Question QUESTION: I have a Colonial with three weights. One was pulled up to high and is now stuck. It seems that since the weight is stuck the clock no longer chimes, keeps time and none of the remaining weights lower.
I have nudged the pendulum multiple times, and each time the swing slows down and does not restart the clock.
Suggestions?
ANSWER: Add additional weight to the offending train. You did not tell me which weight was hung up so I have given you a generic answer. Leave the additional weight on until it has dropped clear of any possible hang up. As a precaution, for the future, never pull a weight all the way up, allow at least 3" space between the weights top and the seat board, that being the board the movement sits upon
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QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response. To answer your question, the left weight is the one that's stuck. As you suggested I've added more weight to the offending train (I've taken the a weight from the far right train and added it so there are now two on the offending train). I'm not noticing a change yet but I'll keep an eye on it throughout the day.
Answer Sorry what you are trying will not work. You must maintain weigh on all three chains to release the left weight. To explain: There are actually 3 separate motors, called trains, contained between the two plates of your clocks movement. As you face the clock the first, the first train drives the strike mechanism, the middle train drives the time mechanism, the one on the right drives the chime mechanism. How do they operate? As the time train moves the hands forwards to each quarter hour a pawl located on the minute hand shaft lifts and releases the chime train so that it performs the appropriate sequence of strikes against the chime rods, just before it completes the sequence it lifts and releases the strike train to announce the appropriate hour. As you can see the chime train weight must be in place in order to release the strike train. Ergo you will have to find another weight source to hang with the left weight. Incidentally it is essential that the heaviest weight be hung on the chime train (right weight), the reason being that it has to work harder than the other two trains. I hope this explanation will solve your problem. Regards WJP
