CAN YOU TELL ME THE NAME OF THIS PART?

[Gunnar1962]

Hello! I am not very knowledgeable about mechanical clocks but I do love them, and have been able to get three of them running, prior to such time as I could afford to take them to professionals for servicing. I would like to know the name of a certain part found in many clocks. It's basically a small, flat, fan-like rectangular piece that pivots/spins only when the clock is striking. Have found many online diagrams but none show this piece. I ask because I have twice encountered clocks that didn't chime, and in both instances this brass piece didn't spin freely as it should. A tiny drop of clock oil on the pivots and a few turns by hand freed it up, allowing the strike mechanism to work again. Odd to me that such a small part could exert enough resistance to thwart the "intent" of the spring that drives the strike mechanism, but it apparently can. Thank you.

 

[jmclaugh]

It's called the fly.

 

[rgmt79]

It's called the fly.

Yes, it's called the fly and it's necessary to act as an air damper to slow down the strike train to give a distinct pause between each strike/ chime

 

[novicetimekeeper]

It also takes some of the shock out of the system by having a simple spring clutch.

 

[Kevin W.]

Fly, fan, two names i have heard for it.

 

[R&A]

It could also be referred to as a governor

 

[bruce linde]

[with english accent]

it's a fly, governor

 

[Gunnar1962]

Hello! I am not very knowledgeable about mechanical clocks but I do love them, and have been able to get three of them running, prior to such time as I could afford to take them to professionals for servicing. I would like to know the name of a certain part found in many clocks. It's basically a small, flat, fan-like rectangular piece that pivots/spins only when the clock is striking. Have found many online diagrams but none show this piece. I ask because I have twice encountered clocks that didn't chime, and in both instances this brass piece didn't spin freely as it should. A tiny drop of clock oil on the pivots and a few turns by hand freed it up, allowing the strike mechanism to work again. Odd to me that such a small part could exert enough resistance to thwart the "intent" of the spring that drives the strike mechanism, but it apparently can. Thank you.

A belated thank you to all who replied, much appreciated.