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Mechanical Clock Strike Setting
Mechanical clock strike setting is not hard. Some simple fixes can correct any problems. This information is for a new unit straight out of the box. Subsequently, for installation into an existing clock case. However it is also practical for other situations where there are strike issues German clocks. The strike issues can be from not striking at all to not striking the correct hour or striking forever. All of these strike issues reside in the same location mainly. This location is on the front side of the German mechanical clock movement.
No Strike Cause
When the new movement is not striking out the hour the dial and hands come off of the clock. With the dial and hands out of the way we can see the front of the movement where the problem is. German units have a rack and snail count system. This only means there is a rack that looks like a saw on the front side of the movement. This saw looking rack falls on the portion of the hour hand tube that looks like a snail. This is why we call it a rack and snail count system. The rack is supposed to be in the up position by default and drops down onto the snail when its ready to strike.
Making the Mechanical Clock Strike
During shipping the rack can fall behind the snail instead of on top of it. With the rack stuck behind the snail when the minute hand is installed it can squash the snail into the rack. This will cause the rack to not be able to be lifted because there is too much resistance and so the clock will not strike. The solution is to have the dial off and just lift the rack back up with the fingers. If none of this makes sense there is a simple solution and that is just to take the minute hand off for an hour and let it run for an hour with the chimes on.
The Rack and Snail Count System Explanation
The top most hump on the snail exposes only one tooth on the rack and allows the gear train to run only enough to strike one time. The deepest hump on the snail is 12 teeth on the rack and therefore 12 strikes on the top of the hour. The rest of course are all the other hours but that sort of takes care of itself. As long as one and 12 are good the rest is good.
James
Am in UK. Have Howard Miller Manhattan 610-630 clock. It only strikes 1 to 4 times. I want to adjust rack and snail but can’t get at it through side panel. How do I take face/dial off to get at it. Can’t find any instructions. HW manuals don’t cover it. Any photos anywhere
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.
Not off the paper work, not off the wooden case, but the movement stamp itself
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
My 200-year-old grandfather always strikes eight for seven. Other hours are all OK.
We live in England!
It would need to be sent in to figure this one out. If its been awhile we can restore the movement and correct the issue.
Interested in sending in the movement only?
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Hi I tried adjusting the hour back on grandfather clock and now it strikes on the half hour as if it’s the hour, and it’s still off by one hour. How can I correct this?
Thanks
If made after 1950, go backward with the minute hand to the top of the hour at this point. Hour hand is friction fit only, just point it to whatever hour it bonged. Set to time.
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Clockworks Inc
My simple rack and snail chime clock strikes only once on each hour instead of however many the time is. Also once on the half hour. The rack never drops onto the snail. Help please
Take the dial and hands off the clock and see if it works fine. If it works fine the issue is in this area
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I have a tall case clock built around 1800. It works find and keeps very accurate time. However, it doesn’t strike 12. It strikes 11 at 11 o’clock, 11 at 12 o’clock, and 1 at one o’clock.
Is this something I can fix or do I need clock repair?
If this is a rack and snail style count system it only needs to be over some so the rack drops in the right spot. Easy to do, hard to explain. If you provide some pics and email this same question to clockworks@clockworks.com, I will put a red arrow to what needs to be adjusted. The movement comes out for this.
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I removed the top (bonnet?), but there’s too much to move/remove/change to get a good picture. It has taken me so long to get the clock positioned and balanced so it run and keeps great time. I am very hesitant to dig into it.
I’ll likely contact a local repair person to have a look.
I’ve seen a video on adjusting the rack and snail and think I could do that, but the removal of the face and other changes to the position of the works makes me nervous.
Right, its maybe best. Where do you live, we do house calls but located at =
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
Clockworks Inc
http://www.clockworks.com
124 Goss Hill
Huntington, MA 01050 USA
I’m in South Carolina. The clock comes from Beverly, Mass.
South Carolina, but the clock was made in Beverly Mass by William Sykes of Beverly.
Wow that clock is great. We can make that second hand bit if it was here for restoration. This of course is not inexpensive to have us do.
Up to you, call a reputable local clock man or send us the movement only to start a restoration.
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
I’d not sure why the second hand is not on in the picture. It’s in place now.
Thank you. I’ll see if I can get a picture.
hi,
i have a urgos movement with date, day, month and moon phase.It uses cables not chains. I am unsure of the exact model
For some reason after being silent between 10pm and 8am on 8am it strikes twice sometimes 6 times, on 9am the strikes increase but not to 9 times then at 10am it catches up and strikes correctly until 9pm.
This continues every day. The chimes are always correct.
I have had the clock oiled recently by a clock expert but despite many removals of clock face been unable to find the fault.
This clock was purchased new in 1991.
Hope you can help.
cheers nick
It iw something with the ANSO feature, if you turn off the ANSO does this still happen ?
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
No although I notice as the days go past the 9am now strikes correctly but not the 8am yet. Also I changed the chime sound so that might have helped
Thanks for your time nivk
I have a Seth Thomas electric mechanical clock where the time section works fine but the striking is off. It strikes every quarter hour okay until the hour where it doesn’t always strike the hour. Sometimes it strikes the hour correctly, then the next hour it doesn’t strike. I oiled the pivots. What is wrong and how can it be fixed? Oh, it is rack and snail type movement.
Tricky to say from here, sounds like maybe some activating arm needs to be adjusted / bent to be corrected. We dont get into the electric clocks so much because often its the motor that goes before the movement, and they are no longer available.
James Stoudenmire
30yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com