Worstminster chimes

[scrumpy111]

A friend brought me a westminster that has one chime that just thunks. Took the chimes out and found that one was glued in. Heated up the rod and seperated tha piece. I guess the glue did not let the resonance through. Will braising at least give a tone.

 

[gvasale]

Have a lathe? if so, you could make a bushing and re-fit it very firmly.

 

[Willie X]

Whatever you do to the old rod will require retuning all the other rods. It's much better to replace that broken rod and retune just the one replaced rod. Or better still, just replace all the rods with a new tuned set. Willie X

 

[Mike Phelan]

You might as well get a complete set of rods. Trying to replace and re-tune the duff one will take forever and brazing (I assume that's what you mean) a broken one simply won't work.

 

[scrumpy111]

Thanks. Clock is in a mediocre condition and I think its not worth the effort as he bought it for 20 francs at a boot sale.. But its nice to know how to go about it if the clock has any value.

 

[Mike Phelan]

At that sort of price, it's not for scrap and is well worth getting it working properly then selling or keeping.

 

[scrumpy111]

Guess you are right my better half probably wont like it.

 

[JimmyOz]

Instead of junking it;
If the chime bar has 5 rods and lifts 3 hammers for the strike? You could take out the the rod that is not involved in the Westminster chime, then use the broken one as a template for length and put that in.

 

[scrumpy111]

Thats a good idea. Just looked at an English firm who supply parts and they are good value, just postage is a joke, but could wait until I have enough parts that I need to offset the postage, England are on strike seemingly six days up until Christmas. Been waiting for my 3D pieces now for three weeks.

 

[Robert Gift]

...Took the chimes out and found that one was glued in. Heated up the rod and seperated tha piece. I guess the glue did not let the resonance through. Will braising at least give a tone.

If you can, try the braising and report howell it works!
If there are separate rods for the hour strike, could you remove a rod and use it for the Westminster Chime note?
Recently I cut a rod to make it sound a higher pitch. Then fine tuned it by filing thend of the rod.

 

[scrumpy111]

I can dig the clock out of the basement and check the chime feature. Have little room in the flat to keep everything without the wife complaining. Will get back to you..