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Troubleshooting
If the clock fails to operate properly, refer to the suggestions below.
Gear Train Will Not Advance
If the gear train will not advance when weight is applied to the weight cord, check the following
possible problem sources. If you are having difficulty with the gear train, it might be easier to
troubleshoot if the escape lever is moved out of the way to allow free movement of the gears.
Friction between arbors and bearings
The arbors must spin freely in the nylon bearings. Check to see that the arbors have
been sanded smooth where they contact the bearings. Additional sanding may be
necessary if the arbors are too tight in the bearings.
Play in gear arbors
There must be a small amount of play in each of the arbors. There should be about
1/16" of free play so that the arbor can be jiggled back and forth between the frame
pieces. If the spacers are pushed too tightly against the nylon bearings so that no back
and forth movement is allowed, move one of the gears inward on the arbor to allow a
small space between the spacers and the nylon bearings.
Gear alignment
Check to see that each gear is aligned with its mating gear. Reposition gears on the
shaft as necessary so that mating gears fall in line with each other.
Hands rubbing
Check that neither the hour nor minute hand is toed inward or outward, causing them to
rub on each other or on the gears on the front of the clock. Adjust hand positions as
necessary so that hands are able to rotate completely without interference.
Pendulum pivot seating
Check to make sure that both of the pendulum pivot screws are resting in the holes in
the pendulum support plate.
Gear tooth obstruction
Inspect the gear teeth to be sure that each tooth is clean and free of burrs, shards, or
stain/varnish build up.
Clock Runs For A While Before Stopping
If the clock runs for awhile but then stops, there are a number of factors that could be involved. Check
each of the following:
Gear train
The problem may be with the gear train itself. Slide the escape lever out of the way of
the escape wheel and troubleshoot the gear train (see above section for possible causes
of gear train problems).
Escapement out of beat
If the escape lever has stopped the clock by not releasing a tooth of the escape wheel,
try to restart the clock by restarting the pendulum in motion. If it continues to run for a
while and eventually stops on the same side of the escape lever as before, then the clock
is likely out of beat. The clock is brought in beat as described in the Mounting and
Adjusting section of these instructions.
