Urgos 03038 9 Tube

[disciple_dan]

So, by backing off the hammer spring tension, is the most likely problem going to be that the hammers may bounce?
I think this movement is working well but I am afraid the hammers may bounce. I don't want to have to deal with that at the customer's house. Is there a test for that? Thanks, Danny

 

[shutterbug]

If it's going to bounce, you'll see it on the test stand. Those always bounce some. As long as they are adjusted so they don't double strike the tubes, you should be fine.

 

[Willie X]

Adjusting the strings is the (by far) the easiest thing to do with these clocks.

Tip, put the tubes in one at a time, starting with the longest one. Then check the hammer action, adjust as necessary and put in the next tube, rinse and repeat.

Note, the 'pull back' on the first tube's hammer (strike) is more than the rest, so pull it back acordingly.

Willie X

 

[disciple_dan]

Adjusting the strings is the (by far) the easiest thing to do with these clocks.

Willie X. So, you back off on the tension screws to give it an easier start and then adjust the strings for no bounce. Correct?
I think this one is good to go back into the case. In the last video, the fan starts opening on about the 4th or 5th hammer pull. I think you said around the 2 sec. mark was ok. It's about 3 seconds on this one. I'm going to install it and hope it will run for years to come. I do a 1-year labor warranty on these large clocks. Is that reasonable?
Thanks to all who help answer questions that are hard to find in a book. Danny.

 

[wow]

Danny! You mean you give a whole year warrenty? You expect it to run a year without quitting? Never heard of such! Where’s your job security, man?

 

[disciple_dan]

Danny! You mean you give a whole year warrenty? You expect it to run a year without quitting? Never heard of such! Where’s your job security, man?

That's funny right there. Seriously, though. I was doing three years but started reading in some other places where guys were giving 90 days some 6 months. I'm not sure what the norm is. What do you guys do? Is that not long enough, too long Thanks, Danny

 

[Willie X]

I have never loosened all the tension screws.

You're actually not supposed to loosen any of them. I think that point has been covered.

I do loosen the first one, the one on the hammer that lifts first but only when the train is slow to come up to speed. Also, when the clock seems to slow down noticably when lifting a certain hammer, I will back off on that hammer's screw.

I would say 1/4 turn is a moderate adjustment and 1/2 turn a large adjustment. The hammer force will decrease noticably with a 1/2 turn adjustment but the sound may still be OK.

Warranties are a world within itself !!!

Willie X

 

[disciple_dan]

Thanks, Willie X.
Thank you, Will.
Thanks to everyone.

 

[shutterbug]

I have confidence that any repair I do will last many years, so a year seems very reasonable. It also gives the customer confidence that you know what you're doing

 

[disciple_dan]

I have confidence that any repair I do will last many years, so a year seems very reasonable. It also gives the customer confidence that you know what you're doing

Thank you, SB. this is the first one of these that I have done and it is somewhat intimidating. I don't know exactly how it is supposed to work from the factory so I don't know how confident I can be in its operation now. Like the fan test. That seems like a great way to test. Mine is not starting as fast as the example Willie X gave and that robs my confidence. However, I have gone through it and repaired and adjusted it as best I know how so, I'm going to expect it to perform as intended for many years and take it for installation on Thursday.
Thank you to all who so generously offered help and advice. Danny

 

[Willie X]

This may have already been covered but ... how much does your chime weight weigh? In my notes I have several numbers but I would make sure it weighs at least 16.8 pounds. Willie X

 

[disciple_dan]

Thanks, Willie X. This one weighs 18.490

 

[Willie X]

That's good. Willie X

 

[shutterbug]

And if it is on a chain like mine, you have to "help" the weight with your free hand as you raise it ... or be very strong

 

[disciple_dan]

And if it is on a chain like mine, you have to "help" the weight with your free hand as you raise it ... or be very strong

This one is cable. You could just take the strike weight off and hang it on the loose end of the chime chain and it would make it much easier to pull down.

 

[disciple_dan]

Ok, I got the movement installed today and all is well. I got the music all tuned up and it sounded great until I shut the doors. You can barely hear it. The case is number 23 of 100 made somewhere in Germany. It has thick beveled glass doors. It does not have removable side panels and they are made of the same thick glass. I never did hear it because when I picked it up it would not chime at all.
So, of course when I asked if it had always been that way they said no, it was louder. ( there are stupid questions)
I did lessen the tension on the hammer springs by about 1/8 of a turn. Could that have caused it to not be as loud? I was able to access that tension screw on the hour hammer so I tightened it but it didn't get louder so I suppose the others wouldn't either.
I think it has always been that way. It's all closed in. There are no openings to let the sound out.
So, I told the owner I would ask you guys. Do you know of any way to increase the volume on this UW 03038 nine tube?
Thanks, Danny

 

[Willie X]

Well, I've never seen one that wasn't loud. Willie X

 

[disciple_dan]

Yeah, we all agreed it sound good as I was tuning it up. When I closed the doors is when the problem was there.

 

[shutterbug]

Usually the side doors are felt or some other material that lets sound through. But I've seen the beveled glass type too ... but they are always removable - some have a lock at the bottom, inside the case. There should be some way for the sound to escape though. Or perhaps you went too far with the return spring pressure release ?

 

[disciple_dan]

Thanks, SB. As I said, I never got to hear the chime because it was not working when I got to it. If it did chime a little I had the door open then too so it would have sounded ok.
I looked high and low for some way to get side access, brother did I need it at times?
As it turned out, I left it with the hammer spring tensioners back off 1/8 of a turn just to give a little freedom to the lifting function. I don't think that was is the problem. As I said also, I was able to access the hour gong hammer spring tensioning screw and tightened it up to see if it would help but it didn't.
I couldn't risk causing serious problems by trying to adjust the tensioners on the job site. I couldn't reach them anyway with the movement installed.
I really think it was always like that. Sometimes people remember things the way they wish they were. Even me.
Anyway, thanks for the ideas. I have another clock to fix and take back and I'll try to make it louder somehow. If you guys think of something in the meantime please drop me a note. Thanks, Danny

 

[shutterbug]

They got those doors in there, Danny. They have to come out

 

[disciple_dan]

They got those doors in there, Danny. They have to come out

Ha Ha! that's what my uncle Robert that taught me to build houses used to tell me. "If they got it in there it will come out"
He was always right.
I'm thinking these are not made to be removed. It really would have helped with the installation but they are still not letting the sound out when the case is fully assembled. Not is the issue now. The movement is in and works fine.
I going to be at that same customer's house tomorrow to install the 241-083 that fell off of the wall and broke the intermediate wheel off. I got it repaired and it seems to be fine. I'll check those side panels again.
Thanks for the help, Danny

 

[Willie X]

I don't mention previous work. They will sing out if there's a problem.
Willie X

 

[wingardclocks]

I'm not sure how long the clock was not working before the customer called you to have it repaired. I've experienced years from some of my customers. It could be that, it was always at the same sound level it is now and they just can't remember or their hearing isn't as good now.
The last 9 tube I worked on had a cloth back.