Congratulations on your purchase of this quality clock movement. This precision instrument, when cared for properly, will deliver years of dependable service. Inspect the shipping carton for signs of damage that could have occurred in shipping. Carefully remove the movement and accessories. Should you find any damaged or missing parts, please contact us immediately for a prompt replacement. Be sure to have the movement number as well as a description of the damaged / missing item. We recommend that you use a old shirt or rag when handling the lead weight fillings. lead can be toxic and should be handled with caution. Make sure if you touch and lead item that you wash your hands thoroughly before eating. Lead however, cannot be absorbed through the skin. Also, use gloves when handling the movement and any other brass components. The Natural oils on your skin can, over time, tarnish these items. If you happen to touch any of the brass components, simply wipe the surface with a clean, dry cloth. It is always best to handle the movement by the corner pillars rather than the movements front or back plates.
Very few tools are needed to install the clock movement into your clock case. However, you will want to have the following items handy:
A. Slotted screwdriver with a fine tip, you will most likely need one that is longer and one that is shorter.
B. A level
C. Rags
D. Tape measure
1. You will want to avoid placing the clock cabinet in direct sunlight as ultraviolet rays will tend to tighten or bleach the cabinet.
2. It is also recommended that the clock not be placed near heating or air conditioning vents. Dramatic temperature changes will effect time keeping regulation.
3. It is strongly recommended that the clock not be placed near a fireplace. If placed near a fireplace or vent, the movement is subject to a higher concentration of airborne particles.
4. Chime volume will be effected by the placement of the clock case. A grandfather clock placed on a wood floor will be louder than on placed on a carpeted floor, for example.
5. Avoid placing the clock in high traffic areas. Especially if children are present. If children are present, it is strongly recommended that the top of the clock case be permanently attached to the wall. This will eliminate the possibility of the clock being tipped over.
The silence lever is located on the right hand side of the movement as you face the handshaft. The purpose of the extension is to control the silencing and selection of the 4/4 melodies. The silence lever extension is easily installed onto the silence lever by loosening the set screw and sliding it into position. After the extension is in place and the dial has been installed, the set screw can be tightened securely. In most instances, you will find a slot in the dial where this extension will ultimately protrude. It can then be moved up to silence the chimes or down to change melodies. If your dial is not equipped with a slot for the extension, simply mount the silence lever extension so that the end of the lever points toward the back of the clock case.
If your clock does not have a dial that has a moving moon, skip to assembly step 8. The moon gear is used to automatically change the position of the moving moon disc on the dial. If replacing a movement then get the old moon gear off of the old movement by loosening the set screws. Put the moon gear on the new movement about 1/2 down the handshaft, or whatever the length was on the old units handshaft, when positioned correctly, secure the set screws.
In the late 17th century, the moon dial was added to long case clocks so people could plan ahead for when the moon was full so travel at night was not so hazardous. It also aided farmers in the proper timing of planting and harvesting their crops. Observing the front of the dial, note the dials arch or commonly called "chapter ring". You will notice that the chapter ring starts at "1" and ends at "29 1/2". These numerals indicate the days of the lunar month. The moving moon disc indicates the day of the lunar month in relation to the phase of the moon. The position of the disc can be adjusted by applying gentle pressure with your fingertips to the face of the moon disc. Find the day of the moon's position by either observing the moon, a calendar or a newspaper. remember to wear gloves when completing this procedure. Due to the gearing of the dial, there are two complete lunar cycles for every revolution of the moving moon disc.
Take the movement and insert the hand shaft into the center hole in the dial. As you do this, note that the for dial mounting posts go into the four pre drilled holes in the movements front plate. Note also that the gearing on the back of the dial meshes properly with the moon disc drive gear installed in assembly step 5. If they do not line up correctly, reposition the moon gear. After the posts are installed into the movements front plate and the gears mesh properly, Slide the dial post locking levers into position. Do this to all four posts. The dial is now securely attached to the movement. Next, make sure that the silence lever extension is protruding through the slot in the dials face. Tighten the extensions screw securely.
Remove the orange cable retainers that cover each cable drum assembly. This is very important. If the retainers are not removed, the clock will not operate correctly. Do not attempt to remove the clear plastic retainers as this will damage the movement. Insert the movement into the opening within the clock case. Fasten the movement to its mounting board making sure that the pendulum leader does not come in contact with the mounting board and can freely move back and forth. Make sure that the dial is centered in the dial opening. Secure the movement into position using the movement mounting plates and movement mounting screws. Tighten the mounting screws securely, not too tight but tight enough so the movement does not move around during winding.
There are two different methods for mounting the chime rod assembly to the clock case. The first method involves attaching the chime rod assembly to the case back. It is recommended that the clock case back be at least 1/4", but thicker is better. A thicker case back allows the vibration produced by the chime rods to reverberate better throughout the case and ultimately into the surrounding area. You may wish to place shims or a block of wood behind behind the cast iron portion of the chime rod assembly. This will aid in achieving the proper alignment between the chime rods and the movements hammers. The second method involves mounting the chime rod assembly to a mounting board, then attaching the mounting board to the sides of the case with small mounting blocks. When mounting the chime rod assembly into the clock case, it is recommended that the chime rod assembly be positioned so that the movements hammers strike the rods 1" from the bottom of the chime block. having the hammers strike the chime rods at this point will allow the chime rods to produce the best tone possible.
