Quarter Hour Chime Speed

[cjer]

The quarter hour chimes on my 2004 Howard Miller movement (Kieninger MS001) are very slow compared to other similar movements. The top of the hour chimes take 23 seconds to complete. The movement looks very clean and all of the bushings look good. While I am no clock expert is there a way to speed up the quarter chimes?
Thanks so much!
Jerry

 

[Willie X]

If the clock shows signs of gross over oiling, you could remove the movement, remove the springs, and give everything a long soak in mineral sprits, brushing away all the debris. Oil (or grease) the springs when they are clean and dry. Put the springs back in the correct barrels and put it all back together, make sure everything is dry, then carefully oil each pivot hole. There are 4 oil points at each winding arbor.

This is commonly called a 'Duncan Swish' but adds the part about the spring service. You could call this version a 'rinse' with spring service. Ha

If your clock was stopping due to worn parts, a rinse won't help much if at all. If everything goes back to normal, then you may get a few more years out of it before it will need a take apart cleaning, bushing work, ie. overhaul.

Note, These clock don't have a very long service life and look up 'testing for wear'.

Willie X

 

[NEW65]

Is that a weight driven movement Willie? Im not too sure to be honest but I thought the MS range were weight driven.

 

[Willie X]

Yes it is, dunno what I was thinking. Thanks, Willie

OP, disregard all the mainspring & barrel stuff. All else should apply ... do remove the cable retainers and pull off the cables. Also, look closely for foreign matter.

 

[NEW65]

Yes check well for foreign matter. Get a good light and a magnifier and check the pinions carefully especially in the upper train. It doesn't take much to slow it or stop it altogether.

 

[Peter John]

Pivots?

 

[shutterbug]

Verify that the weights are correct and on the correct trains (heaviest on the chimes). If that checks out, watch the fly to see if it slows down and speeds up during the chime sequence.