Expert: Martin Meyer - 9/30/2007

Question
Hi, I just bought a 1984 Montgomery Ward grandfather clock at a flea market.  It has a hermle movement.  The people had removed the chains from the right and left sides, although the middle chain was in place.  When my husband reattached them, we found out that the right side doesn't hold the weight - it just falls to the bottom.  it has no tension.  Of course we don't have $$ which is why we bought a cheap clock.  Any ideas on how my husband could fix it?  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Lisa,
    If the chain pulls freely on one end, but holds on the other end, you just have the chain on backwards. Simply remove the end pieces on that chain and reverse them, so that the weight-holding hook is on the end that holds.
    If the chain pulls freely in both directions, the clickspring (a ratchet that keeps the sprocket from turning backwards) is broken or bent.
    If it only bent, you can occasionally bend it back yourself, although it often breaks when this is attempted. You would have to remove the movement from the clock and find the click (a pawl that engages a tooth on the sprocket wheel gear) and the clicskpring,  a flat spring which presses against the click, holding it tight against the gear. If the spring is not broken off, but just bent away from the click, you can try to very carefully bend this spring with a fine pliers so that it is back in contact with the click, and you can see the click snapping into place in each gear tooth as you turn the sprocket wheel.
    If the clickspring is broken, you will need the services of a professional clock repairer to replace it.