Grandfather Clock Weights Stuck
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 cant 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 it can be fixed.
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’s supposed 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.
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How do I get my weights to come down after pulled up to far
Hi
You seem to be on the correct page to read the text written and answer that question.
on the strike, do I pull down on the weight the same time as advancing the minute hand ?
Make it chime out the hours for the strike to start, when the strike is to start pull down some on the weight to get it to start and come down.
Alll 3 weights are stuck at top
Yes so the first thing is to get the middle one down. All this is spoke about please read all about it.
I have a 30 year old Ridgeway Grandfathers clock (corner style all cherry). Three years ago, my local clock shop replaced six bushings and the escapement and oiled it. Last month, it stopped. None of the weights move. The 2nd hand is very hard to move, either direction. I can get it to chime, but it doesn’t keep time. I pulled the pendulum, and it’s running fast, the second hand moves, but the weight height doesn’t change. The middle weight is all the way at the top, perhaps I overwound it? If I move the 2nd hand, which is difficult,… Read more »
Hi Really it is best to just swap the movement with the new one. This is a prime and typical example of what I have been saying on the site. It sounds like there are weird things going on. For the second hand to spin, means the weight is coming down. One equals the other, the hand cant move unless the weight is powering it. If the second hand is spinning out of control that means the escapement is set too high up. Upon reconnecting it most likely bent the teeth of the escape wheel. What are the movement numbers… Read more »
UW66010 is stamped on the back of the movement. The shop sticker was “escape wheel replaced”, not what I had written previous. Would a new movement have a night time silent feature? (we need that).
Hi
If It had ANSO before, it will have it still. I forget on this one. Anyway the new one will be the same as the old one.
It has a new name, the new name is 66020 from this link https://www.clockworks.com/product/uw66020-urgos-clock-movement
It is also stamped:
31229
URGOS
MADE IN GERMANY
NO(0) JEWELS
UNADJUSTED
Please double check this number something is not right.
Those numbers are correct:
UW66010
31229
Ridgeway Serial #85019556
This clock was purchased in the late 1980’s from Northside Clocks, who has been doing the service work.
Our repairman said the center shaft was seized. He oiled it and it’s working well now. He said that might last several years, but if it happens again, he would need to replace it. I suspect that then be the time to put in a new movement.
Hi
We would need the movement numbers off of the movement itself please
Like this =
This is true, it is due.
Hi
Please order the 66020 from this link https://www.clockworks.com/product/uw66020-urgos-clock-movement
What if the I’ve doesnt free the weights what’s the next thing
Take the movement out and see what is going on with it is all that can be done
Pulling down on weight doesn’t move them… what else can i do ?so sad not listening to my beautiful clock… please help
The center weight on my Ridgeway Grandfather clock works in one direction only. The clock maintains good time, however I can’t pull the center chain down to bring the weight back to the top of the clock (can’t rewind the cable). What is wrong? Any help would be appreciated.
Bad click. That is a tricky one to fix because the plates would have to separate to remove the ratchet wheel to find one or repair it.
Can I have the movement numbers please off of the back plate of the movement so I can quote for repair or replace ?
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 weight on the right, which I understand is the chime weight, is stuck too night in the case. The chimes seem to be correct, however. Should I gently pull down on the weight?? Will that get it unstuck? How will I know? I thank you! Ann
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I pulled the weight on the left too high..my clock doesn’t chime the correct hour. Will the weight eventually correct itself, and come down.?
Yes if the clock is running with the chimes on
James: I just read your string here regarding a stuck or over-wound left chain which is what I have a problem with. You say above that it will come down on its own if the chime is working; my chime works fine and the clock keeps perfect time (for more than two years) but contrary to your answer above, the left weight is not coming down on its own. I have not yet done your pulling on the weight instruction yet….should I do that while the clock is running or should I stop the pendulum?
That only means the clock is not striking the hours out. The question is now, how do I make the clock strike? The answer requires the dial to come off of the clock. If you would like to continue on why the clock is not striking we would need the dial to come off of the clock and a picture of what you see. It may just be time to swap that movement out with the new one, if you provide info off of the back plate we can move in that direction if we cannot resolve the strike issue.… Read more »
This seems to be counter to your instruction above to release the strike weight as follows: “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’s supposed to strike out the hours. Keep advancing the time with the minute hand, as to make it chime… Read more »
If the fix does not work, the clock is just not striking for some other reason. If the movement is over 30 years old it maybe a good idea just to swap it out and be done with it.
James
Have a Ridgeway Grandmother clock. Time works fine. It appears as if is overwound. Chime & Strike weights are all the way to the top. Tried moving the minute hand & pulling on the chime weight. Can hear a slight click as it passes each quarter hour. 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 »