CLOCK IS INSANE....OR SOMETHING.

[Gunnar1962]

Man, I'm just full of questions this month! I bought an antique clock on eBay a few months ago and it runs and chimes perfectly. The other day I received another eBay clock that I purchased. Keeps good time, but the bells are really odd. When I unpacked it, the bells (ting-tang) struck for something like 30 times in a row, then stopped. They then struck the hour correctly for two hours, and that ended. Following this, they struck randomly and out of sequence: 4 times at 4 o'clock, not at all on the half hour, 7 times at 5 o'clock - that kind of thing.

Now, they have a new act: At 10 minutes past each hour, the bells will strike the correct hour, but in bits at a time, so just after 6 o'clock for example, you'll hear 1..pause....pause.....2....pause.....3, for a total of 6! Each hour is being struck this way, with pauses between the strikes, and with the total number of strikes being correct for the hour. It doesn't sound at all like the strike mechanism is slowing down between the strikes, it completely stops, then starts again. Another thing - they do this only as the clock runs on its own. If I manually move the minute hand, nothing engages, I hear no "click", and there's no strike. I'm guessing that the issue is the chime/strike train, but the 1+2+3=6 o'clock thing has me stumped.

Any ideas? I live with insane clocks every now and then. Thanks.

 

[harold bain]

Probably needs servicing. Old sticky oil can cause lots of strange problems.

 

[JTD]

Without knowing what clock you have and lacking a crystal ball, there is nothing much to say. What clock is it? Please post photos of the clock and the movement.

JTD

 

[Gunnar1962]

Harold, you were correct. I thought the problem must be more that sticky works, but that's exactly what it was. I removed the works and cleaned them with an artist's brush and denatured alcohol (a quick fix until I can get them to a shop), then oiled pivots, etc. The bell strikes - which were previously all over the map or absent altogether - are now working as they should. Good to have them back, thanks for the tip.