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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Strike something works. Chimes sometimes works. Chimed and struck on the hour. Then lifted the hammers all at once and let fall several times. Thought it might be fixed? It chimed the quarter hour. Chimed the half hour. But then only clicked but no chime on the 3/4 hour. Then no chimes at hour and not strike ??????????????????
It was maybe just looking for the top of the hour. Was it ok on its own, after an hour of messing up?
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My grandfather clock seems to chime the correct number of parts (one set for 15 minutes, two for 30, etc), but starts with the second set when chiming (2,3,4,1 on the hour). How do I fix this?
It is tricky. Hands and dial come off to do it, resetting the chime cam in relation to the strike cam on the top right of the movement. Not easy for the novice.
More info =
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/mechanical-chime-sequence-resetting-instructions
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
i have a ridgeway and it does not chime it have the chime and silent feature but you say about the hammers is for westminster only don’t know anything about clocks thanks
If it chimes, it plays Westminster. Westminster is default chime for single chime and also is one of the three in triple chime units.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My Sligh 8T4/4TCA Grandfather clock keeps great time. However, the every 15 minute chime is consistently 1 minute behind. That is, it chimes at 16, 31, and 46 minutes past the hour. How can I fix this? Thanks.
Please see this link on the subject for the fix
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/mechanical-clock-chime-on-time
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Thanks. I’ll give this a try.
I have a 1995 Sligh grandfather clock that will not chime or strike or even click when going through each quarter hour. The problem was caused when I accidently changed the song lever in mid-song. What will fix that?
Try moving all the hammers on the chime side back all at once with your hand and let go. This will unjam the roll pin so it can jump back into default position
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
That is not working…any other suggestions?
Well if it does not chime it will never strike first off. If the things in this article do not help it is maybe just time for a new movement. The modern day grandfather clocks are 20 year movements, 30 year life span at best.
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
I had a Sligh grandfather clock delivered today from a consignment shop. It has a chain for the strike and the time (no chime). Although we heard the clock strike when we saw it in the store last month, it now does not strike. When I advance the hands, I don’t even hear it “catch” on the hour or half hour as if it were trying to strike. I’ve tried with the on/off switch both up and down, although I believe down is “on.” The Sligh label gives the movement number as “500-0043.” The actual movement says Franz Hermle with a number “241-083H.” Thanks for any help.
Down is on usually. Try turning the hands while pulling down on the strike weight with your hand to unjam it. This would be the weight on your left as you face the clock. If this fails please remove the hands and the dial and email a pic to me asking this same question, an I will circle what to do in the pic.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a Howard Miller grandfather clock. A few weeks ago it got out of sync. Manually I can move the minute hand and it will chime on the quarter hour except the third quarter (9). It chimes that at the top of the hour. If I reverse the minute hand just before the third stop (9) and advance to top of hour it will full chime then strike the hour on its own. Then it can go to all four chime stations and they will work. But now this is interesting. After the full chime and strike cycle the next cycle will not chime or strike. It gets out of sync again. Didn’t take it to a clock shop for servicing but did do a cleaning of the pivots on the movement with a toothpick then a small spot of clock oil. This didn’t help anything. Any suggestions are welcome.
Hi,
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
Here is what is in the clock.
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
I have a Jacob Mosely(?) Long-case Grandfather clock (more like Great-Grandfather) of late 19th century which has been passed down the family.
It works perfectly and only runs slow/fast in summer and winter.
The chimes are just single bell for each hour, no quarter chime or tune.
Couple of years ago chimes went wrong.
10 O’clock strikes 10,
11 O’clock strike 10 again,
12 O’clock strikes 11,
1 O’ckock strike 1.
All ok until:
6 o’clock strike 6
7 o’clock strike 6 again
8 o’clock strike 7
9 o’clock strike 9
I have taken videos of the mechanism as it strikes but am unable to detect what is going on.
I’d be grateful for your comments
Here is the modern day mechanical GF correction for post 1950 clocks, regarding the strike quantity manipulations and corrections
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-strike-quantity-correction
Yours is the same in function, although the parts are different in variations.
