Grandfather Clock Chime Issues
Grandfather Clock Chime Issues
When a grandfather clock has issues with the chime functioning these are some basic corrections. The chime is the song that plays every 15 minutes and not to be confused with the strike. The strike is what calls out the hours after it is done with the chime song. This section will resolve chime issues that are not the fault of the clock movement itself. In other words what falls into the realm of being a set up issue instead of a movement issue. Please note that post WW2 German mechanical clocks are designed so that if turning the hands fast or stop the clock for a long while it may not chime for up to 3/4 of an hour. This is because the clock is looking for the top of the hour so it does not lose its place as to when to chime.
Could be looking for the top of the hour
First thing to do is see if it chimes after 3/4 of an hour. Go forward with the minute hand with fingers while going slow past the quarters. A faint click can be heard and at that point pause and see if it starts chiming. If it does not chime go forward to the next and the next quarter. If the minute hand goes all the way around for an hour with no chime, continue to the next section.
Silent switch and roll pin
There may be a switch at the 3 o'clock and this switch turns the chimes on or off. If the clock is a triple chime movement, meaning it has three songs, it will have the song selection and also silent on this switch. The movement may have this switch but the dial may not have a slot to get at it on some Westminster only units. If this is the situation access it from the back of the clock instead. Not all movements have the silence switch. So if there is no switch then this cannot be the reason for no chimes.
If it's a Westminster only unit, UP is off and DOWN is chime. However, only if there is a switch. When the clock selector switch is on chime and still does not work, the next thing to check is a jam in the roll pin. To correct this pull all the chime side hammers back all at once and then let go. This will release a jam in the chime roll pin and let it bounce into position. Shipping may cause the roll pin to jam up like this. Changing the chime song when the current song is in midstream can cause this same issue.
Weights, cables, or chains not right
Confirm the heaviest weight is on the right while facing the clock. This is the chime side of the clock and requires the heaviest weight of them all. Check the cables or chains that they are not rubbing anything on their way down to the weight. In other words, the chains or cables do not rub the seat board, pinch or wrap around the movement pillar, or anything like this. They should be straight from the ratchet wheel or cable drum and straight down to the clock weight with nothing rubbing. If the cable or chain is rubbing something it will cause resistance. Resistance is what makes a clock stop because there is not enough weight to drive through whatever is rubbing. So if the chain or cable is rubbing something it's the same as not having the right amount of weight on the clock.
ANSO = Automatic Night Shut Off is on
Higher end mechanical clock movements sometimes include an ANSO feature. This stands for Automatic night shut off, and the intention is to have the clock be silent automatically from 10pm to 7am (usually). It is possible that it thinks it's night when it's really day, and therefore will not chime. If the clock does not chime it will not strike, so therefore the clock remains silent. This being a mechanical clock, it has no sensors to determine on its own what is night or day. Solution is to go around 12 hours with the clock hands. If there is an ANSO feature on the clock movement the switch would usually be on the left when facing the clock at 9 o'clock. On some movements it is between the hand shaft and the 3 o'clock selection switch in the middle of the dial.
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Our gramfather clock keeps good time, chimes on time and in the correct sequence, and the heavy chime weight is on the right. Everything should be fine. Except the notes have started randomly chiming with an irregular rhythm, not the steady quarter note rhythm instead, there are randomly occurring eighth notes. I should add that a few months ago, I would occasionally hear a metallic “sproing” sound but I haven’t noticed that in some time.
Is there anything we can do here at home to correct the problem?
Thanks.
we would need the numbers off of the back plate of the movement itself.
maybe some photos. its hard to say what the issue could be without seeing it.
Hi There is a big gear on the OUTSIDE of the back plate of the movement. It has a set screw but sometimes you dont even need to loosen it. But any how if you turn this gear, at the same time not letting the gear train run, it will turn around and put the hammers in the proper position. SO, you would use your left hand and put one finger on the top of the left gear train as to not let it spin, as you use your right hand and turn this gear on the back of the… Read more »
Hi, I have a Urgos grandfather clock. The number to the left of Urgos is UW66029. It has two levers , one at 3 and one at 9. The one on the left is for day/night operation and the one on the right is for chime and silence operation. When in night mode or in silence mode the minute hand will stop after some hours of operation. When pushing the minute hand to reset the time the hand feel stuck and hard to push as if it is hung up somehow. The clock works fine in day mode and normal… Read more »
Seems more like the moon gear and the gears on the back of the dial maybe.