The pendulum gets attached to the leader, the leader gets attached to the suspension spring. Lets say that another way. The wig waggy thing on the post that sticks out the back of the movement is called a suspension spring. The leader attaches to this suspension spring, a leader is a flat piece of brass usually that is about 3-5 inches long. This leader hooks to the suspension spring while there is a hole in the middle of it so the other wig waggy thing coming out the back of the middle of the movement can go into it. This part that comes out the back of the movement is called a verge and it moves back and forth when the clock runs, making the pendulum go back and forth. Next you put on the pendulum by hooking it up to the leader. So there you have it, suspension spring, leader and pendulum all swinging together.
First, hook the loose end of each cable into the slot provided in the underside of the clock movement (if cable driven).. If the cable ends are not seated properly in each slot, the entire weight assembly can fall to the floor and damage the case. Hang the weights. Again, remember to wear gloves or use a rag when hanging the weights. As you face the movement, the heaviest weight should be installed on the right hand cable. This weight is the weight that powers the 4/4 chime gear train. The center weight is powering the time keeping gear train, and left hand weight is for powering the hour strike gear train.
Note the position of the movements hammer assemblies in relation to the chime rod assemblies chime rods. You will note that each chime hammer corresponds to one chime rod. These hammers should line up with each corresponding chime rod. At rest, the hammers should rest approximately 1/8 away from each chime rod. The hammers can be repositioned by bending the hammer wires to achieve the correct position. Place the minute hand on the movements hand shaft in any position without the hand nut and turn the hand slowly clockwise until you hear a click and the chimes start to play. The chimes may play immediately or it may take one complete revolution of the minute hand before they are activated. listen to the chimes. The notes you hear should be crisp and clear. If not, make small adjustments to the hammer wires until the desired sound is achieved.
Westminster melody plays four notes on the quarter hour, eight notes on the half hour, twelve notes on the three quarter hour, sixteen notes on the hour, then strikes the hour. Mount the minute hand on the movements hand shaft in any position. Rotate the hand clockwise until a click is heard and the chimes start to play. Note the number of notes that movement plays. Continue rotating the minute hand in this manner until the clock chimes sixteen notes then strikes (counts) the hour. Note the number of times the clock strikes the hour. Next, remove the minute hand and place the HOUR hand with the hand pointing to the hour just struck. Mount the minute hand so that it points to the "12" on the dial. Secure it with the hand nut provided. If you find that the clock starts chiming a few minutes before or after each quarter hour, it can easily be corrected. This is done by shifting the minute hand on its bushing. First, REMOVE the minute hand. It is important that you make this adjustment with the hand removed from the movement. Do not attempt to make this adjustment wit the hand mounted to the movement. Once removed, you will see that the minute hand is actually made from two pieces of material, the blade portion of the hand and a small brass bushing that has been pressed into the blade. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, grasp the bushing while holding the hand firmly near the bushing. Shift the position of the bushing within the hand the necessary amount. Next, place the hand back on the movement and advance it to the next quarter hour. It may take several small adjustments to get the bushing positioned perfectly.
Go around with the minute hand and listen to its chime until you get to the hourly strike. When the clock strikes the hours out, count them and see what time its bonging. Set the hands to this time. So if you heard six bongs, set the hands to read 6 o'clock. Then, after the hands are mounted at the same time that its striking, set the clock to time.
Your clock movement is designed to run continuously for eight days. It is recommended however, that the clock be wound weekly. Try to choose a time each week that is easily remembered, perhaps every Sunday evening. the weights within the clock case are what power the clock movement. The center weight is for powering the time keeping gear train with in the movement, the left weight powers the hour strike and the right hand weight (heavy weight) powers the 4/4 chimes.
To wind a cable driven clock, simply insert the winding crank provided into tone of the holes in the dials face. Rotate the crank counter clockwise. this will raise each weight. Each weight can be raised to any height desired but it is recommended that each be wound fully. you will notice a definite stopping point when the weights are fully wound.
To wind a chain driven clock, lift the chain with your fingers just above the weight to reduce the stress on the chain, and pull down on the other side of the chain so the weight goes up with your hand. Do not wind to high, you should be able to see the top of the weight at its full winding point.
To start the clock, gently move the pendulum to one side of the case and release it. Listen to the tick tock sound that the clock makes, The movement has an internal feature that will auto matically adjust the "Beat" of the clock movement. This automatic "Beat" adjustment feature can only work if the case is wide enough to over-swing the pendulum. A clock movement that is not in "Beat" can run any where from a few minutes to several hours, then quit.
A clock that is "In Beat" will have a constant and even: Tick... tock... tick.. tock... tick... tock
A clock that is "Out of Beat" will have a uneven: Tick,tock.. tick,tock... tick,tock
Keep in mind that what determines if a clock is in "Beat" is the interval "between" the two sounds, Remember, a clock movement that is slightly out of "Beat" may actually run for a while but then stop. A clock movement that is extremely out of "Beat" may not make any tick tock sound and not run at all. If the clock case is too narrow to let the pendulum over-swing, it will be up to you to nudge the top portion of the pendulum to the left or to the right and make that tick tock sound even on both sides as described above.
Letting the clock run for an extended period will allow you to determine if the clock is running fast or slow. If an adjustment to the time regulation is necessary, first locate the rating nut located at the bottom of the pendulum. Turning this nut raises or lowers the entire pendulum bob. If your clock is running fast, turn the rating nut in a counter clockwise direction. This will lower the pendulum bob. If the clock is running slow, turn the nut clock wise. Figure one revolution is about 5 minutes a day. It will really be less or more than this, but this is about what it is.