At least you will understand how it works and be able to see how to correct. This is done with the dial and hands off the clock
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hi James,
My family purchased and old charm grandfather clock which we have just set up, I have got the time setting nearly right but cannot get it to chime. When resetting the time the chimes worked at least some of the time, however when running neither the hours strike nor the quarters chime. There are two levers inside the case on the right and left which I think turn the chimes off and on and I have tried every combination of up and down and nothing seems to work. They are currently set to down which I think is the correct setting. The weights are near the top so there should be enough energy to work the chimes. Nothing appears snagged in the clock and the weights hang freely. The lady who sold it to my family said everything worked when she sold it and have no reason to disbelieve her, however the clock was not transported by an expert so that may be the problem. Any suggestions welcome before I call in the local clock repair man to help.
Thanks
Roger
The one at 9 oclock is auto chime shut off where it wont play at night. If this is set to ON, it may think day is night and not play during the day.
Be sure the heaviest weight is on your right as you face the clock
For more info, I would need the movement numbers off of the back plate of the movement itself please
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Thanks James, we have got the quarters to play and the hour but the clock does not strike the hours. I’m reluctant to remove the weights as I don’t really know what am doing however an attempt to weigh them without removing suggests they are all about the same weight give or take. The weights are unmarked so no indication there. Should the right hand weight be significantly heavier?
thanks again for your advice
kind regards
Roger
Hi,
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
Hi James, after much experimentation my wife has found a combination of levers that work so all is now working. Thanks for your time and prompt responses and happy new year. Regards Roger
Hi, I have a Colonial Mfg. hall clock with a #64 Jauche movement. It was purchased in 1961 by the original owner. I just purchased it a month ago and it had not run in many years. I had a clock repair person go over it, clean it, etc. It is working fine expect for 1 problem. On the half hour Westminster chime, it often misses the last note. If it doesn’t strike the note, which is seldom, it will strike it after a second or two delay. Most often, though, it will strike the last note of the half hour chime at 41 minutes after the hour. It does not miss any notes on any of the other chiming points, the hour, quarter hour, three-quarter hour–only the half hour. The clock repairman has been to look at it and says he does not know how to fix it. This is a 5 tube chime. Any thoughts?
It sure sounds like the roll pin is not set in conjunction of the movement gearing correctly. Usually there is a set screw to loosen on that one to spin the roll pin forward some independent of the gear train. Thus it will spin that much more and be sure to drop that last note.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Thanks so much for the information. Is this a problem that can b fixed? If so, what is the best way to go about it? How would the roll pin and movement gearing be set properly? Is it just a matter of tightening the set screw?
There are two gears on the back of the back plate of the movement.
These gears make the roll pin spin around
One of these gears has a set screw in it. You may or may not have to loosen this set screw to turn it as you hold the gear
train from moving at the same time.
Note the direction this gear turns when chiming.
On the quarter hour, hold the gear train from moving as you turn this gear and make the hammers bong bong bong
without the gear train moving.
You want a 1-2-3-4 on the quarter hour all in a row.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
after I knocked the pendulum off while winding, now the clock will not chime any of the quarter hour songs nor strike the hour. There is a black lever that I can activate and the chime plays as well as striking the hour. How can I fix this?
Hi,
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
when I hang the weight on the left my clock wont stop striking
This have to do with the mechanics in the front part of the movement, behind the dial.
When getting to the front of the movement, 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.
The best way to learn the mechanics of these components is to simply watch them in action. If the rack is getting stuck on anything or if it falls behind the hour tubes “snail”, then the clock will strike the same amount of times every time, forever or some number beyond 12 times. It can fall behind the snail by changing hands, since the hour tube has the snail on it, it moves forward upon removing the hour hand. This can cause the rack to fall behind the snail and therefore does no good for counting strikes like it’s supposed to. The fix is to lift this rack with your finger and push the hour hand tube back so the rack falls on it.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My clock is off 2 hours. If its 12:00 it chimes 10 times
Point the hour hand to 12
Set to time with the minute hand
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My chimes are very slow. I have the right weight on the chime side. can i add weight to the existing brass weight?
