A random one even by BBS Standards

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by Tobys Knackers, Jun 12, 2022.

  1. Tob

    Tobys Knackers Well-Known Member

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    As someone said the other day, it seems that no matter how obscure your question there always seems to be someone on the BBS who knows something about it.

    So - Grandfather clocks.

    Bought one second hand over the weekend and I'm struggling with it.

    It's a mechanical chain driven one (so no winding up) but no matter what I do I cannot keep the pendulum moving. It moves for about 6 minutes or so, keeps good time etc, chimes if it passes a quarter hour but then the pendulum just seems to lose interia and it comes to a stop.

    Read all I can online and watched several YouTube video's and being on an uneven surface seems to be the most likely explanation so I have got it as level as I possibly can - but still can only get six mins or so from it.

    I'm a bit stumped - do we have any experts on here?
     
    Tobys Knackers, Jun 12, 2022
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  2. Red

    Red-Taff. Well-Known Member

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    me, I posted about the available information about obscure subjects on the BBS. I had advice on a complex financial issue and on Genetic Testing -

    fear not by sundown you're clock problem will be solved!
     
    Red-Taff., Jun 12, 2022
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  3. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    Does this help?

    https://www.theclockdepot.com/clocks-blog/how-to-set-the-beat-on-your-pendulum-clock/
     
    JamDrop, Jun 12, 2022
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  4. Tarntyke

    Tarntyke Well-Known Member

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    Sparks any help?
     
    Tarntyke, Jun 12, 2022
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  5. Tob

    Tobys Knackers Well-Known Member

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    Tobys Knackers, Jun 12, 2022
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  6. SFOTyke

    SFOTyke Well-Known Member

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    BFC Prospective Manager Questionnaire:

    67b. Do you have any experience in the repair of Grandfather Clocks?

    I believe this could swing it in Warnock's favor, so hang in there.
     
    SFOTyke, Jun 12, 2022
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  7. Cun

    Cunning Stunt Well-Known Member

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    You could count my expertise on grandfather clocks on one hand.
     
    Cunning Stunt, Jun 12, 2022
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  8. gra

    grandfathertyke Well-Known Member

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    If you are sure the clock is in beat then the next thing I would consider is that the spindles need oiling. Be careful with this as you need clock oil for it. Don't try using anything else as it is usually too thick and will gum the works up further. To oil the spindles what I do using clock oil is take the pendulum off and remove the mechanism from the case, which means also taking the hands off. You'll see that the spindles are set in holes in the frame with slightly concave surfaces. What I do is take a needle and put a DROP of oil, no more, into each hole which houses a spindle. Remember that the spindles are in both front and back plates. I found that oiling does the trick. If it still doesn' work perhaps time for a clock mender.
     
    grandfathertyke, Jun 12, 2022
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  9. Mr Badger

    Mr Badger Well-Known Member

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    my first response would have been to check the rhythm of the beat. If it's nice and even then it should run fine but if it is "limping" then you have to raise or lower one side of the clock on the floor.
    If you have done this then you may have to check the mechanism. it may simply be dirty and every time it passes a certain number of minutes it may stop due to a tiny bit of crap on one of the cogs.
     
    Mr Badger, Jun 12, 2022
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  10. Sim

    Simon De Montforte Well-Known Member

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    Surely there has to be some sort of winding up mechanism and mainspring? There's no such thing as perpetual motion so how does it work,,? If all else fails, make up a sob story and get in touch with Steve on "The Repair Shop"
     
    Simon De Montforte, Jun 12, 2022
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  11. Farnham_Red

    Farnham_Red Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Has to either be wind up on weights on a chain driven sounds to me that it’s basically wound down. As you say there is no such thing as a perpetual motion gf clock.

    edit just reread the OP. It’s chain driven. So the chain has to be reset somehow I imagine by lifting a weight
     
    Farnham_Red, Jun 12, 2022
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  12. Tob

    Tobys Knackers Well-Known Member

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    My mind was blown as I researched it. A weight pulls the chain and that acts as counter balance which loads a spring that gives the pendulum a gentle push the other way.

    Over the soace of the week the weight very slowly descends and then you pull the chain back the other way to "wind it".

    I had no idea such a thing existed - injust wanted somert that looked pretty and chimed!!

    All the working look clean as a whistle, I'm not risking taking it apart and f'king up something someone far cleverer than me created so looks like I'll probably be paying as much as I bought it for for someone who knows what on earth they're doing :[
     
    Tobys Knackers, Jun 12, 2022
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  13. Stephen Dawson

    Stephen Dawson Well-Known Member

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    Brittain is spineless and needs a good arsoiling.
     
    Stephen Dawson, Jun 12, 2022
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  14. Tob

    Tobys Knackers Well-Known Member

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    Yep, did that - it was ballache as it was the middle of three chains and had come loose in delivery.

    Had to buy some knitting needles and bend the end to get the chain back on the sproket.
     
    Tobys Knackers, Jun 12, 2022
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  15. Sta

    Stahlrost Well-Known Member

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    I've had this problem and others with our grandfather clock. Eventually I just bent the metal bit where the pendulum hooks on, and got it going after a few bends.

    It also didn't always chime correctly, especially on alternate Wednesdays if it was raining. I contacted Bygone Times at Elsecar who sorted that out.

    http://www.yorkshireclockrepairer.co.uk/
     
    Stahlrost, Jun 12, 2022
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  16. shed131

    shed131 Well-Known Member

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    Surely this thread is a wind up....lol
     
    shed131, Jun 12, 2022
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  17. Gimson&theBarnsleys

    Gimson&theBarnsleys Well-Known Member

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    I concur; this bloke fixed my Edwardian wall clock (with a pendulum, and a winder).
     
    Gimson&theBarnsleys, Jun 13, 2022
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