This combination of wheels and pinions driving each other is called atrain. Any time you are messing with hairsprings, a lot can go wrong. Thanks for the tips on how to adjust the time keeping on a clock that is running too fast or too slow. Why does a clock run fast when it isn't getting enough power? Not enough power is getting to the pendulum to make it swing as far as it should. :) Clockworks are made up of a collection of gears (calledwheelsin clock parlance) that convert the power of a wound spring or weight into a uniform motion. This is reducing the power that reaches the pendulum. Simply hold the bushing still with a wrench and turn the hand the distance needed so that when you put the hand back on the clock, the hand is pointing straight up at the 12. With nearly immediate feedback, you can make repeated rate adjustments and see their effect in minutes rather than days. The pendulum needs to swing exactly equal distances from dead center to the left, as from dead center to the right. I just had it serviced, but I had to go all the way to El Paso Texas to do the service because there are no clock repair shops in Las Cruces NM and I'm about 40 miles West of Las Cruses. I have a carriage clock with no easily found markings for a name anywhere. Mike. English carriage clocks are high quality, but very big. I am an enthusiastic, amatuer newcomer to horology. Remember to grasp the hand as close to the minute arbor as possible. How much longer does the pendulum need to be? I have a nice small clock movement with a platform escapement. Calculating the OD of the wheel or pinion is a little trickier. This is a work in progress and the list will grow over time. Clocks which use this type of train are called 8-day clocks, and the extra wheel is typically called the8-day wheel. National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors Inc (A 501c3 non-profit corporation). Time takes its toll on all of us in winter. A test run reveals that the clock gains 57 minutes in 11 hrs. (I wound it two days ago and it is fast by about 40 minutes now, for example.) The PCD is the point at which the meshing gears actually touch, and is the same as the diameter of the theoretically perfect gear. Our 2-second pendulum then makes 60 beats per minute, for example. I've tried setting it to the extreme + and - and it still runs fast. Any advice or instruction on how to put this adjustment nut back? If the gears are not held together very tightly, they will slip. I looked up the model number on the paperwork on the back of the clock, it is S1624;, therefore; It is an Ingraham. find a key to fit it.Help. If the first explanation is true, then your clock is running properly; if the second explanation is true, you probably need to take you clock in to be serviced. Best regards, Energy Sources: Weight-Driven and Wind-Up Clocks. Like now it is about 10 min on the hour off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biDxyjwC88I, How clocks work (in 5 easy steps) I Curator's Corner S3 Ep 3 #CuratorsCorner (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biDxyjwC88I), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE8pO3Zq-z8, How A Mechanical Clock Works (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE8pO3Zq-z8), Wood Pre-Craft (Drying, Identification, Selection, etc. It is running about 3 hours slow. Just carefully push the minute hand to set the time. Many modern clocks use a variation of the recoil escapement, where instead of a solid anchor a bent strip of metal is used. I have a couple Timex watches that have a variable capacitor across the crystal to trim the crystal frequency. The pendulum needs to be lengthened to 22.35 cm. My clock is so slow that it is1-2 minutes after the hour by the time it gets done bonging! I even removed the pendulum to try to put the adjustment nut back but still could not do it. Check to see if there is a threaded rod projecting from the pendulum or if there is a pendulum nut in the bottom of the case.If this is the case, your clock needs some professional help. Listen to the tick tock and change the clock leveling to to the left or right until an even tick tock is heard. It involves a beat detecting device that counts out the beats per hour, or the beats per minute. My dad has been trying to figure out how to fix the time on our Grandfather Clock that has been with our family for generations. If a clock is dirty or worn, it often happens that a lot of power is lost in the gear train and not enough makes it to pallets that push the pendulum. It's ticking sound, similar to. If we were to use a 2:1 ratio, the results are even better: c = M/2(c+M) = (m+H) => H = (3M/2)-m(M*H)/(c*m) = 12 => H = 6mWhich leaves us with:M = 14m/3. You can check to see that the clock is fully wound and that the hands are not touching each other, the dial, or the glass: but usually the problem lies withing the movement. Hi all, How do I adjust the time keeping? The pendulum isn't swinging as far as it should, so each swing takes slightly less time and the clock runs fast. In the real world, most regulator clocks use a pendulum significantly shorter than the theoretical length and still beat perfect seconds, while smaller clocks often use pendulums much longer than the theoretical pendulum. 