It maybe needs to be oiled at least, more likely bushings and so forth. New movement is best of course, if made after 1950 they are 25 year movements, 30 years at best, before replacement. You can add as much weight as you want if it comes down to swapping the movement eventually, because it will end up in the trash anyway.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
1 OF MY 8 CHIMES HAS FALLIN TO THE BOTTOM OF MY TREND GRANDFATHER CLOCK BASE
Please clarify this question
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
What can I do to fix one muffled chime? It’s a Baldwin grandfather clock, approximately 35 years old. Goes diiiiiing, diiiiiiing, ding , doooooong
Please see this article for the correction to this issue
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/clock-chime-hammer-positioning
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My Howard Miller chain driven grandfather clock is silent when it should be striking or chiming. I can see the hammers moving but no sound is emitted.
Hi,
Please see this link on how to adjust the hammers on the clock
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/clock-chime-hammer-positioning
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a grandfather floor clock and the 3 weights the left one is always higher then the middle one and the right one can you tell why this is happening?
If its on your left as you face the clock, this is the strike side for counting out the hours. The clock is not striking the hours out, seems to be the issue.
If it has an autonight shut off, put that on ON all the time instead of the middle setting, if there is one.
Further assistance would require the numbers off of the back plate of the movement itself please
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Our grandmother clock (Charles R. Sligh, Sr. # 8207224D13155) has stopped striking AND chiming on the same day. The cables are free, the chyme selector seems to be slack past the first position, and the “Nite off” switch is not engaged. May need to find a clockmaker who can work on it, but would appreciate any possible solutions before I attempt to find one. I have gone thru the “Chimes stopped sequence” above with no positive results. Thank you.
What are the movement numbers off of the back plate of the clock movement itself right off the brass plate? The paperwork will not help with getting this number nor off of the wooden clock case. I do realize it may seem hard to get to these numbers but we need them for this project. It is easy to stick a cell phone up in the clock case as to take a picture of the back of the movement and get the numbers. Sometimes there are side panels that will come off to get behind it for this. The panels lift up, push the bottom half in while the panel is in the up position, slide down and then out the side. Now the side is open and it is able to have a cell phone put in there to take a pic.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
The only numbers I have been able to locate off the back plate are : 84 K116cm and a small yellow sticker with 26.9 The only other writing on the back of the clock is “Made in Germany”, Original KIENINGER snd “No (0) jewels unadjusted,” That is all I can see on the back of the clock.
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 lower. Sometimes what people do if this is the situation is they get a brass rod and bend it to attach to this arm and let it run down the back of the dial so someone can turn the chimes on or off by the end of the rod.
2. Is the auto night selector on daytime? This question is for clocks equipped with ANSO (auto night shut off) where the clock is designed to not play any music between 10pm and 7am. So if the clock is set in this mode and the clock thinks its day time at night and vice versa, it will not play during the daytime hours. Solution to this is to either advance the hands 12 hours by turning the minute hand around and around, or turn off the auto night feature. In most cases the auto night selector switch would be on your left as you face the front of the clock dial, at 9 o’clock. Again, the dial may not have the slot in it to change this, it is possible the movement is equipped with the ANSO feature but does not have the arm that sticks out of the dial. Just as above, you would need to go from the back and see if there is an arm coming out of the side of the movement you can raise or lower. From looking at the back of the clock movement, the lever if it has one, will be on your right.
3. Is the hammers hitting anything in its path when they move? If the hammers are rubbing the back of the clock case, or if there hitting or rubbing against each other, the clock will hang up and not chime. Solution is the bend the hammer wires to freedom. The hammer heads are on wires just for this reason. They are meant to be bent into position, 1/8 approximately from there chime rods. This is so they will not double hit the chime rod, or thud and rest against it, or miss it completely. So it is not uncommon to have to bend them up to 2 inches to the left / right / forward / backward directions. They just cannot have any resistance in their path when trying to raise up and drop on its chime rod when it’s supposed to chime.
4. Is the heaviest weight on your right as you face the clock? The chime weight is the heaviest weight out of the three and goes in this position.
5. Is the chain rubbing the seat board or pinched between the movement and seat board? Having the cable rubbing anything in its path, is just like not having enough weight on the clock. The clock is designed to run with the chain dropping right straight down to the weight without coming into contact with anything on its way down. If the chain rubs anything, or is pinched between the seat board and the movement, the clock will not chime.
