Expert: Michael Radi - 5/28/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi i have a wall mounted President 31 day clock that seems to stop at 10:55 AM or PM everyday but runs fine and keeps time the rest of the day any ideas what it would be?? i already oiled it and that seems to have had no effect any feedback on this would be much appreciated! :)
Luke.

ANSWER: Hi Luke, something is jamming up, either in the hands or, more likely, in the strike. You will have to take the face off the clock to see what it is. There is a rack and a snail associated with the strike. They are on the front of the movement but behind the face. At 10 minutes before each hour the levers set up a warning for the strike.
This is the place I would start troubleshooting.
Does the clock strike?   
Michael

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

QUESTION: hi there it does chime every hour until it gets to 10:55 and i see the rack and snail which seems to be fine but the arm which you see moving away from the chime count arm i thought maybe there is some resistance somewhere but i cant quite see how there is i will leave the face off and see if i can see anything obvious but if you have any pointers would be much appreciated
Luke  :)

Answer
So when it stops the hands aren't jammed at all?
Do you have to advance the hands to get it going again or can you just swing the pendulum?
The only thing different about 10:55 than any other time on the clock is the positioning of the hour tube and the minute hand shaft. I would check to see if the minute hand shaft is bent. You can advance the minute hand while looking at it from the side. See if it lifts the hour tube up and down as it rotates.
Let me know what you find.
Michael
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