Grandfather Clock Weights Stuck

Posted on    Posted in  turned_in_not  Repair Help

Grandfather Clock Weights Stuck

The Grandfather clock weights can get stuck in the high position if over wound. Some larger clocks have over wind protection to prevent this.

The grandmother and grandfather chain drive units often do not have this feature. When winding the weights up make sure the top of the weight can be seen when done. Never go to the point where the top of the shiny weight cover can't be seen.

Chime weight stuck

The chime weight is on the right as you face the clock and has the heaviest weight. Using cloth gloves, or at least a cloth of some kind, pull down on the weight some.

This is the same as making the weight weigh more. At the same time, turn the minute hand past the quarter hour to see if it will engage the chime. When you advance the time and make it chime, the weight will slowly come down. This will hopefully be enough to activate and run the chime on its own.

Time weight stuck

The time weight is the center weight which can be light or heavy depending on bob size.

This is the hardest weight to deal with out of the three. Try pulling down some while swinging the pendulum.

See if it starts running on its own when letting go. If this does not work, take off the pendulum. All it will have is the pendulum leader hanging on the back of the movement.

This will make it tick tock faster than if the pendulum was on. The leader will tick tock faster as you pull down some on the weight. The weight will then come down enough to run the clock.

If all else fails, and it’s a chain driven clock, you would need to cut the chain in half, or break a link, to take the movement out of the clock. With the movement out of the clock you can fix it.

Strike weight stuck

The strike weight is on the left as you face the clock and has the lightest weight. Only after the chime weight is operating correctly can you work on the strike weight.

If the clock does not run through the chime sequence it will not get to where it strikes out the hours. With some cloth gloves on, or at least a cloth of some kind, pull down on the weight some.

Again, this is the same as making the weight weigh more. Doing this will make the clock strike. Advance the minute hand and let it chime each quarter until it plays the top of the hour song. Then pull a little on the weight when it is going to strike out the hours.

Keep advancing the time with the minute hand, as to make it chime and strike. Then slowly the weight will come down enough to be able to activate and run the strike on its own.

The content of this website is copyright by Clockworks and written by James Stoudenmire in year 2022

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Valerie
Valerie
8 days ago

HELP! I am ready to cry….just paid a small fortune to have a entire new assembly put into my Barwick grandmother clock….and what do I do? Wound the weights to high I guess…time is working but other two are not..I tried using a cloth and pulling on the heaviest weight first but I am afraid to pull too hard…how hard can I pull….my husband is gonna have a fit!

Valerie
Valerie
8 days ago

Thank you…I will have to get my husband to pull the clock away from the wall…too heavy for me so I will wait till he gets home from work. I am truly upset….this was my mom’s clock…will get the numbers. Appreciate the response sir.

WilliamM
WilliamM
9 days ago

Hello, I don’t see my previous message…

I just received a Howard Miller grandfather clock, model 610-199.

All three pulleys are wound too tight and am unable to put the weights on. I’ve tried the things mentioned in the forum…moving minute hand forward 24 and 48 hour cycles, stopping the minute hand at 15 minute increments while pulling down on the cable. I don’t hear a chime either.

I can pay someone $175 to come take a look but that’s a last resort. Anything else I can try?

David
David
10 days ago

I pulled down on the wieght did not chime chime

Douglas Garstin
19 days ago

Just tried to have the clock weights release and started with the chime weight first as suggested and while trying to pull down the weight and move the minute hand past the 1/4 hr I could not get the weight to budge. What are my options now to do? The Chime weight & the strike weight are both stuck at it’s highest elevation so impossible to remove any weights at all. The time weight will drop providing i let the pendulum continue drop but not the others at all.

Sherri Price
Sherri Price
22 days ago

Hi. I have a Howard Miller grandfather clock purchased around 1998. I believe it got overwound at some point so it sat. Then during a move all the chains came off. After 7 years I finally decided to get the clock working again. When going in to put the chains around the sprockets i first checked the gears to see if I could manually move them with my finger. The left and right ones will turn and “click” in the correct direction. The middle gear/sprocket will not move at all. Do you think this sprocket will have to be replaced? Thank you! Sherri

Sherri Price
Sherri Price
21 days ago

Hi. SKS 13, 116cm, 354 499. That look correct and what you need?
Model # 610-569
Thank you again.

Tasha Whittaker
Tasha Whittaker
2 months ago

My very old grandfather clock with 2 weights the right one is moving down the left is staying in the up position, the time is correct and it is chiming, it’s just the left weight is not moving?

Bill Wagner
Bill Wagner
2 months ago
Rating :
     

I’m afraid if I pull down on the weight I will snap the cable. Do I have valid concern? Secondly, I don’t hear any clicking when I pass the quarter, half, three-quarter, and full hour. Thanks for your prompt response. I want to hear the music again.

Maureen
Maureen
2 months ago

The right weight is stuck and clock does not chime. The grandfather clock timing is working.

