Expert: Martin Meyer - 12/1/2007

Question
I have a few clocks taht are aobu t25 years old and run on D batteries.  I believe I need to replace the entire motors on them.  If I buy a new motor would a person like me who knows nothing about clock repair be able to replace the motor or is it compicated and I would need to take the whole clock in to the repair shop?  These clocks are from Harris and Mallow and say Tri Chron on the face.

Answer
Hi Karen,
    Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
    Replacing a quartz movement is not usually a difficult process. These movements usually attach to the clock by a single nut on the hand shaft. You simply remove the hands by unscrewing the minute hand nut and pulling them off. You will see a larger nut beneath the hands that you unscrew to remove the old movement. Sometimes the movement is also atttached to the inside of the clock by double sided tape or, occasionally, glue, and the movement can be pulled or pried off.
    The new movement will be a different size and shape from the old one, and you must make sure that there is room for it in the clock. On some movements the handshaft will require a slightly larger hole in the dial than the original, and you may have to enlarge this hole or select a movement that fits in the original hole.
    Your original hands may not fit the new movement, but a wide selection of hands is available.
    Battery movements are available in time-only, chime, bim-bam strike, and with and without pendulums, so replacement with a new mmovement with the same features as your old one should not be a problem.