Seth Thomas Tambour Westminster Chime Out of Synchronization

[LeoM]

Hi, I'm a novice at clock repair but I do restore antique automobiles so I'm not mechanically challenged. This Seth Thomas clock was cleaned and serviced about 3 years ago by a local clock repair person who had an excellent reputation. Unfortunately he retired and now I have to deal with this myself. The clock started chiming out of sequence recently, in the past when that occurred it would right itself within a short period of time but not now. Specifically, the clock chime is 1/2 hour off meaning that at 6:30 it will strike and chime as if it were 6:00. At the 1/4 hour it chimes for 3/4 hour, at 3/4 hour it chimes for 1/4 hour and on the hour it chimes for 1/2 hour. Please advise.

 

[Chris.K]

My dads clock will do that from time to time. If it's a half hour out just remove the minute hand and put it a half hour out where the clock is striking.

 

[LeoM]

My dads clock will do that from time to time. If it's a half hour out just remove the minute hand and put it a half hour out where the clock is striking.

Alas, I believe there is more than that, It was just 12:30PM and I heard it strike only 7 for the hours. Thank you for your input.

 

[Chris.K]

Alas, I believe there is more than that, It was just 12:30PM and I heard it strike only 7 for the hours. Thank you for your input.

yes, it does seem to have other issues if it is striking random hours. Since I am unfamiliar with your ST as all my 3-train clocks are German I have little input on this. I wonder why the auto-correct is malfunctioning.?

 

[LeoM]

Your guess is better than mine. I'm sure someone with experience will let us know.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

I have moved this to the Clock Repair forum.

 

[shutterbug]

It sounds like your minute hand came off and it was put on 180° wrong. At any rate, putting the hand on 180° from where it is should solve the problem.
If the hour strike is off, just move the hour hand to match the strike. It's just a friction fit hand, and will move with some pressure. If it goes out again, it may have more serious issues. Often people catch the hour hand with a finger when they are moving the minute hand, and never notice it.
(edited to correct that last sentence)

 

[R. Croswell]

The Medbury 5W typically used the Seth Thomas 124 movements. This movement does not behave well if it has any significant wear. In the case we are discussing we need to determine whether the clock is striking the wrong hour, or if the strike train is attempting to strike the correct hour but stalls before completing the count. If the problem persists, we need to see the front of the movement out of the case to tell if the strike is complete (the rack fully gathered). Not an easy clock to service and almost always needs pivot & bushing work. Also check that all three springs are fully wound.

RC

 

[LeoM]

I was able to resolve this by first setting both the large hand and small hand to the correct position for the next strike based on the last strikes and then stopping the clock and restarting it at the appropriate time. It's been working fine since then. Another thing, the clock has always struck the hour 1 minute after. How can that be corrected?

 

[R. Croswell]

......... Another thing, the clock has always struck the hour 1 minute after. How can that be corrected?

+/- one minute is considered by many to be "normal". The minute hand should have a brass center collet. Insert a square object such as a file tang into the opening, hold the file and twist the hand slightly counterclockwise. Don't bend the hand. it will be tight but the hand should slip on the collet.

RC

 

[JTD]

+/- one minute is considered by many to be "normal"

I agree, leave it as it is.

JTD

 

[LeoM]

Now we have a different problem with this piece. It does not strike the quarter hours all the time, sometimes it does and other times it does not. I hear it "click" indicating it knows the quarter hour has passed but it does not strike all the time.

 

[shutterbug]

Are the hammers trying to rise during the warning run? It needs time to speed up without any hindrance.

 

[LeoM]

Are the hammers trying to rise during the warning run? It needs time to speed up without any hindrance.

Good question, you are speaking to someone not versed in "clock speak" warning run? what is and how do I determine this?

 

[shutterbug]

The train sets up to run roughly 5 minutes before the run starts. You'll hear (or see) the train run for a short time and then stop, waiting for the signal to continue the run. That is the warning run, and there should be no movement in any of the hammers at that time.

 

[LeoM]

The train sets up to run roughly 5 minutes before the run starts. You'll hear (or see) the train run for a short time and then stop, waiting for the signal to continue the run. That is the warning run, and there should be no movement in any of the hammers at that time.

I will observe and report back.