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Adjusting and Regulating
1) Setting the time
The hour and minute hands need to be set independently. Both hands should be friction fit on
their shafts so that they can be rotated. If the hands fit too tightly, it may be necessary to grasp
the great wheel when setting the hands to prevent the entire motion train from moving. After
positioning the hands, verify that neither hand was inadvertently angled inward or outward so
that it rubs on or interferes with the other hand or with the gear on the front of the clock.
2) Regulating the clock
The pendulum keeps the clock running at a constant pace. The position of the bob on the shaft
determines how fast the clock runs. If the clock runs slow, move the pendulum bob higher on
the shaft. If the clock runs fast, move the pendulum bob lower on the shaft. Patiently adjusting
the bob over the course of several days should result in the clock keeping reasonably accurate
time. Expect your clock to gain and lose time with changes in temperature and humidity.
Also, expect your clock to require a “break-in” period of a week or so during which it may not
be as consistent as it will in the future.
TIP: use a stopwatch to time a series of 60 tick-tocks and see how close to one minute it is.
Make adjustments to the bob until it is close to one minute. Now, set the time and let the clock
run for a day to make finer adjustments to the bob.
3) Winding the clock
Wind the clock by pulling downward on the rewind pull with your left hand while
simultaneously lifting the weight with your right hand. It takes a little practice to lift enough on
the weight shell so that some tension is removed from the cord, yet not so much tension is
removed that the cord jumps off of the pulley or weight spool. It may be necessary to restart
the pendulum after winding. It might be necessary to lift the pulley wheel back onto the weight
cord if it jumped off during winding. After winding, verify that both the weight and winding
cords pass over their respective pulley on the frame. The clock should run for about 27 hours
on one winding.
Your clock will wind easier after it has been wound a few times. If you find it very difficult to
wind, you can carefully flex the pawls out away from the spool so that they are not grabbing the
ratchet so forcefully.
4) Final gluing
The set washers may also be glued in place once their positions have been finalized. Note: do
not glue the following pieces: hour hand, minute hand, 8-tooth gear on the short arbor at the
bottom of the frame, and the set washers on either side of the 32-tooth hour gear.
