Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction

Posted on    Posted in  turned_in_not  Repair Help

Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction

This article will address the German Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction issue. This is where the clock will not strike the correct number of hours. This includes if it is striking any hour for two hours in a row. Also if it is striking more than 12 hours at a time, or even striking forever. The correction does not require the removal of the clock movement. Only the removal of the dial needs to happen. So the movement can sit in the cabinet like always, but the hands and dial need to be off the clock.

Where the issue is

The best way to learn the simple action of the strike count, is to watch the components on the front of the movement when its striking. Just keep the dial off the clock, make it strike by advancing the minute hand, and watch the parts in the front of the movement in action. Grandfather clocks use a rack and snail counting system. This allows for the proper number of strikes to be heard on the hour. 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 properly, the strike will not strike the proper amount of times. The correction is in the hour hand tube itself. That is the tube that the hour hand mounts to. This tube is one or two teeth off from where it is should be and is an easy fix.

Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction

Strike quantity correction

If the clock is striking the wrong number of hours, some hours or not all, the snail (hour tube) must be turned slightly. This will allow the rack to fall on the snail's humps correctly. The C clip comes off the gear it meshes with, so the hour tube can come up some and over the teeth of the other gear. The goal is to have the snail fall in the center of the hump instead of off to the side. If the clock strikes 12 and 1 o'clock ok, then the rest will be fine.Grandfather Clock Strike Quantity Correction

Strikes forever or not at all

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. It could also keep on striking forever or any number beyond 12 times. One of the ways it can fall behind the snail is 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 should. The fix is to lift this rack with your finger and push the hour hand tube back so the rack falls on it.
The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

↑ Back to top

43
Ask a Clock Question

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

43 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Thomas Pepper
1 month ago

My mantel spring driven Caldwell clock keeps perfect time but the speed of the hourly chimes is erratic, starting slowly then
rushing through the middle of a long hour. Also toward the end of the week one of the springs will make a loud thump.
This clock is probably close to 150 years old. Should the springs be replaced?

Thomas Pepper
1 month ago

Possibly, where are you located. Many thanks for the prompt reply. Serge Pepper, Kennett Square Pa.

david19
david19
2 months ago

Clock strike bounces on last strike

Vaughn Williams
Vaughn Williams
4 months ago

My strike chain is stuck in the gear box. Is there a way to free it without disassembly?

alan
4 months ago

my grandfather clock strikes 19 occasionaly…why ? lol

Kelly Mertz
Kelly Mertz
5 months ago

Hi, I have a weight driven grandfather clock that runs perfectly until 11:50. then the pendulum stops everything has tightened up and the clock stops. There is a pin on the gear behind the hands that another lever seems to be stuck on. So confused could any one help? Please.

David Prato
David Prato
5 months ago

hi I have a hermle 1171 in a ridgeway grandfather clock. The strike for the for the gong is two minites off. It goes of at 2 minutes after. How can I reset it so it stikes exactly at 12 and quarter-hours as they all stike two minutes late

Judy Butts
Judy Butts
6 months ago

My clock srikes 12 times every hour. Do I have to open the back of the clock to reset the hour tube?

Judy Butts
Judy Butts
6 months ago
Reply to  Judy Butts

My clock strikes 12 times every hour.

Judy Butts
Judy Butts
6 months ago

What do I do after I remove the hands and dial?

Judy Butts
Judy Butts
6 months ago

Thank you very much. God bless your day!

Jim
Jim
8 months ago

I have a Colonial grandfather clock with a Jauch movement. It was striking all hours correctly except 12, when it would only strike once. I tried moving the snail one notch counter clockwise, but after that it now strikes 7 times on 12. All other hours strike correctly. Does anyone have suggestions/ideas on what I should do now? This is my first time tinkering with the movement.

Wendy McGregor
Wendy McGregor
9 months ago

I own a Howard Miller grandfather clock and have tried to silence the hourly strike by using the “silent” lever at the nine o’clock position but it still continues to strike. There are three choices on that side….strike, night off and silent. Now, if I set the chimes to “silent” then both chimes and strike are silenced. I would rather just hear the chimes and not the hourly strike as they are a little jarring when trying to watch TV, etc, Any suggestions?

Phyllis
Phyllis
11 months ago

I’ve inherited a grandfather clock. After having it moved to my home and set up, the chimes sound “garbled.” Upon set up, the technician told us that the strike plate was showing its age and may need to be replaced. Is this what is making the chimes sound so garbled?

Mark Williams
Mark Williams
1 year ago

I have a newish grandfather clock, while trying to get it to chime properly, ive done something to it, when the clock chimes on the 3/4 westminster chime, it then strikes the hours, it will then chime the full chime on the hour, I dont know how ive done this or how to sort it out, if anyone has any ideas.

Steve Baldel
Steve Baldel
1 year ago

I purchased a Charles Sleigh grandfather clock in 1985….works perfect! except, when set on SILENT, it still bongs on the HOUR (only). What to do?

graykotj
graykotj
1 year ago

Our Hermle grandfather clock movement part is apparently worn after 30+ years of operation. I built it from Emperor Clock Company’s offers in 1981. I recently had it apart three times, cleaned & oiled; it worked well for about a week, then would strike two times of the four normal at the first quarter hour; and if it doesn’t complete that first quarter, then it won’t strike and won’t chime at the hour thereafter. The solution after reading this page on ‘Grandfather Strike Quantity Correction’, I placed an order for a new movement through Clockworks. James commentaries were very informative. I will post again, when the new one arrives and installed. Thanks. tjg11Oct2022

Louis Porter
Louis Porter
1 year ago
Rating :
     

Such a huge help, now its striking perfectly.

Brian
Brian
1 year ago

Clock doesn’t strike The correct time

Brian Wadel
Brian Wadel
1 year ago

if it is 9:00 it only strikes 8 times

James Medwid
James Medwid
2 years ago

I have a grandfather clock purchased in 1984 clock works are German. The problem Iam having is I have tried to adjust the snail so the rack falls in the middle of the humps so the rack does not go beyond the teeth. each time the clock strikes the counter goes off the end of the rack resulting in one strike only. Suggestions?

Bob Bankes
Bob Bankes
2 years ago

on the flat part of the snail the edge flares out (why?) this is where the rack falls behind the snail. should it fall on the top of the flared out edge?

W
W
3 years ago

My spring driven German wall clock stops although the pendulum swings and produces the normal sounding tick tock. In less than 15 minutes or so the clock will just stop. At his point manually advancing the minute hand results in some resistance that can only be overcome by moving the hand a little backwards. The hands do not have any mechanical touching or other interferences. The escapement advances normally. The rocker part of the escapement seems to float rather than maintain an adjustable position. The clock is level.

Are these common issues? What do you recommend?.

Shop By Brand

Shop Hermle

Find the perfect Hermle movement for your clock.

Howard Miller

Find the perfect Howard Miller movement for your clock.

Shop Kieninger

Find the perfect Kieninger movement for your clock.

Seth Thomas

Find the perfect Seth Thomas movement for your clock.

Shop Urgos

Find the perfect Urgos movement for your clock.

Ridgeway Clocks

Find the perfect Ridgeway movement for your clock.

Our Associations

time.gov

clockify.me

nawcc.org

bhi.co.uk

awci.com