Expert: Martin Meyer - 7/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: I just bought this clock from my neighbor at an estate sale.  although I am also curious about it's estimated value, I took notice of your last post to Robin.  I removed the weights and pendulum only.  I did not remove the chains, but bunched them together with a Twisty Tie.  After putting the weights back on and starting the pendulum (that's how I always started my wall clock), it stops after 10-15 minutes.  My wall clock is wound.  I don't see how to wind this / don't know how to get it started to keep it going.

HOWARD MILLER      MODEL       610-370
        REGISTERED as:   No. 578051
        MOVEMENT        354187G
        DIAL      270261G
        PENDULUM   280041G
        WEIGHT SHELL   390533G
        S/N      71730660

All the best,

Dave

ANSWER: Hi David,
    Your clock is wound by pulling down on the chains to raise the weights.
    Pendulum clocks very often get out of beat when being moved. Leveling will not help. Listen to your clock's tick. If a clock is in beat it goes "tick-tick-tick" like a metronome. If it goes "tick-TOCK-tick-TOCK", then it is out of beat. Some clocks have automatic beat setting; try starting your clock with as wide a swing as possible. If it has auto beat setting it will correct the beat as it settles down to a normal swing.
    If your clock does not have auto beat setting, you may need to call in a clock repairer to reset it.
    Another common problem when clocks are moved is that the assembly that the pendulum connects to gets disconnected at some point. For a description of the pendulum assembly see my answer "Suzan - grandfather clock problem".
    If these solutions do not help, you may need to have a clock repairer look for a more complex problem.
    Thanks for your question.   Martin

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

QUESTION: Hey, thanks for the response, Martin.

So...how do i correctly raise the weights?  It does seem that leveling the unit fixed my problem (after I sent the e-mail).  It works now, but the weights are near the bottom of the case.  I can guess the "theory of operation" now.  The clock works by the gravity of the weights, which have to be raised from time to time.  The short question is:  How do I properly raise the weights??  Do I remove the weights and pull on the chain?  One at a time?  Remove all three?  I don't want to guess.  Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi again Dave,
    You very definitely do NOT want to remove the weights. Just pull the chains down one at a time, to raise the weights almost, but not quite, to the very top. The clock will run for about a week before the weights hit the floor of the clock. It is always much better to raise the weights before they hit bottom; when this happens the chain goes slack and can sometimes come off the sprocket in the movement. You can pull the weights up as often as you want, you do not have to wait the entire week. If you're not going to be able to pull up the weights before they hit bottom (if you're going away on vacation, or whatever), then just stop the pendulum from swinging, and restart it when you get back. This is much preferable to letting the weights bottom out. Some clock manufacturers recommend assisting the weight by gently lifting on it as you pull the other end of the chain down. This reduces wear on the weight sprocket bearings. I personally do not recommend this, as I have seen many cases of an owner lifting just a bit too much, and thus accidentally unhooking the chain from the sprocket. If the chain (particularly the center one) comes out of the clock, you will probably have to call a clock repairer to reattach it.
    Thanks for your question.   Martin