Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 4/8/2007

Question
QUESTION: My Howard miller floor clock started acting strange recently, it has worked beautifully for about a year but now it only chimes on the half and quarter hours when the time approaches the hour it does nothing any ideas why or how to fix it
ANSWER: MIke:I assume that after it does nothing on the hour it continues to do nothing from then on? No more quarter chiming etc. If this is the case- then you would have to remove the dial to get access to the front of the clock movement. The lift lever that rides the quarter cam on the minute hand shaft needs adjustment to obtain more lift to un-lock the chimes on the hour. Normally a job for a pro.

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QUESTION: You would think it does nothing right, but it is so wierd it chimes everywhere else except for the hour and i can hear what sounds like a motion going on when it hits the quater hours then chimes, but like i said orginally, the  hour does not chime. thanks for the advice though
ANSWER: Mike:Do I get this right? At the hour it makes NO sound at all? No Chimes --No stike ???? But resumes proper chiming at quarter after??? please advise

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QUESTION: Yes Ken that is correct, My grandfather has many clocks and he told me that sometimes the chains bind or over lap and they get stuck, e told me to gently lift up on the weight with the cable attached and move it back, some times that unbinds the cable, so I did it and now it seems to strike on the hour, but the problem is the chime weight does not seem to be dropping.So I think the cable must be stuck some how.  My wife and I are so careful never to overtighten or even touch the inner workings , So I'm not sure why anything would have binded.

Answer
Mike: you say:<<My grandfather has many clocks and he told me that sometimes the chains bind or over lap and they get stuck, e told me to gently lift up on the weight with the cable attached and move it back, some times that unbinds the cable, so I did it and now it seems to strike on the hour, but the problem is the chime weight does not seem to be dropping.So I think the cable must be stuck some how.  My wife and I are so careful never to overtighten or even touch the inner workings , So I'm not sure why anything would have binded.>>>

Clocks are either cable driven or chain driven but not both and NEVER lift the weights while winding with either system. Looking with a flashlight through the left and right access panels should be able to see any problem with the cable or chain. Cable clocks are much more prone to this.
No GF clock will strike the hour with out the right hand chime weight dropping as well.