Loose Center Arbor

[derwiener]

I have a Sessions clock with a center arbor that seems quite loose. When I move the minute hand, there is a lot of "wiggle room" and the smaller gears around the center arbor move back and forth. I know something needs to be tightened, but never having had this problem before, I'm not sure what I should adjust. Before I dive in and create more problems, I would appreciate suggestions what I should look for and tighten to correct this problem. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Paul

 

[R. Croswell]

I have a Sessions clock with a center arbor that seems quite loose. When I move the minute hand, there is a lot of "wiggle room" and the smaller gears around the center arbor move back and forth. I know something needs to be tightened, but never having had this problem before, I'm not sure what I should adjust. Before I dive in and create more problems, I would appreciate suggestions what I should look for and tighten to correct this problem. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Paul

View attachment 759453

On this type of clock, the center shaft is not part of the power train, so unless the looseness is annoying, the best option is to just leave it alone. If you really want to fix it, there are three thing that you can do. The first is the easiest, put a bushing in the pivot hole on the back plate. The second is put a bushing in the large hole in the front plate. For this I usually make the bushing with a small flange to help keep it in place. Finally, you can put a bushing in the base of the hour pipe. That involves taking a light cut inside the hour pipe with a lathe boring bar and making a thin-walled bushing. Each of the three steps in order will eliminate some of the looseness, usually the first two will be sufficient.

RC

 

[Willie X]

Let it be ...

All are loose and some are downright sloppy. The chances of making anything better is close to zero.

Willie X

 

[R. Croswell]

I've done a number of these and made significant improvement on some of my own clocks, but I guess I'm just easily annoyed by sloppy fitting things like this. I would normally just let it be on a customer's clock unless they specifically asked if I could do something about it. It isn't so much if it can be "fixed" (or significantly reduced) as is it worth the time and expense. A lose center shaft does NOT affect the indicated time, and it is only noticeable at all when the time is being set. Many of these were probably pretty sloppy out of the factory.

These comments apply only to the clock being discussed and similar ones. Other clock designs place the center shaft in the power train and sloppiness is not tolerated there, and is also not usually found in that design.

RC

 

[derwiener]

On this type of clock, the center shaft is not part of the power train, so unless the looseness is annoying, the best option is to just leave it alone. If you really want to fix it, there are three thing that you can do. The first is the easiest, put a bushing in the pivot hole on the back plate. The second is put a bushing in the large hole in the front plate. For this I usually make the bushing with a small flange to help keep it in place. Finally, you can put a bushing in the base of the hour pipe. That involves taking a light cut inside the hour pipe with a lathe boring bar and making a thin-walled bushing. Each of the three steps in order will eliminate some of the looseness, usually the first two will be sufficient.

RC

Thank you. The clock works. so I'll leave it as is.

 

[derwiener]

Let it be ...

All are loose and some are downright sloppy. The chances of making anything better is close to zero.

Willie X

Thank you. I'll leave well enough alone.

 

[shutterbug]

I agree. As long as the strike is activated when it should be, save the repair until it's needed.