6. Is the chime selector drum unit jammed? In some cases the movement may have been taken off of silence and put on a chime such as Westminster, but the roll pin does not move with the selector switch. It will happen usually upon installation of a new movement and setting up the clock. So to explain why this happens would be a hard thing to do, but I can tell you the simple fix for this. So what you do is pull back on the hammers that make the chime song. This will only be one row of hammers and it would be on your right hand side as you look at the front of the clock. Of course the hammers are on the back of the movement, but it will be on the right hand side for the chime portion. You move all the chime hammers back at once to release the roll pin drum to move where it should be and it will be fixed.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Mr. Stoudenmire,
Here are the problems as I see them:
1. Put it on a tune in the front, and pull all the hammers back at once on the chime side and let go. Roll pin should bounce back to default and unjam itself.
2. Ok
3. If the cable jumped ship off its barrel, whatever that is running will not function. If this happened on the chime side that will make both the chime and the hour not work. Be sure the cable is on the cable drum and not crossed.
4. Ok
5. Do not need more numbers.
You say you had it 10 years, if there is a chance that clock movement is 30 years old or so, it is just time for the new one. The 84 K 116cm stamp would most likely indicate this one was made in 1984. The chime is what would wear the most as it is the heaviest weight. Bushings get worn and there just gets to be issues throughout. Restoration is twice the cost of the new one and would never last another 30 years even with the best repair.
Please order the Kieninger K series from this link with the 116cm selected
https://www.clockworks.com/product/new-k-series-kieninger-clock-movement
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
We have had it for about six years, o is probably correct. Our family has had it since 1986, so the 1984 is probably right. Until we inherited it, the chimes were seldom used. We recently had a time when the chimes slowed wayyyy down, I applied a touch of fine machine oil and they sped up, then settled down to regular speed. A few weeks later, both sides quit. I suspect the bushings may be the problem. How difficult is it to replace the Keininger K series ? Not sure if we have any local jewelers/clockmasters available. 🙁
Hi,
You do not need to hire anyone, instructions are provided, if you get stuck we email back and forth, if really stuck we will do a zoom call with you. If you can change a spark plug in a lawn mower your good really.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Okay. Not sure which chime to order to duplicate what we currently have. I know it’s cable driven, but which of the 3 chime choices do I need. It has 3 different chime selections, and plays at the 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 hours. Not sure if “triple chime”, Triple sequential”, or “triple sequential with 9 bells” matches what we are replacing. Let me know and I’ll get it ordered.
Hi,
At 9 oclock, if it just says silent / westminster / st mike / witt only, just get the triple chime version.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
It says that at the 3 oclock position. The 9 o’clock is nighttime off/hourly chimes.
Yes, please order the regular triple chime model
James
Done and instructions seem clear.
I have an Ethan Allen Scandinavian floor clock that has Westminster chimes. We had a flood, and I wrapped the weights in towels and put the clock on its back on a table to save it. Now the chimes do not have the correct cadence. There are strange pauses here and there. The time stays correct. Is there anything I can do to solve this problem?
Please run it without the hands and the clock dial for testing the chime. It will narrow things down. Next, put the minute hand on just slightly to turn it to the next chime, and the next, let it strike out the hours fully. If it chimed and striked ok, your all set, put the dial and hands back on. What happened is the rack fell behind the snail (the hour hand tube) and brought it forward some. It brought the hour hand forward to the point that when the minute hand is installed it squashed the hour hand upon tightening the minute hand nut. With the strike squashed between the front plate and the snail, all sorts of weird issues occur. If this was a fail and the clock did not chime through this, continue with the below check points.
Be sure the clock’s silent lever is in the down position. This lever is at 3oclock on the movement. This is chime ON.
The chain cant be rubbing anything in its path like the seat board. Should be ratchet wheel straight to the weight, not rubbing anything.
Is the hammers hitting anything in its path when they move? If the hammers are rubbing the back of the clock case, or if there hitting or rubbing against each other, the clock will hang up and not chime
The heaviest weight on your right as you face the clock? The chime weight is the heaviest weight out of the three and goes in this position.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
my grandfather clock chimes 4 times and strikes on the 3/4 hour
Hi,
Please explain more
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a crown grandfather clock with a 451 movement.After turning clock back on from the silent mode it won’t stop chiming Thanks
See this link on the issue
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-chimes-forever-correction
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Our Howard miller grandfather clock sounds like it is a wheezing when striking the hour. Quarter, half, and 3/4 hour sound fine. The wheezing begins at the hour striking. Anything we can do? It is 47 years old.
