Tired Striking train

[SimonAllen]

I am restoring this Clock. It might be by Duverdry & Bloquel. It has a Lion walking marking on the back plate. The lion is walking to the right.

I cannot get the striking train to run without it stopping. It is tired. It raises the hammer, but the power is low. It manages a few strikes and stops. I have already cleaned it and lubricated it. I have set it so the hammer is not on the rise when the train is released. I cannot see any friction problems. Does it need a new spring?
One other question. There should be a rod that turns a gear on the brass block on the top of the pendulum. It is accessed through the dial so the pendulum can be adjusted without having to open the back of the clock, lift out the pendulum and adjust the bob. The rod is missing, as is the gear on top of the pendulum adjustment. Where would I find spare parts?

 

[bruce linde]

hopefully those photos are pre-cleaning?

you can't really 'see friction problems'... it's the little things that accumulate.

when you say 'cleaned and lubricated it'... does that include full disassembly and servicing? new bushings (and possibly smooth broaching, as necessary)? polishing/burnishing pivots (and making sure all pivots are true, and not bent)? sanding/poilshing mainsprings (and checking to make sure they're still good) before re-install and lubrication? btw.... what do you use for lubrication?

when you were reassembling the movement... did you check each individual gear/arbor to see how easily it spun? and then check adjacent pairs to confirm depthing is good? and then check the entire striking train to see how easily it ran?

more info, pls!

 

[Willie X]

A famous clock repairer once said that 75% of the problems with French clocks resided within the spring barrels ... This is not because of any actual fault with the barrel or spring, these are of the higest quality. It's because the springs are thin and easily stick together when the lubricant dries out or becomes stickey.
So, you will need to go there but first check the hammer stroke, it should be no more than about 1/2 inch.
Willie X

 

[R. Croswell]

It is difficult to tell from a picture, but the 2nd. wheel pivot hole looks to be badly worn, and the main wheel pivot hole doesn't look so hot and because it doesn't appear to clear the surface of the plate there may be tunneling and more wear than is obvious. French clocks are not very forgiving when it comes to wear and friction causing defects. I would suggest that it is time to completely disassemble and clean this movement and inspect everything, especially the springs, spring barrels and covers, and lower train pivots.

RC