Kathi Brockmiller
Kathi Brockmiller
2 months ago

My Howard Miller clock , the pingulim weight in the middle won’t drop any idea how to get it going again?

David S.
David S.
2 months ago

My grandfather clock(1980, Colonial of Zeeland) hadn’t run in a while. I took out the mechanism and soaked it in an ultrasonic cleaner for 30 minutes, and oiled it. I reassembled and THE CENTER WEIGHT doesn’t move. The pendulum doesn’t seem to be ticking or tocking. As long as I swing the pendulum all but the center weight move properly. I have been forcing a chime for a while to work in the oil. Any suggestions on how to get the pendulum and center weight to start moving on their own?

David S.
David S.
2 months ago

I did all of that to no avail. It hadn’t run for about a year, so I know from previous servicing that it took several attempts to get it running again, but not this time. The pendulum swings for about 5 minutes before stopping. Again, I took out the clock mechanism and put in ultrasonic cleaner… oiled and reassembled it.

One thing that I am experiencing that I haven’t seen previously… the chimes are not playing like they used to… WESTM, ST MICH., and WHITT all sound the same and don’t sound very good. 🙁

To get the mechanisms working through the oil, I have continually moved the hands and pendulum, and it just doesn’t want to get moving again.

I can hear ticking, and I can see the main pendulum gear moving, but it won’t continue.

David S.
David S.
2 months ago

61-500/Ke/F

David S.
David S.
2 months ago

Those are the numbers engraved on the back of the mechanism. see attached photo.

IMG_4737.jpg
David S.
David S.
1 month ago

If I buy the Westminster only chime… does that mean that the three options on the clock face just won’t change?

or should I buy the three-chime movement?

CHERYL
CHERYL
4 months ago

The left weight in my Howard miller GF clock has suddenly started dropping faster than other two. Almost to the bottom every couple of days.
Also the hour chimes gets stuck keeps chiming everyone once in a while. 🤷‍♀️

CHERYL
CHERYL
4 months ago

Thank you!

Dale
Dale
4 months ago

I am installing new works. Right chime chain is stuck and will not pull up weight and in manually reset weight drops to bottom of cabinet. Suggestion?

Dana Lee
Dana Lee
7 months ago

I have a Ridgeway grandfather clock. I just noticed that the weights are not falling. The clock is chiming and keeping the correct time. The weights have not been overwound as none of them are as high as they can go by several inches. No adjustments have been made to cause any change. We’ve had the clock for 20 years and have never had this problem before. Any ideas for a quick fix? Otherwise, I will probably be calling a repairman out next week.

Betty lord
Betty lord
7 months ago

The second hand sticks at 60 even though the pendulum is moving. What can I do?

Betty lord
Betty lord
7 months ago

A miracle cure! Thank you!

Harold Robinson
Harold Robinson
7 months ago

my pendulum gear is stuck in the full down position the cable, cord, wire has come unspooled How dop I unstick it?

Pat
Pat
7 months ago

I was told I needed 3 x 7.7 pound weights for my clock is that total or each?

Jami
Jami
8 months ago

Pulling on the right weight while advancing worked fine but no matter how hard I pull on the left weight at the top of the hour it will not chime. Is there something we lose I can do? It keeps time and chimes now but will not strike out the hour.

Debbie Browning
Debbie Browning
8 months ago

None of my weights are moving

james Felice
james Felice
9 months ago

i have a howard miller 611 042 and the weight in the middle works fine however the left one and the right one do not move down how can i fix that

John Shore
John Shore
9 months ago

I have a Howard Miller presidential tall clock. The center chain has gotten off track and I cannot get the weight to move down. Any solution to get it back in track.

John Shore
John Shore
9 months ago

Thank you

Jason
Jason
9 months ago
Rating :
     

Glad to have read these solutions. Very nice to see that things can be explained so easily. Not like stereo instructions lol. Thank you for your help 💯 legit and helped me get my grandmothers clock working correctly!

IMG_20220518_191613530~2.jpg
stan
stan
1 year ago

James, thanks. When we had work done in our house the workers took the weights off and pulled all the chains as far as they would go. your instructions got me back in business. thanks stan

Marian
Marian
1 year ago

I believe I over wound the strike and chime weights. Help!

Marc A
Marc A
1 year ago

I just bought a long case clock at an estate sale, and at first I noticed that while the time was working and the middle weight was dropping, the left and right were stable near the top and there were no chimes or hour strikes. I manually caused the chimes and hour strike to work several times over a period of days, and then suddenly, everything was working, good chimes, proper hour strikes. But the right weight, while dropping, seems to be dropping slower than the center, and the left weight is barely dropping. I have seen the chimes and the hour strike working properly for half a day, so I wonder if everything is okay, and “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”, or the fact that the three weights are dropping at very different speeds means things are not going to work for long ? Appreciate any comments, advice.

Marc A
Marc A
1 year ago
Reply to  Marc A

I was mistaken in my post yesterday. I see now that all the weights are dropping together at same speed. Was an optical illusion.