Try no dial see if persists.
I have a Sligh Md 0903-1-AN and the chime selector will not stay in place All was well until the last time it was wound up. It has 3 different chime sounds and a silent. If you move it up, when you let go it falls back to the bottom. Any help would be appreciatd
Lift all the chime hammers at once to reset the roll pin position
My c!com chimes but it is chiming 20 minutes late. 7:00 rings at 7:20.
Clock Hand Fix for not chiming exactly on the quarters This fix is very easy but some people have a hard time believing it is as easy as described. Please read this text carefully. Take the minute hand off of the clock, this is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down, you will see it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn… Read more »
[image: Hand.Fix.JPG]
We have an older model Howard Miller grandfather clock that will often times not chime on the hour but simply strike the time. Additionally, the chime notes are often not correct; for example, 3/4 hour chimes at the 1/4 hour, or 1/4 hour chimes at half past. Any thoughts on how I might correct this?
1. Is the chime selector on chime? There is a switch on the 3 o’clock position on the clock movement. Usually this will have an arm coming out of the dial so you can select it up or down, but then some dials are not equipped with the slot for this arm to come through. If you have the type of dial with no selector slot, you will have to get to that side of the movement from the back and see if there is an arm sticking out of the side of the movement that you can raise or… Read more »
i would like to know if you can slow the chimes down mine runs though the hourly chime in about 10 seconds i recently paid a person to replace the mechanism in the clock and now it seems fast
Loose fly or too much weight on it.
I have a grandfather clock it chimes fine but doesn’t strike out the hour
Strike Quantity Issues This have to do with the mechanics in the front part of the movement, behind the dial. The best way to learn the mechanics of these components is to simply watch them in action. When getting to the front of the movement by removing the dial, observe the racks motion during the strike. The rack is the saw like thing that drops down onto the snail looking thing that is part of the hour hand tube. If the rack is not connecting to the snail in a proper way, the strike will not strike the proper amount… Read more »
Our timing is correct, but somehow we have caused the chimes to ring 18 minutes late at each quarter hour. How do we adjust this?
Battery unit or mechanical
I have acquired a Howard Miller Grandfather clock. When it chimes the hour, they are all accurate! However, when it chimes the hour 9, it only bongs 8. This is all the time, not randomly……
Hi The tube that the hour hand goes onto, but behind the dial, has welded to it a snail looking portion. The rack in the front of the movement has 12 teeth for 12 oclock. The rack falls on the snail and counts the hours, however many teeth are how many times it strikes. In the end what happened was the hour tube jumped one tooth, and so the rack is falling on that hump twice instead of the next hump. The next hump is lower and therefore the tooth count and strike would be correct. Solution is to move… Read more »
I have a Revere Grandfather clock that was working fine until we moved it to instal new carpet. The pendulum, and weights were removed and the put back when we moved the clock back. Now the right and left weights are not moving. The clock is working, the chime and strike is working, just the r/l weights aren’t working. Any suggestions?
If the clock is chiming and striking, the weights are coming down fine. Its slow, hard to tell, but they are coming down for sure.
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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Recently the strike has slowed considerably. What used take about a second per stroke now takes about 2-3 seconds per stroke. What could be the problem? Thanks, Matt
Movements wear down as oil solidified with age, causing a progressive sluggishness. If you provide the movement numbers off of the back plate we can talk about what is best for that movement.
James
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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The clock chimes the hour at 3/4 of the hour. How do I correct?
1. Take off the minute hand 2. put it back on the clock pointing to the right place 3. set to time
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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The strike has become very slow, like 5-6 seconds between strike. It was quite quick, like a second between strikes. Is this adjustable? Matt
The weight of the weight matters. Less the weight, the slower the strikes.
The fly or fan at the top of the movements strike side gear train could be loose, sometimes free spinning and other times getting hung up enough to work properly
Its not supposed to be rapid fire but to each his own
James
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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The pendulum is not swinging continuously
Is the clock in beat?
What are the movement numbers off of that one?
James
Our clock runs perfectly, but only every other hour. How do we fix it?
Never heard of this issue. That is a new one. Not sure.
