400 Day Koma Clock Problem

[finiteguy]

I recently repaired a suspension spring on an old Koma clock. I leveled the clock and it was running fine but a little fast. I adjusted it to run slower, and now it will not continue to run. I did not make any drastice adjustments, just a slight turn of that adjusting wheel.
Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Willie X]

fg,

Sometimes there is a small twist, or kink, in the suspension spring above the fork. Any downward pressure will untwist the kink a few degrees and throw the clock out of beat.

I have seen repair people actually use tweezers to adjust the beat by putting these small twist in the suspension just below the top block.

This may be your problem. If so, it is easy to re-adjust the beat.

Good luck, Willie X

 

[finiteguy]

Wilie: I looked at the suspension spring. The place where the spring is pinned at top fits in that slot. I noticed that this is free to pivot because the slot is wide. Should I put some sort of shim to make a tight fit?

 

[Kevin W.]

I would think it should be a snug fit.You will loose power here so your clock wont stay running.That,s my take on it.

 

[Jeff C]

Kevin is correct any movement of the top block left/right will call power loss and most of the time eventual stoppage. Check to ensure the pin is fitted properly. A snugly fit pin should hold the block pretty good.

Let us know your progress

 

[shutterbug]

I recently repaired a suspension spring on an old Koma clock. I leveled the clock and it was running fine but a little fast. I adjusted it to run slower, and now it will not continue to run. I did not make any drastice adjustments, just a slight turn of that adjusting wheel.
Anyone have any suggestions?

When you say "running fine" I assume you mean "running" If the rotation is being maintained properly, a simple adjustment should not stop the clock. Try raising the fork a mm and post the results, OK? Include the total rotation in degrees.

 

[finiteguy]

Not sure what is meant by "raising the fork". Attached is a photograph of the problem.

 

[ChuckR]

Finiteguy,
you definently have a problem there. First the pin should go all the way thru the saddle and come out the other side to hold the top block securely. Secound as far a I can see the top block is not the right one for that saddle. It is too thin! The top block needs to fit in the slot with little to no space on either side of it. If what I am seeing is correct, use are losing a lot of you power right there. I do not think you will be able to squeeze the saddle to get a tight fit, but will need to find the correct size top block.

Chuck

 

[shutterbug]

Not sure what is meant by "raising the fork". Attached is a photograph of the problem.

The fork is the moving part that the anchor rests in, just below the upper block. It should not be tight, but have enough room for a piece of paper to slide in one side next to the pin. You might need to raise it a bit, but as mentioned above, you have the wrong upper block. It's a $4.00 part, and will probably make a considerable improvement in how the clock runs. If you want to verify that, you could shim yours with something to make it tight and see what it does.

 

[finiteguy]

I put thin brass shims to take up the gap. Works great. The suspension spring was a replacement spring from Timesavers. This may be the reason why the spring doesn't fit properly?

 

[shutterbug]

Spring only? ..... no. Whole unit? ..... probably

 

[horologintex]

I have a KOMA Miniature 400-day clock, and encountered the same problem with a replacement suspension unit from TimeSavers. The top block is significantly narrower than the saddle. Unfortunately, when I bought the clock, it was missing the entire suspension unit and the pendulum.

Bill Ellison at Horolovar came to the rescue with an appropriate pendulum, and a pair of brass shims solved the wobble problem in the saddle.

The only problem now, is the saddle appears to be riveted to the brass support. Sooooooo, I'm trying to figure out how to adjust the beat without breaking the saddle... Any suggestions?

 

[harold bain]

It should be a friction fit, that will move for beat adjustment.

 

[shutterbug]

I have a KOMA Miniature 400-day clock, and encountered the same problem with a replacement suspension unit from TimeSavers. The top block is significantly narrower than the saddle. Unfortunately, when I bought the clock, it was missing the entire suspension unit and the pendulum.

Bill Ellison at Horolovar came to the rescue with an appropriate pendulum, and a pair of brass shims solved the wobble problem in the saddle.

The only problem now, is the saddle appears to be riveted to the brass support. Sooooooo, I'm trying to figure out how to adjust the beat without breaking the saddle... Any suggestions?

Can you post a picture? The "riveted" part has me (at least) confused.