Expert: John Newman - 6/17/2010

Question
QUESTION: Sligh Grandfather clork  modern was bought in 1981.My question is about tne chime selector , it seems to get stuck in one position occasionally. We will not force it up or down  but jiggling helps move it to another chime position and to the silence position. Why does this happen.Do I need to replace something?  My clock guy comes out to reguraly to oil and inspect and it works for a while then it goes right back to being a problem. Any help would be great.

ANSWER: Lonny, there is something sticking on the chime selection mechanism.  When the lever is moved up and down, it moves a black (usually) plastic stepping block that moves the chime drum front to back.  The chime drum arbor has a spring on it that is called a restoring spring.  When the lever is moved, the assembly is pushed in one direction.  If the lever is moved back, the spring will push the assembly back to the restored position.  Either the transport mechanism has not been fully lubricated or there is a bind in the mechanism.  I could say that the spring is weak, but I have never found a weak spring.  One rule is that the chime selection lever should never be moved while the chimes are playing.  This will cause a jam.  I would wait until it gets stuck again, leave it in that position and then call your clockmaker.  If you have pointed this out to him before, I would think that he would diagnose what is happening and take care of it.  I don't know what you mean by having it serviced regularly, but I recommend that a modern clock such as yours be serviced every 7 to 10 years.  With the new synthetic oils, the clock should run fine between the service calls.  Of course after many years, parts will wear and have to be corrected.  Let me know what is found.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama

  

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

QUESTION: Thank you John, Our clock guy comes out every five year to inspect and lube.  He tells us that the problem is with a cylinder that selects the chimes which  has some gears that are not working properly when we choose to silence the clock and when to activate the chimes. He also told us how to get around the problem until the gear finally fails. If the lever is stuck while in chime mode, push the minute hand to the next quarter hour and while it begins chiming move the chime select lever to shut off. If chime select lever is stuck in the silence mode move minute hand to next quarter hour listen for mechanism to activate as if chimes are on, then move chime select lever to silent. Either way, then reset back to correct time and in a couple hours it chimes in the right order and strikes the correct number of times at the hour. He says it releive the pressure on the gears and allow us to move the chime select lever at will.  It work, I not sure at what cost to the clock with regards to to wear and tear. Our clock guy says there are no new parts for replacement of gear  and the cost would around 700.00 to repair , which means he will take clock back to shop and take apart, reassemble with parts from another clock, test for a month and a half, then return it. Does this sound right to you?

Answer
Lonny, I would like to know the model of the clock movement and the area in which you live.  I would not advise you on the procedure you have described.  I do not recomend running something until it fails.

First the movement model can be determined from the information on the back plate of the movement.  Generally, if it is a Kieninger there will be a "K" somewhere in the center of the back plate in the logo along with numbers, if it is an Urgos there will be number starting with UW, usually on your left, and if it is a Hermle, the lines of identification will be at the lower right corner of the back plate.  To free up the question queue on the Allexperts Website, you can reply to my shop email address below.

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.)