IBM IBM recently ticking with erratic volume

[berntd]

Hello all

My trusty IBM master clock seems to have developed volume changing ticking.

It ticks really softly for a number of ticks then gets louder and suddenly soft again.

This is all in the same minute.

It always had a rock solid loud and proud beutiful tick.

It is possibly also gaining a teensy bit of time. Not sure if related.

Any ideas?
It is dpring drive by solenoid wind.

Regards
Bernt

 

[leeinv66]

When was the last time the movement was serviced Bernt?

 

[berntd]

Only about 2 years ago by myself. It needed 1 bush at the time.

It recently (a month ago) had a 24V power supply failure. I had to replace that with a new one. At the same time, I had the dial off added a few spots of oil to the escape wheel and pallets.

I mean, it sounds like erratic power loss right?

 

[leeinv66]

It does, but it could also be a mechanical problem. Any chance you could have been pivot?

 

[berntd]

No.

It gets more interesting:
It ticks:
Loud 0 -7s
Soft 8 - 14
Loud 15 -40
Soft 41 - 42
Loud 43 - 46
Soft 47 - 51
Loud 52 -59
Give or take a second.

This is a constant partern.

 

[Edwardo]

You might want to check the minute and bell cams and leavers
If they get gummed up they could exhibit a similar fault

 

[berntd]

You might want to check the minute and bell cams and leavers
If they get gummed up they could exhibit a similar fault

But what sort of modern clock oil would gum up after just 2 years?

I wonder if it is just a matter of the drops of oil I added to the escape wheel recently when I changed the power supply remaining unequally spread?
It is all a big mystery and I do not like it. I get unsettled when my IBM clock does not sound right.

Regards
Bernt

 

[Edwardo]

The fault described is probably due to a friction problem

Not all clock oils are equal

There are a lot of rubbish oils being passed off as clock oil on places like eBay

Oil attracts dust and other dirt that can damage a movement
therefore should be used sparingly
put "drops" of oil anywhere on a clock movement,
especially on the escapement

I would remove the face and examine the cams and leavers plus the escape wheel

Also look for a loose wire or similar that may be rubbing on something



Hope this helps

 

[berntd]

The fault described is probably due to a friction problem

Not all clock oils are equal

There are a lot of rubbish oils being passed off as clock oil on places like eBay

Oil attracts dust and other dirt that can damage a movement
therefore should be used sparingly
put "drops" of oil anywhere on a clock movement,
especially on the escapement

I would remove the face and examine the cams and leavers plus the escape wheel

Also look for a loose wire or similar that may be rubbing on something

Hope this helps

As far as I know there are 2 cams (on the same arbor in the IBM movement that turn on a minute basis.
But they do not operate at the seconds I hear the softer tick.

Looks like I will have to open it up and have a look - sigh...

Best regards
Bernt