Wendy Fowler
Wendy Fowler
1 year ago
Rating :
     

Hello my parents live in HAMPTONVILLE NCis there some that works on Grandfather Clocks in his area ??? My email is [email protected] and my number is 828-429-6728 could some one please help me any info would be greatly appreciated

Samuel McInerney
Samuel McInerney
1 year ago

i HAVE A TWO WEIGHT SYSTEM ONLY THE RIGHT WEIGHT IS STUCK AT THE TOP, THE CHIMES WORK FINE I TRIED ADDING EXTRA WEIGHT TO PULL IT DOWN BUT DOESN’T MOVE ANY IDEAS ALSO IT WORKS FOR LIKE 3 MINS THEN STOP BUT I THINK IT MIGHT NOT BE LEVEL

Jackie Sweeney
1 year ago

I can get the strike weight to drop, but within a few hour it will stop. Help?

Cindy Delp
Cindy Delp
1 year ago

I tried gently pulling the chime weight when I turn the hour hand and it does chime but it is still stuck and will not chime on the hour

Kenny
1 year ago

What about CABLED weights? How does one get them to come down when stuck?

Rickie Bonnette
Rickie Bonnette
1 year ago

I have A howard x miller grandfather clock I just bought and the lady i got it from put the left &right weights on the wrong side than she wound the clock it seems to keep the correct time but the rgt and left weights are not coming down they are to high to unhook and switch them what can i do

Caroline Lowery
1 year ago

Hello! I have a Vienna Regulator wall clock that was just serviced by a horologist. When we hung it at home, I wound it and it worked for 30 minutes, then stopped. The two weights are stuck at the top (my fault in winding too much, I’m sure). I can get the left weight to come down ever so slowly, per your instructions in the article, but the right weight will not budge.
Any suggestions you can offer would be great. Our horologist is on vacation until September.
Thank you!

Brenda
1 year ago

Clock runs good but won’t chime
Serial number 85001238

Janice T. Guilbeau
Janice T. Guilbeau
1 year ago

The strike weight on my clock drops down to only about 18″ then stops in that position. However,the hour still strikes but only goes up to six rings then starts at 1 to 6 again.

Dale Dupree
Dale Dupree
1 year ago

I have recently purchased a Seth Thomas Grand mother clock and set it up as best as i could. I installed the weights, in the places that there were marked for. It will keep accurate time but will not chime. The switch on the face is set to chime but doesn.t go to the bottom of the path.

Robert Olson
Robert Olson
1 year ago

Is there a way to release the weights to come down some to see if the cable got crossed to lock up the chimes on both sides. Is there any pictures of the works of a Howard Miller clock where I can check to see what needs to be adjusted? It was sold in 1990.

shelly
1 year ago

My middle weight is all the way to the bottom of the clock and the outer weights are up top. How do I fix?

Walt
Walt
1 year ago

The center weight chain has no tension. When I try to pull the weight up, it just goes back down. It doesn’t catch. The clock is an Emperor with a Hermle movement.

Stan
Stan
1 year ago

I have oiled and cleaned my grandfather clock mechanism and it running much better. I found the chains holding the weights to be sticky and presume this is old grease. Should these chains be cleaned and or oiled ?
Many thanks for your advice

Tammy
Tammy
1 year ago

Left side weight does not drop left side retard bar stuck out will not drop down to hit the chimes what do I do

Carol
Carol
1 year ago

Why won’t my grandmother clock keep running. It is run by weights and a pendulum.

Scott Segreaves
Scott Segreaves
1 year ago

I was trying to relieve the stuck chime weight chain and the chain broke at three quarters around the gear. NOW WHAT??

Kevin Hein
Kevin Hein
1 year ago

Should I pull down on them at any time for a few seconds?

Alfred j Ortiz
1 year ago

Center weight on grandmother clock

Bob
Bob
1 year ago

My clock only strikes once no matter the time. All weights are working except the strike weight only strikes once no matter what time it is. I have tried setting the clock to one o’clock which corresponds to the hour it strikes no matter what. I have advanced the clock twelve hours with hope that when I move the time to two o’clock no such luck. What is my next step?

Byron himes
Byron himes
2 years ago

Hi, our strike weight is at the bottom and won’t pull back up, the other weights seem to be fine, any ideas?

Mr-Mrs Ron Mattes
Mr-Mrs Ron Mattes
2 years ago

When winding the clock, the right weight will not stay at the top but falls freely to bottom of case

Laura
Laura
2 years ago

I just acquired an ethan allen grandmother clock that appears to have all three weights very stuck at the top. I tried your comments above to free said middle weight but nothing. What is the next step? Model #3800 Movement -E Dial- AE Serial #91076

Judy
Judy
2 years ago

I forgot to wind my grandfather clock and the chime is now an hour behind the hands. How can I put it right?

Diane Morabito
Diane Morabito
2 years ago

How do
I correctly set the time? Counter clockwise?or clockwise??

Mary
Mary
2 years ago

The middle weight on my grandfather clock comes down only it does not chime anymore

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