1161 Hermle Clock Movement Notes
1161 Hermle Clock Movement Notes
The 1161 Hermle Clock Movements are great that is why there is so many made. They work night and day for 30 years without much complaint. So here is some information on these fine German made units.
Names on the Movement
The name maybe a number of makers on the movement, but it was made by Hermle not them. It may say Howard Miller, or Ridgeway, or Sligh, or many other names. If the number on the clock movement starts with 1161- its really made by the Hermle company. They let these companies to have there name on the movement instead of Hermle.
Chain or Cable Drive
This movement was made in both cable driven and also chain driven styles. The 1161-853 is the most popular and the most produced Grandfather clock movement in the world. When ordering a new movement it will come with the chains or cables with the pulleys.
Hermle movement 1161-853 Clock Weights
This clock movement takes three clock weights to run. The weights should be close to 8 or 10lbs, and does not have to be exact. Even though it does not have to be the exact weight, here is the exact weight specification from the factory. If the pendulum bob is less than 8 1/2 inches wide, it will take two at 7.7LBS and one at 9.9LBS. If the pendulum bob is 8 1/2 inches in diameter or larger, it takes two weights at 9.9LBS and one at 7.7LBS. Often they will have a 10 1/2 inch bob with the two at 7.7 and one at 9.9 and the customer says it ran 30 years like that.
Weight Placement
The placement for the clock weights on this series is the following. The heavy weight will go on the right as facing the clock if one heavy and two light. If there is two heavy weights and one light weight, the light one will go on the left as facing the clock. So what this means is the middle time train weight is variable light or heavy depending on pendulum bob diameter.1161 Hermle Clock Movement Songs
This is a triple chime unit that plays out a melody on the quarter hours and then on the top of the hour it will strike out whatever times the hour is. The songs this one plays choice of the following. Westminster, Saint Micheal, or Wittington and also a silent option. For an additional cost is it able to have an auto night shut off switch (ANSO), this will make the clock quiet from 10pm to 7am on its own without intervention.
The Support
Please note the factory will give a three year warranty. However we are clock makers here at Clockworks.com and we have been doing this sort of thing for a long time in this family (over 100 years of experience). If have questions or concern in whatever amount of time, we are not going to turn down a response, we answer whatever questions even a decade later, it really does not matter. We take care of our customers in whatever way we can. The movement comes with instructions and any questions beyond the instructions can be emailed, chatted, or called in.
↑ Back to top
I inherited a model 1161-b53bsk grandfather clock. I belive it was wound too tight at some point and the center weight is so high to the top it will not allow the crank to move. By gently moving the minute hand in 15 minute increments the other two are moving down. Any suggestions on the middle weight and getting the tension off it? Thank You
Take the pendulum off the clock and get the leader alone to wig wag back and forth on its own (so it goes fast)
While pushing down on the center weight, as if the clock weight weights alot more than it does, to make the leader wig wag fast.
This will bring the weight down some to unjam it
See more info at this link
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-weights-stuck
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hello I have a Sligh grandfather clock with Hermle 1161-853BS movement I saw on here a week or two ago a post about getting it to chime… The chime switch is on and when I move the arms it will chime and strike. I did some of the things that were said in another post to try to reset. “pulling back the hammers and release etc.
I saw there were 2 sets of hammers so I also tried this with the strike set and when I pulled them back slightly I heard a click and the hammers flipped backwards upside down? is there a way to fix this? I tried looking at the side view of the movement and cannot see it clear enough to see where things go?
If at all a possibility of me being able to fix myself, I am willing to try first before I am forced to purchase the whole movement. The clock is still running and keeping time just issues with the chiming and now the strike arms that have fallen. Please help Thank You Kat
Hi,
The strike hammer assembly all moves together as one. These hammers are on a tube with a set screw. This set screw is to hold it tight on the post it rides on.
Solution is to position the hammers so they are 1/8 inch away from the chime rods at rest, and retighten this set screw.
James
I have a Howard Miller/Ridgeway floor grandfather clock with a Hermle movement 1161-853, I replaced the chime block with new chimes, in the process the hour chime hammers fell backwards how can I correct to get the hourly chime back again?? I have photos, any help would be great.
That strike hammer assembly has a set screw and the entire hammer rack moves together. Position where its best on the rod it sits onto, and tighten the screw.
Bend the hammers as needed as per these instructions
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/clock-chime-hammer-positioning
James