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Mechanical Clock Weight Installation
The weights may or may not all weigh the same however they usually do not. It is needed to know what weights goes on what chain or cable for most floor clocks in existence. Typically there is differences on the weights from left to right on a mechanical floor clock. This section is referring to post WW2 modern floor clocks of German origin.
Mechanical Clock Weight Placement
A bathroom scale can let us know if either there is two heavy and one light weights, or two light weights and one heavier. The chime side will always take the heavy weights and the strike side will always take the light weights. The middle time train is left to be variable dependent on the pendulum bob diameter. The pendulum bob is the round disk at the bottom of the pendulum. If it is a wide bob or if the pendulum is heavy for other reasons, it will take more weight. If more weight is required on the center time train it will be the same weight as the chime side instead of the strike side.
Weight Installation – The Heavy One
The chime weight will always be the heaviest weight there is for the clock every time. This is the weight that goes on the right while facing the clock. If there is a weight that is heavier than the rest it goes on the chime side. What is meant by chime side is the side that makes the songs go every 15 minutes. If the wrong weight is on this chime side the clock will chime very slow and may stop in mid chime.
The Variable
The next one is the time train. This is the one that goes in the center of the three weights on the clock. If it is a heavy pendulum or the bob diameter is larger at 8 1/2 inches or 10 1/2 inches wide, its best with another heavy weight equal to the chime side. There are alot of clocks in the world running with the lighter weight when it should really be heavier and the clock runs fine for 30 years. So its not that big of a deal, but to be correct this is what it calls for. If the pendulum is heavy and the light weight is on there instead of the heavy one, the clock may or may not stop randomly.
The Light One
The lightest weight if there is one, goes on the left while facing the clock. This is the strike train side and this makes the clock bong out whatever hour it is. If the wrong weight is on this side, it may bong out the hours faster than what is intended. This will not be bad for the movement in anyway, its just what is comfortable to listen too.
Clock weight
Clock chain
Weights on cables
Use cloth to hold
Came into position of this grandfather clock 3 weight drive its a triple chime it works intermintley the 3 weights are 7.2 pounds the back plate has markings made in Germany PL.98 ps 66 2/3 the numbers 14417 . Not sure what brand this movement is would like to know so i can make sure the weights are right and for ording parts Thank you for any information you have . Norman
Thank you for the help James
That is a Jauch clock movement, best run with 2 at 7.7lbs and one at 9.9lbs on the chime (chime is your right as you face the front of the clock ) or whatever is close to these weight amounts is fine also
James Stoudenmire
40yr Clockmaker
Author of Clockworks.com
This is ALAA ALSHAIR, living in Illinois state, 62901. My phone # (618)303-7850.
have Baldwin clock. I removed the weights during moving the clock to the storage for one year because of my home renovation. Now I returned the clock back to the home & replaced the weights correctly as marked on the bottle of each one but the clock doesn’t start to work.
Please advise me what should I do?
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