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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http://www.avg.com
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We just acquired a King Arthur grandfather clock at an online auction. The weights and pendulum were lying at the bottom of the clock when we picked it up. When we brought it home, we put it back together with the help of some googling, we’ve never owned one. Now the clock is keeping time. The middle weight is moving down but the other 2 on the sides are not. We can hear the faint “click” when it’s about to chime, but the clock will not chime. There is no “silent” button or lever anywhere, front or back. There is… Read more »
Question: My Hermle grandfather clock worked great for 20 years. recently the clock seems to be constantly resetting. It will chime right on the hour, then reset at 30 minute mark, chime the 30 minute mark at the 3/4 hour, chime 3/4 hour at the hour mark, reset, then get back on track for another hour, and then reset again. This cycle happens over and over. What can we do?
I have a sligh grandfather clock and the night slide switch keeps sliding back down, why has has it stopped working?
From here it would be hard to say. If you would like to email a pic of the front of the movement, with the dial off the clock, that would be best to solve this one.
James
Recently I was gone for several days and when I returned home I noticed the center weight on my grandfather clock had fallen to the floor of the clock and was laying crooked. I drew up all three weights and the clock is running and keeping perfect time, but will not chime. Have I damaged the center chain/weight?
No, the center weight does not make a difference to the chime portion at all. Best to just see if the clock is on silent and turn on the chimes
My grandfather clock chimes slowly. It strikes appropriately and the weights are in the correct positions. It has cables not chains. Is there something I can do to increase the chiming speed?
Its the side of the movement that is doing the most work, so it makes sense for that one to wear the quickest. If you provide the movement numbers off of the back plate we can look into some fixes or options.
James
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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My grandfather clock just stopped chiming and counting down the time. Keeps perfect time Just want chime now count down
Is this one cable driven or chain ?
James
[image: IDnewfinal-2.jpg] We need the movement numbers = What is the movement number off of the back plate of the movement itself? This information would be directly off of the back plate of the clockworks itself stamped into the brass. Please see the attached picture as a reference. (This information will not be on any of the paperwork that may have come with the clock, nor will it be on the wood case. This number will only be on the brass back plate of the movement itself only.) This is because the manufacturer that made your clock case used many… Read more »
My grandfather clock stop chiming the selector was between strick and silence thanks for tip clock chime fine
No problem, glad we are back and running
James
Why the clock “confused” the ANSO and doesn’t chime at a day time when it’s ANSO off, but chime when it’s ANSO on?
Hi
Just spin the hands 12 hours ahead and your good to go
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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Have an Grandfather Clock with UW 66 Urgos Westminster Chime and triple Chime with Auto Night Silencer. Chime weight and chain slipped out. Had clock repairman who put chain and weight back on and now works fine but night time interruption will not engage and it is not because of 12 hour as it will also continue to chime during all 24 hours.
The clock maybe thinking its night when its day and day when night. Please advance the hands 12 hours to correct. We do offer those movements at this link https://www.clockworks.com/clock-movement/urgos-clock-movement.html
James
Morning, I have a “Standing Grandfather Clock” purchased nearly 50 yrs ago by my parents. After its move from Fl to Il 2 yrs ago it performed well with minor adjustments.
I recently moved it from my home office to our dining area. It is level front to back, side to side with no restrictions of weight chains or strikers.
Suffering 3 major issues:
* stops keeping time
* Chimes (3) plays but extremely low tone
* Hour strikes but with no sound
Currently I’m like a church mouse with no song n joy!
Hi
To talk about the movement we need the information off of the back plate of the clock movement itself please
Then we will know everything needed to know about that one
James
The chime lever that changes the different tones is stuck. I cannot change to a different tone
The clock lever is stuck in one position. I cannot change the tones or to the off position
Try lifting all the chime hammers at once with your hand, this will let the roll pin jump back into default position. Then let go.
James
I have a kit grandfather clock I built with my Grandfather, the clock keeps good time, the hourly chime works, the melody doesn’t play, the mechanism turns and the hammers move but they don’t strike the chimes. Any suggestions ? It did work at one time, the correct weight is on the right side, and I did pull the hammers back all at once, I don’t think the roller is jammed because it turns the hammers just don’t strike the chimes. The setting is not in the silent position.
Hi
We would need the movement numbers off of the movement itself please [image: IDnewfinal-2.jpg]
My chimes are off 15 minutes. How do I fix?