A Howard Miller grandfather clock movement has a life expectancy of 25 years, 30 at best. At that point its a down hill ride and best to replace the clock movement with the new one. It is less expensive by alot to replace it instead of restore the old one.
To answer the question, it would be the fly and the strike wheel wizzing around from worn pivot holes. When oil dries up it becomes like sandpaper and wears out the outer plate holes. This makes the holes bigger and things loose
If the movement numbers off the back plate of the clock movement itself is provided, we can talk more about a replacement unit and how to put it in
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My Grandfather clock keeps time but the left weight drops faster then the center and right weight and it will over strike until it drops all the way down.
It is a Howard and miller ambassador collection.
Please see this article on the subject
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/mechanical-clock-strike-setting
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I recently cleaned my 34 year old Seth Thomas Grandfather clock. After returning it to the case, it runs well but will not chime at the quarter, half or three quarter hour. It chimes the three quarter chime at the hour but will not strike the hour. I have tried all the suggestions on various videos but still can’t get it to work. I can force it to chime at the hour by turning the minute had counter clockwise and forward towards the hour till it chimes the quarter hour. I repeat this process until all of the chimes, quarter through three quarter have chimed. I then repeat back and forward to the hour and the whole chime will play and then the clock will strike. It will not chime or strike unless I repeat this process! I hope this makes sense. I am at my wits end. My clock set silent for a few years because I knew it needed cleaning and oiling and I didn’t want to further damage the movement. There wasn’t anyone close by to fix it. I finally got up the nerve to do it myself. I ordered the oil and grease kit from someone that fixed clocks on Youtube. I watched him and did it as demonstrated. My clock is a Seth Thomas A451-002 purchased Dec. 1987.
We cant help chase a 45 year old clock movement as it has lived its life already. These are 30 year movements at best before a restoration or replacement is needed. To chase that one is a fruitless and frustrating endeavor. Best to get the new movement as it comes oiled, with install instructions, and support if you get stuck.
We offer the same movement brand new, now the number name is 1161-053 with 114cm from this link
https://www.clockworks.com/product/new-1161-053-clock-movement-by-hermle
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Thank you. My clock will be 35 years old in Dec. 2022. I stopped it when it was 29 years old to save the movement from damage.
Oil dries up, regardless if it is running or not. It goes from lubricant to abrasive.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have cleaned and oiled it. Thank you.
Your welcome.
We have a Howard Miller Grandfather clock, model 610-361. The center weight has been dropping faster than the other two for several months. Today it chimed at least six or eight times on the two o’clock hour and I suspect the center weight was dropping at the time although I didn’t see it happen. Can you offer some insight? Thanks!
The clock weights come down at different speeds depending on alot of factors.
The left hand (your left as you face the clock) is the strike side so it will strike more times at 12 instead of 1, so the weight will come down more at 12 strikes.
The center weight goes even down as long as the pendulum is swinging
The right one is the chime, and will come down more on the top of the hour with the long song, than say the first quarter.
If only the time center weight is coming down a lot more than the others, it only means the chimes are not turned on.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
That is not the case with my clock. The middle weight, which is marked center, is coming down faster than the right and left and my chimes are on! I wind them up evenly and the center weight keep going down first and much further than the other two.
If there is an ANSO setting (autonight shut off) where it will not play at night, this will do it. Otherwise the only way this could happen is it is not chiming every time, so when your not paying attention it is missing the chime. But if this were the situation the chimes would be off as in chiming the quarter hour melody at the 1/2 hour instead, because it missed the quarter.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have an emperor grandfather clock. It has Westminster chimes. It does chime every 15 minutes however the chimes are out of sync… Meaning that at the 15 minute it is chiming what it should be at the 12 o’clock spot. Also it only strikes the hour once always at the 15 minutes past the hour. But only strikes once each time help!
Well this is a couple issues and not just one. First we focus on getting time and this you have, next we fix chime, then we can think about strike. In that order.
