Master Nisshin 400 Day . Modified

[Raymond101]

Hi I bought a Master 400 day for 20 bucks.
Yes I know there has been lots about this clock I have read all. After getting it first thing I did was does it atleast work. Yes does keep time No gain 10 minutes an hour.
So every 6 months it would be correct for 30 minutes. Knowing from previous posts and just watching it closely there had to be a serious fault.
Yes it was built cheap but the movement seems to be fairly good quality.
The pendulum is a joke. It's weight 257 grams. And had more wobble than a jelly.
Dismantled and de wobbled the design is bad to horrible. Now the suspension spring was still intact measured as 0.0028 inch.
The top of the suspension bridge had been bent downwards. Putting a weird slope angle on the suspension spring distance.
After a few unsuccessful attempts to put it into beat failed. Left it day to think of another solution.
The bridge is too high. Made the bridge screw slots elongated to allow the bridge to be lowered by 3mm . This would place the fork into the correct position for a positive engagement.
Walla it's now working within adjustable range. Also the brass washer that sits on top of the pendulum for locking I soldered in place so it wouldn't flop around.
I have added my hand drawn cad .
Also the pendulum at max slow position the balls hit the back of the case cover.
Eather I got a reject or the japs really hate US!

 

[KurtinSA]

I've got several Master clocks. While cheaply made in some ways, I actually thought the movement was pretty good. Likely yours has the previous owners disease.

Kurt

 

[Raymond101]

I've got several Master clocks. While cheaply made in some ways, I actually thought the movement was pretty good. Likely yours has the previous owners disease.

Kurt

The one I got was new in the original box with the packing. It had the cardboard still underneath the pendulum & instructions paper and key . I think it may have been a sold and returned as the top plate was badly scratched if the handle had been rotated .
It may well have been messed with as the locking bar was off . As not being put on as a separate item with the instruction leaflet.

 

[Ken M]

I got one of those locally when I first got back into these things. I didn't have a spring winder at the time, so I just got it running. Ran fine for the first year, then started stopping. Serviced the mainspring a month or so ago and got all the black sludge out of it, now it keeps excellent time without stopping.

 

[Raymond101]

I got one of those locally when I first got back into these things. I didn't have a spring winder at the time, so I just got it running. Ran fine for the first year, then started stopping. Serviced the mainspring a month or so ago and got all the black sludge out of it, now it keeps excellent time without stopping.

Do you have a photo just out of interest does yours have the same suspension spring @ 0028'' and the solid lead balls only because it just seems a stranger setup .

 

[KurtinSA]

Hmmm...I'd heard from John Hubby that the spring barrel was crimped closed and was "lifetime" oiled. I never touch the main spring.

Kurt

 

[Raymond101]

Hmmm...I'd heard from John Hubby that the spring barrel was crimped closed and was "lifetime" oiled. I never touch the main spring.

Kurt

I read about that as well that they were meant to be sealed for life .
BTW I forgot to mention my clock was marked as M1 448 it has the rounded edges.
So I guess it from the 70s
I was wondering if it needed 0032'' spring and was sent out wrong.

 

[KurtinSA]

How does it match up with the repair guide? Somehow I doubt the factory goofed. What does the pendulum weigh?

Kurt

 

[Ken M]

Hmmm...I'd heard from John Hubby that the spring barrel was crimped closed and was "lifetime" oiled. I never touch the main spring.

Kurt

I remember John saying that too, but I forgot. That probably explains why I had such a hard time getting the cap back on. Anyway, there was black sludge in there.

 

[KurtinSA]

I took John's info to heart. One less main spring to work on was a blessing!

Kurt

 

[Ken M]

What kind of oil were they using back in the 60's? Did they have synthetic? Maybe it was an advertising gimmick. Maybe permanent to them back then was the expected life of the clock, 20, 30, 40 years?

 

[KurtinSA]

According to this post by John, they did use synthetic back then. His experience has been good with this and even when he opened a barrel up, things looked fine.

Nisshindo New Master standard

This is one of four clocks I purchased in May this year. It's an odd little beast being both "cheap" and charming at the same time. As a modern clock, I actually like the overall look of this one, especially as it came to me complete and in pristine condition - but it is a shame the...

mb.nawcc.org

Unless I had no other options to make the clock run, I wouldn't open a barrel because I know I'd never be able to get it right going back together.

Kurt

 

[Ken M]

That wasn't my experience. As for getting the cap back on, my little arbor press saved the day.

 

[Wayne A]

Have one of these but the mainspring I never serviced since the edges are rolled over and supposed to have synthetic oil. Kept it running in a closet for year, kept good time if you did not touch it.

Wayne

 

[Ken M]

This thing I got was a junk yard dog. Nothing caught my eye as to whether it had been opened up before, but I wasn't looking. Whatever the case, it needed to be service. I didn't have any trouble getting the cap off, a good whack with a fiberglass hammer and it popped out.

 

[Raymond101]

How does it match up with the repair guide? Somehow I doubt the factory goofed. What does the pendulum weigh?

Kurt

I don't have a repair guide. If there is one might be interesting to read .
I wrote the weight of the pendulum above its 257 grams ,4 solid lead balls. That's almost a 1/2 lb.

I prefer working on brocot clocks.
This clock I just bought it because it was cheap and was in the original box.
It looked good . I forgot the old saying all that glitters Isn't gold / (Brass) .
I have now atleast got it to 1 minute a day . Few more adjustments.
My 160 yr brocot is good for 10 sec/per day. My shnid torsion is good for a minute a month. So I hope to get this within my specs.

 

[Raymond101]

The original instruction leaflet

Raymond

 

[KurtinSA]

257 grams is around 9 oz. No big deal really. Most common Kundo clocks have 7.5-8 oz pendulums. Schatz is typically one of the heaviest with around 12 oz...older Becker clock are also around 12 oz. It's all just part of the design.

Kurt

 

[Raymond101]

257 grams is around 9 oz. No big deal really. Most common Kundo clocks have 7.5-8 oz pendulums. Schatz is typically one of the heaviest with around 12 oz...older Becker clock are also around 12 oz. It's all just part of the design.

Kurt

Thanks, I realized that the mass is proportion to the suspension spring thickness. And it's easier to change the mass rather than changing the suspension spring size . It's now running well 4 Rev per min @ 15 sec per Revaluation.
The main problems we're that the bridge top was bent downwards to compensate for bad positioning of the fork . So lowering the bridge assembly 3mm . As per my cad in about post.
Also the top of the bridge was pressing against the case lid.
I increased the mass 0.5 gram which has brought it in correct adjustment.

Raymond