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Grandfather Clock Chimes-Forever Correction
The following is the Grandfather Clock Chimes-Forever Correction for when the clock sometimes misses the stopping point. Ultimately, this is the cause for the continuous chiming. It is also the cause of chiming more than one quarter at a time.
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. This is where the hammers strike each one at a time right down the row. This round brass piece with the humps on it, controls when the movement is to stop chiming.
The small hump represents the first quarter as this is the shortest chime of them all. The hourly chime is in turn represented by the longest hump. It is the longest song of the four quarters. This same large hump has an even higher hump at the end of it. This will drop the saw tooth rack to fall. So when it’s done chiming the top of the hour, it can start striking out the hours. This is with the help of the saw tooth rack counting system.
If the clock is chiming forever, it is these two areas where the arrows are pointing. If the left hand cam is in the deep slot at the same time as the right hand cam is in the deep hump, it will not chime forever. Please note, when you turn the left cam to be in the lowest hump, the chime song will need to be reset. This occurs by holding the gear train still with your fingers. Please see this post after correcting the chime forever fix for the Clock Chime Resetting
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I have a mechanism they don’t make parts for anymore. It’s one of the FFR morbier. It keeps time but the chimes didn’t work. After being oiled and cleaned the chimes wouldn’t stop :(. I adjusted the position of the locking cam and now the clock chimes a full 60 seconds on each quarter hour. I’m wondering if I could replace the locking cam and the spring that gives tension to the arm? Give that someone broke the shaft that the hands are screwed into (shoddy repair to make it functional) I wonder if u should look for a full replacement mechanism? I only bought the clock because it’s a reproduction (maybe 50 years old?) of a very old clock I quite like
The clock movement you have requires specific parts that are no longer manufactured or available. In such cases, a custom solution or modification to existing components would be necessary. Alternatively, we can try to find a match from our inventory of spare parts.
If you are considering restoring the clock, you can send it to us, and we will assess the situation and develop a restoration plan that includes addressing the parts issue. Are you interested in sending only the movement for restoration?
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My grandmother clock that had an original Um 32/1 – replaced with a 32319.4 years ago. It worked fine but has now gotten stuck on the quarter hour chime and runs until the weight hits the floor. If I jiggle the “stop” arm on the side, it quits and cycles through the chiming correctly. How am to I fix this? or do I need another new 32319 works? Four years isn’t much time for it to fail.
This topic discussed on the page that this note was posted.
Did the solutions not work out?
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My grandfather clock run fast how do I slow down
Turn the nut on the bottom of the pendulum bob so to lower the bob.
This will slow timekeeping
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hi, Please see this link: https://www.clockworks.com/posts/timing-a-mechanical-pendulum-clock
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com