The chime fix is at this link, just act as if your were installing the hands
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/german-mechanical-clock-hand-installation
As for the strike, after the above is done and it is striking only once every hour count, please see this
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-strike-quantity-correction
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My grandfather clock quit striking on the hour fifteen minutes and half
Hi,
Strike = the hourly count
Chime = the quarterly 15min’s melody
With this known, please restate the question
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a 1930’s vintage Isgus German grandfather clock. It keeps good time and the chimes on the quarter hours work fine. Re the hourly gongs, I hear the wheels spinning and it clicks the correct number of hours, but the strikers don’t move to strike the gong rods. The strikers move freely by hand; they are correctly aligned with the gong rods; but notwithstanding that the clock works are calling for the correct number of gongs, the gong strikers simply don’t move. Any suggestions?
There is a star wheel on the strike side that is suppose to lift a flap sticking out of the same rod the hammers are attached. Look on the side of the movement while striking some how and you will see these parts. Usually a matter of adjusting the rack of hammers so that at default that flap is ready to be lifted by the star wheel by default
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a grandmother clock that chimes at 10 minutes after the hour and then doesn’t chime again until it reaches the hour. When it reaches the hour, it chimes around six times more than it should before striking the hour. Can this be fixed?
My clock movement was replaced with a Hermle movement in November,2009. It was replaced with a Hermle 1151-053 KS/94 cm.
Hi,
Iam not sure from here, need to see what is going on. Schedule a zoom appointment? See this link
https://www.clockworks.com/product/conference-with-a-clock-repair-specialist
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
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 for the same clock case.
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James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My ANSO switch does not work
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 for the same clock case.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I wound my clock up with the crank shaft, and when I removed it the weight goes to the bottom of the clock and obviously stops the clock.
Any suggestions
Not understanding, please clarify
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a Daneker President grandfather clock that I just moved from my mom’s house and set up in mine. It keeps perfect time, and the quarter hour chimes and hourly strike are working on schedule. The issue is that the quarter hour chimes seem to be exceptionally slow compared to when it was set up in my mom’s house. Can someone please shed some light on this?
The heaviest weight would go on your right as you face the clock.
The lightest weight will go on your left as you face the clock.
The middle is light or heavy depending on the bob diameter.
(The larger bob diameters require more weight in the center.)
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
James, the weights are in the correct position. They were marked before moving them.
Is that clock cable driven or chain driven ?
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
i have a older Ridgeway grandfather clock {1980s} that the hammers strike way to fast on the half and the hour as the weights are in the correct place what would be some causes of hammers to strike in time?
There is a loose fly on its arbor. This is the fan on the top of the movement. It slows the chimes so it is not rapid fire.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My clock strikes 4 at 4 o’clock at 5 o’clock it chimes 4 times again but at 6 o’clock it chimes 6 times. So it is striking 4 twice but at 6 o’clock it is back correct . What could be the problem?
Hi,
See this link on the topic
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-strike-quantity-correction
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
What would make my grandfather clock One of the charms sounds flat ?
Please see correction at this link
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/clock-chime-hammer-positioning
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a Howard Miller with the Kieninger MS001 movement. The first quarter chime stops after the first note, forcing the clock into auto-correct for an hour. How can I fix this?
Be sure the heaviest weight is on your right as you face the clock. Time to use some oil also
https://www.clockworks.com/product/keystone-clock-oil
https://www.clockworks.com/product/high-grade-nye-clock-oil
https://www.clockworks.com/product/needle-pen-clock-oiler
https://www.clockworks.com/?post_type=product&s=Oil
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hello, thanks for the response. I have checked the weights, they have not changed and are correct. All the cables appear to be properly wound and in their grooves. We did have a visit from the establishment we purchased it from for clean and oil about five weeks ago. It was not cleaned in the least. The points on the chime barrel each still had tiny bits of black that were there before. The notes on the receipt were “if problem persists would need a recondition/rebuild, est. $895. I’m not going to even consider that. The unit is only fourteen years old. We have a very clean home. The actual clock movement itself is nearly as pristine as when we first bought it, as you can see by the attached picture. Shouldn’t this movement last 30 years? The initial problem of only the first note of the 15 min. past the hour chime began about two months ago, and has persisted even after the visit. The other three chime sequences are working fine, along with the hourly strike. Also, twice since the visit the timekeeping mechanism has randomly just stopped, and jiggling the minute hand a tiny bit frees it up, something else it had never done before. The clock company seems to have great reviews, but I have seen some not so great reviews also. Am I going to have to remove the mechanism to properly clean and oil the movement, or can I get to it by just removing the back of the clock and the chimes? It is a 6 1/2 foot tall grandfather clock. What could be causing the first quarter chime to be catching? Thanks.
