Expert: William J Perkins - 7/9/2010

Question
I have a very modest, modern Grandmother clock made by Thomas Byrne.  The problem that I have is that the clock chimes exactly three minutes past the event on all four quarters for example at 11.03 it will chime the eleventh hour and at 11.18 it will chime the first quarter.  

How do I put this right?

Thank you from  Mike in a very sunny Isle and Royal Manor of Portland in the county of Dorset UK.

Answer
You correct this by removing the minute hand from its shaft.  Once removed you will note that the square hole that fixes the hand in position on the hand shaft is in the form of a friction fit bushing.  Insert the tang of a file into the hole and use it to turn the bushing the equivalent of a three minute arc.  You might have to do this a couple of times to get it right on.  With a little time and patience will achieve the results desired.  Regards WJP