Expert: Martin Meyer - 9/6/2007

Question
I proceeded to disassemble a Hwd Miller floor clock (chain model) without any instruction.  Weights and pendulum are removed.  Problem is I tried to even up the chains and pulled the center one too far up and do not know how to go about re hanging the weight on the hook. I'm looking for help and caution tips on reassembly.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Tammy,
    This can be a tough problem to correct. The chain, of course, moves in only one direction. If you keep pulling on it, the hook on the end can jam on parts inside the movement.
    I use various methods and tools like dental picks to reach inside the movement and get the chain off the sprocket, then I can pull it out, sometimes also having to get the hook disconnected from some shaft it has hooked onto. There is some risk of damaging other internal parts when I do this, so I'm reluctant to recommend it unless you are the risk-taking type.
    Another possible method is to release the click, which is the ratchet pawl which keeps the sprocket moving in only one direction. Depending on where it is (because the sprocket rotates) it may be accessible or not. This is a tooth-shaped piece held against the sprocket's gear by a flat spring. I push on it with a small screwdriver to lift the tooth out of the gear, and the sprocket will then turn freely, and I can pull the chain out. The risk here is in breaking the clickspring (the flat spring I mentioned), or in slipping it off the click so that the click no longer holds. Depending on the clock this can be a relatively easy operation, or an extremely risky one. I'd be very cautious about trying it.
    The safest way to get the chain back down is to remove the pendulum and grab the chain end by hand or a tool of some sort. Pull down on the chain steadily and, without the pendulum, the pendulum leader (the part that the pendulum hooks onto) should tick back and forth very quickly. Sometimes it needs a little push to get it started. Because the clock is running very fast, the chain will come down much faster than normal. Nonetheless, you will need some patience, because it will still take 5 or 10 minutes of this to get the chain low enough to hook the weight on. A very slow process, but much safer.