My three-chain grandfather clock chimes the hour correctly and keeps time well, however it is not chiming on the the three quarter markers, only the hour?
Some units have an autonight shut off switch at the 9 oclock. And some with this feature have this with three selection options instead of only chime always or night silence. You may have a unit that has the three options and one of these would be to only make noise on the top of the hour and not the quarters. Best to try to put this lever all the way in the down position instead of that middle option and try it
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a grandfather clock (not sure of the brand but has moon phases on top). It was recently moved when my new carpet was installed. It now will only chime on 1 of the the 3 melodies. Is this a major problem or one easily resolved? Thank you for your help.
Sounds like the roll pin just got jammed. Please move all the chime hammers on the back, back some at once with your hand, and see if it lets the roll pin jump back into default position. It should be good from there on forth
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have am Isgus German made grandfather clock. When I activate the chime lever and put downward pressure to the right weight, the little fly wheel spins and the strikers are all activated. BUT there is no faint click at the quarter hours or at the hour and therefore there is no chiming at all by the clock.Can you advise? Peter
Be sure the clock’s silent lever is in the down position. This lever is at 3oclock on the movement. This is chime ON.
The chain cant be rubbing anything in its path like the seat board. Should be ratchet wheel straight to the weight, not rubbing anything.
Is the hammers hitting anything in its path when they move? If the hammers are rubbing the back of the clock case, or if there hitting or rubbing against each other, the clock will hang up and not chime
The heaviest weight on your right as you face the clock? The chime weight is the heaviest weight out of the three and goes in this position.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My Herschede grandmother clock won’t stop chiming on the hour.
Hi,
When you say chiming on the hour, do you mean the song keeps playing over and over or do you mean the strike is striking non stop? The chime is the melody and the strike is what counts the hours out.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
When striking the hour instead of striking the correct hour, say 3 times at 3 o’clock it continues to strike, sometimes as much as 50 times. It will stop sometimes. I can place my two fingers on top of the strike weight and pull down slightly and it will stop.
See this article on that issue
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-strike-quantity-correction
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My clock starts the hour strike while still playing the west minster chime
This issue is too complicated to try to type in words. If the clock is over 30 years old its best to swap it for the new one at this point. Best to provide the clock movement numbers off of the brass back plate so we can talk further about this unit.
Helpful links
Identification
https://www.clockworks.com/clock-movement.html
Clock movements
https://www.clockworks.com/product-category/clock-movements/mechanical-movements
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
We just replaced the works on the clock with the ones we ordered. Now the clock bongs continuously
Hi,
When you say bongs continuous, do you mean strike the hours forever or plays the chime song forever?
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Have a Colonial of Zeeland grandmother clock acquired in the 1980’s. Recently the Jauch PL78 movement was replaced by a repair person with a Franz Hermle 1151-053SK movement. The new Franz Hermle movement runs but the chime settings are hard to set because the lever does not feel like it is “finding a position”. This is a three chime movement and when the chime selections are changed the chiming will run for several hours and then stop. Sometimes it looks like the chime hammers are stuck and moving them a bit gets the clock chiming again for a few more hours. Getting frustrated with our repair person who does not seem to be able to resolve this issue. Is there anything we can do to fix this ourselves short of buying another movement and installing it on our own? We don’t know where the new Franz Hermle movement was purchased but have been told it comes with a warranty.
My Howard Miller grandfather clock sometimes strikes on the hour, but is now striking frequently on the quarter hour. This started a couple of months ago.
Hi,
See this post on the issue please
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-strike-quantity-correction
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a Pearl 451-050H and it chimes 12 times every hour. Any Ideas on what to look for? Thanks
Hi,
Are the clock hands on the clock when it does this? If not, please install the clock hands after it strikes the 12 times and this should correct.
