Expert: John Newman - 3/3/2010

Question
Movement ID: Back on right 77 73--on left, hard to read but looks like EtharJuauchUnrenfabrik.
My uncle made this grandfather clock in 1975 for my mother/father--uncle and father are both deceased, so it has great sentimental value.  I hadn't had it running for many years and recently purchased/attached a suspension spring (the other one was broken), but it still doesn't work--pendulum does not swing for more than a minute.  I have the Emperor instructions and with the center weight only attached, the anchor arm moves rapidly and still moves when attaching the suspension arm.  Finally when attaching the pendulum, that is when it ends up stopping. Leveling all checked and good.  Btw, when attaching the suspension spring, I couldn't get the pin to go in half way--it is in just flush with the other side.

I did a couple things I realized later that I shouldn't have: I removed the anchor bridge assy because I couldn't get the old suspension spring out without prying the pin out with pliers and I sprayed WD-40 into and around the bushing area of the minute and hour hands at the front of the face.

I have exhausted all ideas on what to do.  Maybe oiling will help?  The instructions I have from Emperor is not complete--it doesn't have information on the entire movement, so I wouldn't have any idea on how to oil or how to figure out the inside of why it is stopping.  I might have to end up taking it to a clocksmith in the area (probably less expensive than shipping it to Emperor).  Maybe you would know of one in my area that could help?  I want to try to figure it out myself first--trying to avoid spending any more money that I have to.

Would appreciate any help you could give as this clock has sentimental value more than anything else.

Thank you.

June
Jupiter, FL

Answer
June, The movement is what we call a Jauch "77".  It was manufactured by Erhard Jauch in Germany.  Emperor switched from Jauch to Hermle somewhere in the mid-80's because of wear problems that Jauch did not correct.  There are very few clockmakers that will work on them because of the excessive wear and the possibilities of comeback calls.  To do a complete overhaul usually costs more than the replacement of a Hermle conversion replacement.  

Clock movements will sometimes run without a pendulum but not with a pendulum.  This is like starting a car and it will run in idle but when you put it in gear it will stall out.

The pin that holds the suspension spring is okay only halfway in.  The bridge being removed does cause a problem.  The alignment of the bridge has to do with the escapement adjustment and it is very critical.  It affects the entry and exit of the escapement pawls on the verge assembly(getting a little technical here).  We recommend that clocks be lubricated in a proper procedure using only clock oils.  Unfortunately, WD-40 is not one of them and can cause other problems.  To properly service a clock that has been sprayed with WD-40, all parts must be repeatedly cleaned until all traces have been removed.  Let me say that I use WD-40 for many purposes and it is really a great product, but not for lubricating clocks.  It is not a lubricant.  

The condition your clock is in, and taking in consideration the bridge being removed and the WD-40 being sprayed on it, leads up to a likely possibility of having to replacing the movement.  By the way, Emperor closed their doors in Fairhope, Alabama in 2005.  They are now located in Amherst, Virginia at the parent company facility.  They do not service clocks anymore and sell mostly new lines of clocks.  I am the Vintage Emperor Clock Consultant (I was their Plant Engineer in Fairhope) and have information on many of their prior products such as the 100M.  Do you know if the clock itself is the Emperor 120K?  If you will contact me at my shop email address below, I can give you some additional information that might offer some options for your clock.  However, get with me as soon as possible, as this is time related.  

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama
klokdok@juno.com

(Due to the number of Allexperts questions and
the workload I have at my clock shop, I regret
that I cannot answer personal email questions on a timely basis
other than Allexperts follow ups.)