1. take off minute hand 2. install minute hand where it chimed 3. set to time
James
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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http://www.avg.com
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We have a Hermle Grandfather Clock Model 451-050H. We recently moved the clock from my grandparents house where it has sit, not working for many, many years. We carefully removed weights and labeled each position as well as the pendulum. After setting it up we reset chains and set time. After a couple of adjustments to pendulum it is keeping perfect time. When moving the minute hand each quarter hour it chimes correctly and we then set it to correct hour with the number of strikes given. After the first hour of working properly, you can hear it “click” but… Read more »
*Hammer Re synching chime order* When the clock misses the stopping point sometimes and chimes more than one quarter at a time, or just chimes forever, this is the correction. There is a cam with graduated humps on the top right of the front plate of the movement. There are 4 lower portions with a small hump and the next one is bigger and then so on. The smallest hump is the 15 minute mark where the hammers strike each one time each right down in a row. So this round brass piece with the humps on it, controls when… Read more »
My clock will.strike every 15 minutes but will.not ring on the Hour? What could Be wrong?
We need the movement numbers = What is the movement number off of the back plate of the movement itself? This information would be directly off of the back plate of the clockworks itself stamped into the brass. Please see the attached picture as a reference. (This information will not be on any of the paperwork that may have come with the clock, nor will it be on the wood case. This number will only be on the brass back plate of the movement itself only.) This is because the manufacturer that made your clock case used many different movements… Read more »
After leaving the house with friends we find that someone has stopped the strike (as it was affecting their sleep). We now cannot get it to strike on the hour although I can lift the lever gently at the back of the face plate, the butterfly whirls away and the striker hits the bell striking the correct number but it doesn’t want to do it by itself. It cannot be too much but I could do with some help.
The clock is made by A Allwood if that helps
Sounds like the clock is still set to silence via the switch. Check for an arm coming out at the 3 oclock area of the movement
James
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
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http://www.avg.com
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I acquired a beautiful Howard Miller 610415 Braeburn Mahogany Grandfather clock. The chime and strike work; however, they are playing at the same time (overlapping). What is the cause? Is it a simple or expensive repair? Can I do it myself? Please advise – thanks!
Does the clock strike forever non stop?
Something does not make sense
James
Many Thanks !
James and Donna Stoudenmire http://www.clockworks.com 124 Goss Hill = UPS Mailing PO Box 339 = USPS Mailing Huntington, MA 01050 USA [email protected]
Virus-free.
http://www.avg.com
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I have a Daneker Grandmother clock that quit striking on the hour. The chimes work fine and it keeps time pretty good. I believe it was wound too tight, so I loosened the chain, but it still won’t strike the hours. Do you have any suggestions what to look for?
I had my grandfather clock made at a factory in the Black forest when stationed in Germany. Ive moved it multiple times and never had any issues. Now the chimes arent working. The chain is free moving, the 20lv weight is on the right, and the roll moves every quarter hour but the strikers arent striking. The do move, when i pull them back and release them. Any suggestions?
1. Is the chime selector on chime? There is a switch on the 3 o’clock position on the clock movement. Usually this will have an arm coming out of the dial so you can select it up or down, but then some dials are not equipped with the slot for this arm to come through. If you have the type of dial with no selector slot, you will have to get to that side of the movement from the back and see if there is an arm sticking out of the side of the movement that you can raise or… Read more »
My clock chimes every quarter correctly but at the 3/4 mark it chimes the hour also
This have to do with the mechanics in the front part of the movement, behind the dial. The best way to learn the mechanics of these components is to simply watch them in action. When getting to the front of the movement by removing the dial, observe the racks motion during the strike. The rack is the saw like thing that drops down onto the snail looking thing that is part of the hour hand tube. If the rack is not connecting to the snail in a proper way, the strike will not strike the proper amount of times. If… Read more »
My gandfather clock, a Daneker President has started chiming an extra hour each hour. Chimes 2 to 13. There is a small gap before it does the extra chime. Is there an easy adjustment?
This has to do with the mechanics in the front part of the movement, behind the dial. The best way to learn the mechanics of these components is to simply watch them in action. When getting to the front of the movement by removing the dial, observe the racks motion during the strike. The rack is the saw like thing that drops down onto the snail looking thing that is part of the hour hand tube. If the rack is not connecting to the snail in a proper way, the strike will not strike the proper amount of times. If… Read more »