German Mechanical-Clock Hand Installation
German Mechanical-Clock Hand Installation
The installation of a German Mechanical-Clock Hand on a German mechanical movement is quite simple. It is simply the opposite of the removal process.
The minute hand must go through some adjustments if you are replacing the movement. Also if the hands are new. This is so it will point to the correct time when it chimes.
Installing the hour hand
First comes the hour hand. The hour hand is simply a friction fit. All you have to do is put the hand on its round post. Then twist and push toward the front of the dial.
Make sure that it is not in contact with the dial at any point during the rotation.
This includes the base of the hour hand. It cannot rub against the hole that is in the clock face. So, the clock can stop at any point if the hour hand touches anything. You can turn the hand to point to whatever hour it is because it is only a friction fit.
Installing the minute hand
Second, comes the minute hand. Install the minute hand by lining up the the square hole in the hand with the square post of the hand shaft. The bottom of the minute hand cannot be rubbing the hour hand tube or the hour hand. Push the hour hand down further onto the tube if the minute hand is rubbing.
Therefore, it is imperative to check the positioning of the hands to ensure they are not touching anything. Once the minute hand is on its square post, it's time to put the hand nut on.
Tighten the nut with your fingers and then use a pair of needle nose pliers to make it secure. It does not have to be extremely tight. However you need to ensure it is tight enough so that the hands do not come loose as they go around the clock.
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I ordered a replacement hand but the square slot was too large. Is there a way to specify the inside diameter of the square that fits over the shaft?
What are the numbers off of the back plate of the clock movement itself? If it is hard to get to, usually you can stick a cell phone up behind the movement and get a picture of the numbers. Or through the side access panel if there is one.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Movement no. is 354181F
Etched on back of plate – UW66036 8604
The dimension of the square at the radius of the minute hand is very close to 2mm, so the hand nut inside diameter of the circle is just a few tenths of a mm smaller.
German Mechanical clock hands Installation is easy and fast. Germans used bushings in both the hour and minute hands. Where as the American units have the bushing in the hour hand only. This section describes the German style with bushings in both. The hour tube will have the round bushing installed, the minute hand will have a bushing that has a square hole in it instead. For most clocks mechanical post WW2 the hour hand has a 4.5mm round hole, and the minute hand has a 2.2mm square hole. There are exceptions to this such as the larger tubular bell grandfather clocks. Also some movements made by Jauch of Germany. The rest is pretty consistent with the hand attributes as described.
Hands for a german mechanical clock
https://www.clockworks.com/?post_type=products&s=german+hands
The hands are measured by the time track diameter (just outside the numerals like outside of the 9 to outside of the 6), the minute hand length will be about half this diameter. Comes also with the shorter hour hand included in the set.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
There is more info on the back of that one needed
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Installation was so easy especially having this to go by thank you.