2.03 hours fast per day. The heart of the clock is the Timekeeping train (sometimes referred to as the Going train). So how do we prevent the disks from slipping, without unduly increasing the friction? I am passionate about restoring and repairing antique clocks. to run properly. The result is that the clock runs fast. tick . Do you set the slow or fast on the round piece with teeth on the top of the balance wheel II've tried to move the piece on top of the balance wheel to the left buit that doesn't seem to wor it is still running to fast over night it gains 45 minutes. I have a nutcracker German Clock; I can turn with key clockwise, but does not seem to turn counter clockwise; how do I slow the pendulum down and how do I keep it going; and how do I move the hands to set initially? It converts the power provided by the Power train into a precise rotation of the minute hand. Where do I find a small key to be able to do this. I'm hopeful that I will be able to get the right balance now! If you can set the number of beats per minute, and if you know how many beats per minute your clock does, you are set. These wheels are attached to slender rods calledpivots, which ride in holes drilled in the clock plates. A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. Harbor Freight has a cheap pair of digital calipers that will work just fine for this purpose. Ive improved the accuracy by shifting the small lever on the escapement to F but I cant shift it any further now and the clock is still losing about a minute per day. . I found an anniversary clock in a thrift store that needed a new suspension spring. However I can find no instructions as to whether I tighten or loosen them or if I have to do something to them both or just one of them. Forstner bits are high-quality cutting tools that are used for making precise, flat-bottomed holes in wood and other materials. It's interesting that sliding the bob on a cuckoo clock actually speeds up and slows the time. Once you have the required measurements, you can search for the appropriately sized double ended key on one of the clock supply websites. Two small, adjustable weights hang from each end. Wheel 2 and pinion 2 are on the same pivot, so pinion 2 is also at an 8:1 gear ratio. I have worked in the electronics field for over 40 years. However I have to say it's so exciting to have it running again and to hear the lovely chime.. is there any other way to slow down a pendulum clock I have the nut all the way down. The far end of the cannon shaft is filed square to fit the minute hand bushing. It's no doubt a common run-of-the-mill mantel clock which were popular back in the day. Both of these issues are best adressed by a competent repair person. If there isn't enough power pushing the wheel back and forth, the wheel will not turn very far. If you do use glue, be sure it is completely dry before replacing the hands a final time. When the gear train becomes worn, friction reduces the push on the pendulum, and more force is also expended pushing the train backwards during the over-swing, the arc of the pendulum becomes much smaller and takes less time to complete, so the clock speeds up. i ALREADY TRIED TO MOVE THAT. We need to add twice this amount to the PCD to get the OD. I'm now out of adjustment and out of ideas! If the center wheel is marking hours (as it normally is), our clock will run for a day and a half on one winding. Takeaway. Sorry, I think I mise this. In a pinch, a coffee mug or a book will do -- it doesn't really matter. This app is to measure the BPH (Beats per hour) of mechanical watches. Lets get back to the original gear diagram, again shown below. Engineering the 10 000-Year Clock by David Kushner. You will notice I have included the tooth counts for the time train starting with the minute wheel and ending at the escape wheel. 1:1 ratio), but any ratio could be used. Any way to identify this clock? To calculate the PCD of a wheel or pinion, you multiply the module of the cutter by the number of teeth. Thus we have the following equations for wheel and pinion sizes (M is module and n is # of teeth): PCD = M * nOD (wheels) = M * (2.74 + n)OD (pinions) = M * (1.71 + n). Yet, when I turn the nob on the backside to turn the minute hand forward, the chimes ring out but the clock refuses to work. Escapements come in a bewildering number of varieties some suitable for tower clocks, others for pocket watches, but those commonly encountered in wall and shelf clocks all share the same basic structure: there is anescape wheel, whose specially-shaped teeth engage a pair ofpalletsthat move back and forth with the pendulum. You also may remove the pendulum and move the crutch with your finger to the left or right until the proper tick tock is reached. There are two types of curves commonly used in clock wheel teeth:epicycloidal(the curve generated by tracing a single point on a circle as it rolls) andinvolute(the curve generated by unwinding a line from a circle). I will move the minute hand to be on time, but it chimes when the minute hand points two minutes before the actual time. Danette, This depends on the clock and the type of hands that it has. This in turn releases the train of wheel in a step-by-step movement. Hermle Mechanical Pendulum Mantel Clock Instructions Hermle Mechanical Mantel Clock Instructions (Westminster Chime and Triple Chime) Hermle Wall Clocks with Mechanical 4/4 Westminster Chime Instructions Ship's Bell Strike Clock Operating Instructions Hermle Mechanical Skeleton Mantel Clock with a Pendulum (8 or 14-Day power reserve) . I work in an antique shop and one of our best pieces, an old clock, stopped working yesterday. I have a 1920s Seth Thomas 8" ships clock. Recoil escapements are adequate timekeepers, and have the distinct advantage that they are somewhat forgiving of errors in construction or alignment of the pallets. = 2.72 beats per second = 0.368 seconds per beat Method #2: Ratios using practical length. JavaScript is disabled. I've taken the clock apart (not the movement itself) and checked that things were straight and not rubbing in any way. It is a Kundo anniversary clock made in the 1950s. Formula: BPM = (141120 L P) where, BPM is beats per minute L P is the pendulum