Expert: Michael Radi - 6/23/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I have a Hermle Westminster chime clock movement for which I built the case. It is only about 12 years old and I have never managed to get it chiming continuously. It will strike for an hour then stop. I have  a video showing it performing and then nor performing and how I start it again by lifting a lever ( a hook that fits into a 3/4 cam. But cannot see a way of pasting it to this note. Please advise. And thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Can you post it to YouTube or another site and give me the link to it?
Also, there is a difference between chiming and striking: Chime is the musical sequence played every 1/4 hour. Strike is the hour count that happens after the chime at the top of each hour.
Thanks, Michael

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

QUESTION: HI,
Video posted on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm_UDzDi8pY

Bit shaky, but hopefully clear whatis happening.

Thanks.

Answer
Thanks for the video, it really helps. It looks like your movement will chime the first 3 quarters but will not chime on the hour. This movement is equipped with an auto reset feature so that it will only chime the hour in one position (not the other three). This is so the movement can reset when the minute hand reaches the top of the hour.
The way this works is that the star (at the base of the hand shaft) that lifts the levers on the quarters has one prong that is higher than the other three. This is the only prong that can lift high enough to actuate the hour chime. The problem with your movement is that it is not lifting high enough to do the hours. The lever that is lifted by the star is V shaped. To perform this repair you must widen the V so that it lifts higher. You can put a pair of needle nosed pliers between the V and open the handle so that the outside of the pliers jaws push against both sides of the V. If you go to far your movement will do the hour in any position and you should close the V a bit to correct this.
I hope this information is clear enough for you to do the repair.
Michael
www.norkro.com
clock parts and repair