Howard MIller Grandfather clock help

[whatgoesaround]

My dad has a Howard Miller grandfather clock(chimes, hour, time trains) that seems temepermental about the way it runs. It generally stops at 5 min to the hour, when it does stop. I know this would indicate a loss of power, but it is gravity powered. I checked the weights and they are labeled on the bottom with little tags, so they are in the right place. It will run for awhile, but always will stop in this same general location. I am hoping it is something simple, since I feel ill-prepare to take on such a clock. Any ideas? thanks in advance of any help.

 

[Tunderer]

How long has it been since it was lubricated? If it is has been more then 3-4 years you likely have a lubrication problem. If it has been 10 or more years you likely need an over haul to correct wear and scrape the dirt out of it. If it has been 20 years consider replacing it with a new works if that model is still being made.

AH

 

[clocksiam]

What part of SC are you

 

[tymfxr]

Consistency in problems is the best thing that can happen. It makes it much easier to troubleshoot. Have you tried to move the hand forward after it stops? If so, do you get too much resistance or so much that you can't move the hand at all? If so, look at all the action that takes place when the clock approaches that time again. See if there is a jam of some kind that is preventing all of the levers that start moving as the minute hand approaches that time.
Mike C.
aka
clock whisperer

 

[whatgoesaround]

Thanks for all the help.

Tunderer - I think it was done five or so years ago so it might just need some lubrication. If it is only the pivots, I could most likely handle that. If you would mean to disassemble it and do the mainsprings, that is something else entirely. Generally, I have tinkered with simple one train clocks, mostly 400 day. THree trains seems intimidating - I would be scared of getting my gears from one train mixed with another

clocksiam - Sumter


tymfxr - I have noticed that the hands are not easy to move forward to set the time. However, when it stops at 5 minutes until the hour, I can sometimes just tap the seconds hand and it will go, or just push the pendulum again and tap the hands.

 

[tymfxr]

Have you watched the action of the levers?

 

[Cathy in Hawaii]

Sounds like something is rubbing or sticking. Take it out of the case and run it through it's paces watching to see what could be rubbing or sticking. Might be something bent, too. Or it could be gunk in the gears at five minutes to the hour.

No need to worry about mainsprings, it's weight driven! When taking multiple train clocks apart, thread all the gears for a specific train together on a string or wire. You can even label it "chime train" or "strike train" if you like. By keeping them together in a group it makes it easier to put them all back together again afterwards although generally they only fit one way and sheer persistence can solve a lot of mix ups.

 

[itbme1987]

should you have to take it apart what i do is like i take one train apart and set it to one like it was layed out on the plates, then another train in another spot, then for all the levers in front i set them in another spot....but before that ill take some pics to get an idea on how the levers were layed out, thats how i try to go about it, BUT if i dont think i can handle something i have no shame in taking it to someone else

 

[shutterbug]

Your clock is trying to set up for the hour chime, and meeting resistance that it can't overcome. This is the "warning" run. Probably a good cleaning is in order if this problem just started after running reliably for quite some time. For a three train clock, this is a great one for your first experience and other than getting it all back together, is not all that difficult. The advise about pulling it out of the clock for a good close-up analysis is good, but my guess is that it will need a cleaning and possibly some bushing work, especially around the minute wheel, since hard to turn hands indicate a tight meshing there. If you're up to it, we can help. You might get some local help, and can do it together (note the inquiry about where you are). Worse case - you screw it all up and need to buy a new movement. But - you'll probably do just fine

 

[whatgoesaround]

Thanks for the continuing help and encouragement from all. I took the movement out of the clock today and will first try for the hopeful lube. After that, I might really look it over thoroughly and see if I can note anything and determine my degree of confidence from there. Oh, I did thnk about the "mainspring" comment after I shut the computer down last night and realized what a dumb thing to say; I guess I was thinking about the 400 day clocks. The clock is at my dad's, so I won't be looking at it until next week. Thanks again to all who have replied.

 

[harold bain]

wga, while you have the movement out, check the bushings by putting pressure on the chains/cables (whichever you have) and watching for pivot movement. Worn bushings are easy to spot by the side play in the pivots