OG Clock - Intermittent Striking Problem

[George Mitchell]

I have recently cleaned and repaired my first clock, a New Haven OG. I was pleasantly surprised when I got it all back together and it actually started running!! Not only is it running but is keeping time to within about two minutes a week.

The clock has been running for about a month now with no problems until a couple of days ago. I noticed that the strike was on the correct hour but it might miss a strike here and there. For example at 5:00 you might hear, Bong, Bong, skip, Bong, Bong. I know it is striking the correct hour because this is very intermittent. It might strike correctly at six, seven and eight then skip one or two strikes at nine. Or it might skip one or two strikes for several hour in a row then suddenly works fine for several hours. Other times the "skipped" strike is not actually missed but is a very soft strike as compared to the others in the same hour.

Thanks in advance for any advice you guys might have. I have learned a lot by just reading these forums.

George

 

[Willie X]

Check for a loose backboard or a loose movement mount. Also, if the hammer has been adjusted for a minimum volume, skips are common. The hammer to gong spaceing should be about 1/8".
Willie X

 

[George Mitchell]

Thanks Willie X....the strike hammer is about 1/8" so don't think that is the problem as it sounds good when it does strike. However, now that you mentioned it, I noticed that when I have wound the strike side the past couple of nights it "just did not feel right". Nothing big but enough that I noticed it. I might have a loose mount. I will check that.

Thanks for the quick advice.

George

 

[Willie X]

George,
OGs often have something like a finishing nail pushed through the side/cheek boards and into the ends of the seat board. These are sometimes missing, check for empty holes. Also, the thin side/cheek boards are often loose or bowed out a bit allowing the seat board to shift left or right. Easy to shim this with something like strips cut from a shoe box, or similar. Be sure to shim it in the way that makes the dial line up better with the movement shafts.
Willie X

 

[George Mitchell]

Willie X,

Thanks for that info...I did just now check and everything seems to be tight and settled. The more I think about this the more I think maybe it has to do with a couple of bushings and a pinion. Since this was my first attempt I did not tackle all of that but plan to do it later. I know for sure that the pinion on the fan arbor need some work and I think that might be causing the problem. I am going to go back into this clock after I finish the current project I am working on (the one with the missing verge....that is giving me fits trying to get it just close enough to run). I think I will feel more comfortable with replacing pinions and bushings by then.

George

 

[Willie X]

George,
One more item, look closely at the hammer tail (wire). It usually extends over to the left and is actuated by pins on the main wheel. Make sure that, at the stopped position, there is about a 1/8" space between the wire and the approaching pin. If the hammer tail wire is laying/banking on the pin, that can cause issues.
Thats about all I can think up. Please report back when you figure that puppy out.
Willie X

 

[shutterbug]

It's possible that a pin is broken off too.

 

[George Mitchell]

Well, I think maybe I found the problem. Apparently the fan was loose on the arbor and not spinning correctly. I did a little adjusting and, at least for now, it seems to be running as it should. Nutjob

The better news is this was another learning experience for me. I knew the fan had something to do with the speed of the striking but did not realize that a small adjustment could affect it that much. I tightened it on the arbor and actually adjusted (bent) the fan slightly. Now the striking seems to be consistent and actually sounds a little better.

Thanks for your help.

 

[R. Croswell]

Well, I think maybe I found the problem. Apparently the fan was loose on the arbor and not spinning correctly. I did a little adjusting and, at least for now, it seems to be running as it should. Nutjob

The better news is this was another learning experience for me. I knew the fan had something to do with the speed of the striking but did not realize that a small adjustment could affect it that much. I tightened it on the arbor and actually adjusted (bent) the fan slightly. Now the striking seems to be consistent and actually sounds a little better.

Thanks for your help.

Glad to hear you have it working. I don't really see how the fan could cause this symptom, but no arguing with success. As an after thought, no one asked how far the hammer is lifting between strikes or the strength of the hammer return spring. On these OGs where a pin wheel lifts the hammer tail it is not uncommon to find that someone has bent the hammer tail wire away to get the required clearance (see post #6) and by doing so reduced the amount lift before the hammer drops. The correct adjustment is to re-time the meshing of the gears so the strike train stops with the pins away from the lever. If the hammer return spring is broken, missing, or has been replaced with one that's too weak this can cause the same problem. If the hammer is adjusted to rest 1/8" away from the gong then it is obvious that it must drop with enough speed and force so that when it hits the "stop" the hammer head will continue on for the 1/8" and whack the gong and bounce away and come to rest. If there is not enough velocity or lift the hammer will hit weakly or intermittently at best.

Please tell us how you tightened the fan! The fan must be free to slip a little when the striking train stops in order to prevent damage.

RC

 

[George Mitchell]

RC, thanks for that information. I agree, that I don't see what adjusting the fan would have to do with the loudness of the strike. Maybe I bumped something else into place and did not realize it!! I think this is working pretty well now. The only other thing that sort of bothers me is the noise it makes during the striking. You can definitely hear the gears in the strike train turning when it strikes. However, it is still keeping good time and striking the correct hour so I am going leave well enough alone.

I am not sure exactly how far the hammer is actually lifted as I guess I have not paid enough attention. I do know that at rest the hammer is is about 1/8" from the gong. The spring seems to be strong enough although I am not positive how I would test that. And yes, the hammer tail has been bent (probably several times). I think I have it in a good position now.

As for how I tightened the fan....I simply put a little pressure on the ends of the fan which "squeezed" the wire a little tighter to the arbor. It still has freedom.

Thanks again,
George

 

[R. Croswell]

RC, thanks for that information. I agree, that I don't see what adjusting the fan would have to do with the loudness of the strike. Maybe I bumped something else into place and did not realize it!! I think this is working pretty well now. The only other thing that sort of bothers me is the noise it makes during the striking. You can definitely hear the gears in the strike train turning when it strikes. However, it is still keeping good time and striking the correct hour so I am going leave well enough alone.

I am not sure exactly how far the hammer is actually lifted as I guess I have not paid enough attention. I do know that at rest the hammer is is about 1/8" from the gong. The spring seems to be strong enough although I am not positive how I would test that. And yes, the hammer tail has been bent (probably several times). I think I have it in a good position now.

As for how I tightened the fan....I simply put a little pressure on the ends of the fan which "squeezed" the wire a little tighter to the arbor. It still has freedom.

Thanks again,
George

The lantern pinions used in this clock, especially the high speed one that drives the fan will make some noise. If the pins in the lantern are worn, or the pivot holes are worn, or the pivot holes for the fan are dry it will make more noise. Conversely, if you replace worn pins in the lantern and bush the fan pivot holes it will make less noise. You might try oiling the fan pivot holes with 30W or 40W (or heavier) motor oil. That will usually quiet it for a while.

As for moving something affecting the intermittent striking, I don't know what that would be unless you removed the movement and the new position is closer to the gong.

RC