Expert: Martin Meyer - 12/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: I recently purchased a Howard Miller floor clock with cable weights and movement by Kieninger. The problem I'm having is that the hour hand loses time, about two to three minutes per week, even though the minute hand keeps perfect time. I've also noticed that the two end weights do not line up at the same height(the left just slightly lower by one additional click)after raising the weights. At the end of the week they are off by a few inches. The other thing I noticed is that the 'tick tock' sounds tinny.
I've owned the clock for about a month now and raise the weights exactly on the seventh day at nearly the same time.
Thanks for the help.

ANSWER: Hi Peter,
    The hour and minute hands are geared together, so it is practically impossible for the hour hand to actually run slower than the minute hand. You should check that the hour hand is not loose on its shaft and slipping. If it is, push it on slighter tighter, but not so much that it hits the dial, numbers or second hand. Also, when checking the hour hand position, make sure that you take into account that there is a small amount of necessary slack in the hour hand gearing. The amount of free play, or looseness, in the hour hand shaft can be a minute or more. For example, when the hour hand is at the "3" position, it may read a minute or two faster than when it is at the "9" position simply due to gravity.
    The weights raise to approximately the same position. A difference of one click is negligible. All three weights should descend approximately the same amount over the course of the week. A difference of several inches at the end of the week could indicate several different things, depending on which weight ends up lower or higher than the other two. If you occasionally turn off the chime, use the "night off" feature (if you have it on your clock), or if the clock is missing a chime or strike from time to time, the weights might end up at different heights. Also, remember that the weights do not descend evenly hour by hour, their positions vary throughout the day, but should end up at approximately the same position at the end of the week. For example, when the clock strikes 12:00 the left weight will descend a much greater amount than it will at 1:00.
    As for the tick sound, every clock has its unique sound. Unless the timekeeping is affected, the particular tone of the tick is not a matter for concern.


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

QUESTION: What is the recommended procedure for leveling a floor clock?

Answer
Hi Peter,
    Your clock should have leveling feet at all four corners. Just place a small level on any horizontal surface on the front of the case. Then, preferably with the weights and pendulum removed (but you can do it with weights and pendulum on if you're careful), have another person tilt the clock off its feet on the side that you need to raise, just enough so that you can unscrew the feet on that side enough to raise the clock until it's level side to side.
    Then do the same with the level on a horizontal surface of the side the clock, to level it front to back. Lift it just enough to turn the leveling feet; you don't want the clock to fall over.
    Grandfather clocks are top heavy, especially when the weights are near the top, so it is highly advisable to attach a cable from the clock the wall behind it. An ordinary eyelet screw in the top back of the clock case will work fine. A larger eyelet screw should be used to go into a stud in the wall, not just into the plaster or drywall. If you can't put the screw in a stud, use a toggle bolt or other strong holding device.