Bulle clock

[Dick Bailey]

My Bulle clock has stopped and my current diognosis is that the contact surface on the fork, for the switching, is worn and does not make good contact with the pin on the pendulum rod. This is based on using a VOM. The batteries are good. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Dick Bailey

[Dick Bailey]

My Bulle clock has stopped and my current diognosis is that the contact surface on the fork, for the switching, is worn and does not make good contact with the pin on the pendulum rod. This is based on using a VOM. The batteries are good. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Dick Bailey

[Eckmill]

Hello Bailey. Your Bulle clock stopped? Incredible beyond belief!

'Seems like they run for ever on a single cell and always drain the last micro-ampere of energy out of even the oldest dry cell.

Actually, wear of the contact area of the fork is not uncommon. However with two that came to my attention that appeared to have contact failure of the fork, didn't! Close examination of the mating silver contact pin on the pendulum revealed a deep slice well into the silver.

Certainly the proper procedure would involve replacing the silver contact pin but by rotating the pin through 90 degrees set the clocks running again.

Take a close look at the contact pin. It should be smooth.

Les

[Dick Bailey]

Thank you Les for the reply and comments. Yes, the pin does have a groove on the under side. The question now is, how does one rotates it 90 degrees? I tried doing that with pliers but with no results. Fortunately I did no harm except for some plier tooth marks on the out end of the pin. Evidently the pin is in its collar quite tightly. I shudder at the thought of removing the pendulum rod to get at the pin assembly. I noted on first examining the pin-fork area that the pin is bent slightly down as though a previous owner had encountered the same problem. I need guidance and moral support. :-)

Dick

[Eckmill]

The silver contact pin on the Bulle clock is threaded into the collet/holder part of the pendulum. Presumably a right hand thread. I recall it's tight and will hold it's postion after rotating.

It is unfortunate that yours appears to be bent.
However, silver and most alloys of silver are very malleable and it should straighten easily.

Good luck.

Les

[Mike Phelan]

Hi Dick
Yes, it is a right hand thread, and there is no need to bend it to engage the fork correctly - just slacken the clamp screw and slide it up or down. It should engage the fork by half its diameter. If it is bent out of the horizontal, the depth will be indeterminate.
Any Bulle should build up to a healthy swing in a minute when nearly stopped - arc < 1 degree

Keep ticking
Mike

[Dick Bailey]

Les and Mike,
Thank you for the excellent information. I am lucky I did not twist off the pin when I first tried to turn it as I am sure I was going the wrong direction. It turned easily when I went counter-clockwise. The slight bend in the pin was no problem as the clock runs fine with only the rotation of the pin. I now know a little more about the Bulle clock thanks to the both of you. This message board in amazing. I send a question form Ohio and promptly get good information from California and England! Just the MB is worth the cost of membership, even though one does not have to be a member to use it.

Dick

[Eckmill]

Thank you for your kind comments about our ability to help you with the Bulle battery clock.

Much of what I have learned is from experience but guided by Bob Miles' English language translation of the French language version of the Bulle clock book. A small and inexpensive book that every Bulle clock owner should have.

Again, thanks for your complement about the assistance you gained using this NAWCC Message board facility. We enjoy sharing our knowledge.

Les