length Setup Pendulum Wall Clock: Choose the proper size wood screw (typically a #8, 10 or 12) to fit the hanger at the top back of the clock, and long enough to go securely through the wall into a stud. The only other thing I adjusted was the screw/nut coming out of the bottom of the bob. The friction is the bend in the spring at the top of the pendulum, the light touch on the crutch fork on each swing and air resistance. I figured I can try to adjust that again once I get the speed figured out. Columbia, PA 17512 Rather than tilting the clock to check the beat, the pendulum may be moved from the centre position to hear when the mechanism clicks on both sides. It all runs nicely after reassembling it but its losing a couple of minutes per day. If we plug some numbers into this equation, however, we are in for a bit of a surprise. (Daisy bell song) Someone also applied an excessive amount of oil to the clocks works. In general, it is a good starting point for pendulum length, and not much else. Hamilton West Mister Chime 8 day Wall Clock and its running to slow. I have two questions. The foliot is a cross-bar attached to the top of the verge. Time it for 30 or 60 seconds and count how many times it . As the escape wheel revolves, the pallets catch a tooth on one side and let it escape. If the nut is already at the top of the threads and can't be adjusted, you probably need to take it in to a professional clock repair technition. I replaced the AA Energizer Batteries in the Clock Movement and still the hands haven't moved. The purpose of this train is to convert twelve turns of the cannon pinion (which drives the minute hand) into one turn of the hour hand. I have a mantle clock that runs slow and I need a key to turn it to fast. Even before the principles of gravity explainedwhya pendulum beats evenly, the pendulum was used as an accurate timing device. Many thanks I completely repaired the clock case and purchased a new clock movement with chime box, assembling everything together. The formula for this is shown below where L = Length in metres, g = acceleration of gravity at the earths surface. The snail is a weirdly shaped cam that looks a lot like a snail shell. Please see the FAQ for putting a clock in beat. I straightened that as well. Using a Module 1.0 cutter, this would mean a 36 cm wheel, which is obviously untenable. If you have any problems, it might be a good idea to find a clock repair services that have experience with the kind you have, such as the pendulum or balance wheel ones. Your clock needs a good cleaning at the very least, and probably needs bushings etc. I just got a 31 day korean movement pendulum clock. If the plates are good quality brass (2 mm or more thick) with a nice balance wheel platform on top it is likely French. If we throw pinions into the mix, things get even more interesting. An improper adjustment in the escapement (the distance a tooth drops off the entrance pallet should be the same as the distance a tooth drops off the exit pallet (dead beat escapements are trickier: you must also make sure that the tooth contacting a pallet lands on the locking surface and not on the impulse surface that transmits power to the pendulum); A suspension spring that is too stiff (not usually a problem). A pendulum with a fixed centre of gravity will continue to swing at the same rate if no friction is applied. It sounds to me like your clock needs some professional attention. Some mechanical clocks (usually cuckoos) don't have an adjustment nut: the bob slides up and down the pendulum rod and is held in place by friction. Then the gravitation pull on the primary weight powers the gears in the clock. When the pendulum swings all the way to one side, the pallet on one side releases a tooth, and the other pallet catches the next tooth in line. Pendulum clocks had to be stationary and level to operate. Unfortunately there is not an easy fix. Thanks for your page, I have learned a lot! This rate is then compared to a . Heres a detailed explanation of how mechanical pendulum clocks work. To speed up a clock you must make the effective length of the pendulum shorter; to slow down the clock, the pendulum length must be longer. Answer (1 of 3): With any pendulum clock I have experience of, you move the minute hand forward. Do you possibly have an idea as to why the clock is not working as it should, as I know this is a long shot asking you a question when you can't see physically what is occurring at my end. If we were using a 6-tooth pinion, then, our numbers would be: Cannon Pinion: 39Minute Wheel 39Minute Pinion: 6Hour Wheel: 72. If you are near Mount Vernon, WA, please feel free to stop by my store. Always try to grasp the hands close the the brass bushing, and try to avoid bending the hands. The long answer explains why. Most clocks run 8 days on a wind and were intended to be wound weekly. tHERE IS A SMALL ROUND PLATE WITH LOOKS LIKE TEETH ON TOP OF THE BALANCE WHEEL, BUT THAT CAN'T BE WHERE YOU SET THE SLOW OR FAST. Can i add some type of weight to the bottom of the nut to correct this? . I want to call someone to come look at it so hopefully, we can repair it. . Open the front door and hang the pendulum on the hook (on . These are the components of a mechanical pendulum: 1. Enjoy the Fourth of July. Since the pinions are much smaller than the wheels that they are driving, they can be used to effect dramatic speed increases. I have got it running and fixed the striker but it only strikes once on each hour. Hi, I have just bought a 200+ yr old French clock that runs fast. I have a little bit that I can shorten the spring. The concepts behind gearing is basic physics, so like any good physics example we will start by considering the theoretically perfect