More on striking issues
https://www.clockworks.com/posts/grandfather-clock-strike-quantity-correction
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hi, My clock chimes, but does not play the west minister tune, the dial is set to Westminster and is not on silent. I have no clue what to do pardon me, I am very old and I am in need of step-by-step directions. Thank you
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 lower. Sometimes what people do if this is the situation is they get a brass rod and bend it to attach to this arm and let it run down the back of the dial so someone can turn the chimes on or off by the end of the rod.
2. Is the auto night selector on daytime? This question is for clocks equipped with ANSO (auto night shut off) where the clock is designed to not play any music between 10pm and 7am. So if the clock is set in this mode and the clock thinks its day time at night and vice versa, it will not play during the daytime hours. Solution to this is to either advance the hands 12 hours by turning the minute hand around and around, or turn off the auto night feature. In most cases the auto night selector switch would be on your left as you face the front of the clock dial, at 9 o’clock. Again, the dial may not have the slot in it to change this, it is possible the movement is equipped with the ANSO feature but does not have the arm that sticks out of the dial. Just as above, you would need to go from the back and see if there is an arm coming out of the side of the movement you can raise or lower. From looking at the back of the clock movement, the lever if it has one, will be on your right.
3. Is the hammers hitting anything in its path when they move? If the hammers are rubbing the back of the clock case, or if there hitting or rubbing against each other, the clock will hang up and not chime. Solution is the bend the hammer wires to freedom. The hammer heads are on wires just for this reason. They are meant to be bent into position, 1/8 approximately from there chime rods. This is so they will not double hit the chime rod, or thud and rest against it, or miss it completely. So it is not uncommon to have to bend them up to 2 inches to the left / right / forward / backward directions. They just cannot have any resistance in their path when trying to raise up and drop on its chime rod when it’s supposed to chime.
4. Is the heaviest weight on your right as you face the clock? The chime weight is the heaviest weight out of the three and goes in this position.
5. Is the chain rubbing the seat board or pinched between the movement and seat board? Having the cable rubbing anything in its path, is just like not having enough weight on the clock. The clock is designed to run with the chain dropping right straight down to the weight without coming into contact with anything on its way down. If the chain rubs anything, or is pinched between the seat board and the movement, the clock will not chime.
6. Is the chime selector drum unit jammed? In some cases the movement may have been taken off of silence and put on a chime such as Westminster, but the roll pin does not move with the selector switch. It will happen usually upon installation of a new movement and setting up the clock. So to explain why this happens would be a hard thing to do, but I can tell you the simple fix for this. So what you do is pull back on the hammers that make the chime song. This will only be one row of hammers and it would be on your right hand side as you look at the front of the clock. Of course the hammers are on the back of the movement, but it will be on the right hand side for the chime portion. You move all the chime hammers back at once to release the roll pin drum to move where it should be and it will be fixed.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Is there a way to have a grandfather clock chime ONLY on the hour?
No there is no way to do this. Unless of course you bend the hammers back some on the chime side of the chime block. The gear train will move and spin but the hammers will not contact its strike rods
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
my Hermle longcase weight driven clock is oiled every year but the chimes have started to slow down. Why?
Oiled too much. Oil every 5 years, clean and oil in 10. Or even do nothing at all and the Hermle unit should be fine for 20 years and then swap it out.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hi James. I purchased my clock new 35 years ago and the makers of the case and finished clock have done the oiling for me. The clock keeps perfect time allowing for the temperature changes, therefore I see no reason to have a new movement. The triple chimes also work but have just started to slow a little. I will just try and get used to it. Thank you for your reply to my question
Your right as you face the front of the clock, should take the heaviest weight. Maybe that is all it is maybe.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hello,
My mother has a Ridgeway that is about 35 years old. The clock has been working fine then all of a sudden the chime is very slow on all 3 selections. We tried holding back the hammers but good did not change anything. Any help is appreciated.
Could be tired, they are 25-30 year units at best before restoration or a new one is needed. A new unit is 1/2 the price and lasts 4 times as long so it makes more sense. What are the movement numbers off of the back plate of the brass clockworks themselves?
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com