model #101M several years ago (2003). While rewinding the weights the pendulum fell off and it took me a while to figure out how to reattach it. Finally did, but the clock is not working now. Looks nice in the corner of my room but would like to have a working clock. Are there any repair facilities in the Tacoma/Puyallup WA area that I could contact or can you give me some advise as to how I can get the clock going again.

Answer
we can try and anyone in the yellow pages should be able to help --but run through this and then get back to me:
AND when pulling up the weights use only ONE hand - do not touch the weight.

-The pendulum assembly begins at the top with a 1" two legged suspension spring pinned to a brass post sticking out of the back of the rear movement plate.
  Next a silver(probably) suspension leader about 5" long that hooks onto the bottom of the suspension spring and passes through the "foot" shaped forked brass piece (and must be in the center of the fork slot and not be rubbing front or back) that connects into the inside of the movement. Newer movements have a horizontal bar that fits in the brass suspension leader slot.
  Lastly the top of the pendulum hooks onto the bottom of this suspension leader. NOW if all is correctly assembled, swinging the pendulum will get it ticking. The sound of the ticking must sound even or balanced on either side. Not over-swinging one side or the other.
  If it is not sounding even, then push with your hand the top third of the pendulum over to the side that has the excessive overswing. You may feel some resistance but gently push a bit more then try the sound of the ticking after swinging the pendulum freely.
  If the sound is not improved in the balance then do more pushing -if it is now sounding like excessive swing in the opposite direction then push the pendulum to the other side till it sounds a pretty even tick. Clock should run then. .(There is a little slip clutch that you are adjusting when you push the "L" shaped foot to either side.)
  There are a hundred things that could be wrong- you have just taken a tour through the repair of what is wrong 98% of the time!