Expert: William J Perkins - 6/7/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have a HM Pendelum wall clock that had been dropped and the cabinet was broken.  I have repaired the cabinet pretty well.  The mechanism seems to be working except for one of the hammers.  The hammer that strikes the highest chime rod doesn't seem to "bounce back" from the chime rod quickly enough or maybe far enough causing the chime to sound dead.  Is there a way to adjust the hammer? Could it be a weak spring or another cause?

ANSWER: I suspect you have a bent hammer rod.  Expose the movements backplate, copy down and send me ALL the information stamped thereon.  With that information at hand I can most likely identify the movement and be able to provide you with meaningfull instructions to correct.
I await your response, WJP

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

QUESTION: It's a Howard Miller, model #612-215.  The movement # is 354218H.  On the back of the movement is stamped
A
Howard Miller Clock Co  
Zeeland Michigan
No (0) Jewels
Unadjustable
Made in West Germany

Answer
Unfortunately the information does not help me.  The problem is Howard Miller does not build movements.  They buy movements from other producers and install them in their cases.  Generally they have used Hermle, Urgos or Kieninger movements.  Apparently for this model they went elsewhere.  Anyway, there was nothing on your backplate that would identify the movement to me.
In absence of that identity I will try to help you with a generic solution.  Everything I say will be based upon presumption.  I imagine your movement has side mounted hammers, with the blows being delivered towards the center.  The blows are caused by rotating cams.  You will need to observe this action very carefully, while the time train is stopped.  The hammer causing the dead note will most likely remain in direct contact with its chime rod.  With the hammer resting on the rod, take a long nose pliers and bend the hammer rod to where it is at rest approximately 1/16" away from the rod.  Now cause the chime to activate,  if the clunk still occurs, bend the rod a bit more.  Keep making this adjustment until you are satisfied with the sound.  Start your clock and reset.  You should be in business.  Let me know how this works for you.  WJP