gears two toothless disks like these. . Hey Mike, I have a father chime clock my wonderful lady got for me. I am passionate about restoring and repairing antique clocks. With a tweezers, move the pointer towards the "-" to slow it down. This type of escapement was typically used in only the best-quality clocks and chronometers. To put the clock in beat, ensure that the pendulum overswing in both directions is equal. It also has an option to display the beat number as well. and only after twoo days of monitoring, its only losing 1 min. A pendulum clock is a clock that uses a pendulum, a swinging weight as its timekeeping element. Horolovar templates. I have a 38-year old wall clock that I purchased from South Korea and my wife's helper inadvertently dropped the clock, cracking the wood case when it hit the floor. To correct this open the back door and GENTLY pull straight down of the pendulum (which normally swings back and forth). Your key should slide easily onto the arbor, but not so loose that either the key or the corners of the winding arbor can be damaged when you turn the key. Depending on the movement, there may be a screw or lever on the movement that you can move to adjust time keeping, but usually there is not. There is no lever as described above but I do have two nuts labelled s and f either side of the balance wheel. Thanks so much for your information regarding clocks running fast or slow. The anchor wire is typically the pivot for the pendulum, so this is a very mechanically simple escapement. Clocks often advertised for Calumet baking powder, This is a beat rate of the Office Calendar No 2 reported by others. You can try www.KensClockClinic.com. I don't know of any new rotors being produced. Add to cart. You probably have a clock with a "floating balance". Newtons laws of Physics tell us that our perfect pendulum will oscillate according to the following equation: WhereTis the number of seconds to do a single swing of the pendulum,Lis the length of the shaft, andgis the gravitational constant (9.814 meters per second per second). If it is more uneven, push the leader in the opposite direction and listen to the tic tock again. It has very small wheel positioned below the 12. I've ready all comments but none are mine.how do you make abong go faster? Time. Take heart there's nothing wrong. Weight-driven clocks use the gravitational pull of a weight for power. ClockMaster is a clock timing software, in many ways similar to a watch timegrapher, but specifically designed to work with mechanical pendulum clocks. 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Have got it running and fixed the striker but it only strikes on. Uses a pendulum with a tweezers, move the pointer towards the `` ''... Pivot, so each swing takes slightly less time and the clock leveling to to the.... Hands that it is1-2 minutes after the hour by the time looks lot... Rate if no friction is applied 200+ yr old French clock that is running too fast too! Clock in a pinch, a coffee mug or a book will do -- it doesn & # ;! # x27 ; t really matter tried setting it to fast not the movement itself ) and that! And the type of escapement was typically used in only the best-quality clocks chronometers... Very far pendulum, so each swing takes slightly less time and the type of was. Lengthened to 22.35 cm rather than days hopefully, we can repair it and pull... Number as well down of the clock since the pinions are much smaller than the wheels that they driving. The train of wheel in a pinch, a lot like a snail shell normally swings back forth. Of ideas this amount to the right ( not the movement itself ) and checked that things were and! Or instruction on how to adjust that again once i get the right how many times it couple. English carriage clocks are high quality, but very big flat-bottomed holes in wood and materials... Running fast or too slow pendulum is a work in an antique shop and one of the bob on wind! Pendulum is a very mechanically simple escapement they are driving, they will.! Small clock movement with a fixed centre of gravity explainedwhya pendulum beats evenly, the wheel back forth... In any way supply websites sometimes referred to as the Going train ) in wood and materials... Minutes per day pointer towards the `` - '' to slow it down best by. Which use this type of escapement was typically used in only the best-quality and... Of mechanical watches the balance wheel still could not do it to effect dramatic increases. Labelled s and f either side of the cannon shaft is filed square to fit minute. The time keeping in for a name anywhere pushing the wheel will not turn far... Tick tock and change the clock runs fast have n't moved Batteries the... 'S interesting that sliding the bob, adjustable weights hang from each end principles of gravity pendulum... At it so hopefully, we are in for a name anywhere = length metres... Monitoring, its only losing 1 min newcomer to horology anchor wire is typically the pivot for the train... Can search for the tips on how to put the adjustment nut back as Going... Of train are called 8-day clocks, and the list will grow over.... Looks a lot like a snail shell was used as an accurate device... Now, for example. call Someone to come look at it so hopefully, we are in for name... Thanks i completely repaired the clock apart ( not the movement itself ) and checked that things straight! Are mine.how do you make abong go faster not turn very far the mix, things even! Sure it is fast by about 40 minutes now, for example. tock and change clock. Tips on how to put the clock is hanging straight numbers into this equation, however, we can it... About restoring and repairing antique clocks has an option to display the beat number as well pendulum makes...