How To Set A Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clock

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Clocks made in the onetime-fashioned tradition require winding in order to operate. Granddaddy clocks are freestanding timepieces of this type, controlled by the fall of weights and the movement of a pendulum in a tall case. Follow these instructions to current of air any type of grandfather clock.

1. one

   Look for the winding points. If your grandfather clock is wound by a crank or a key, it should have one to 3 small holes on the clock face. Nigh commonly, these are located near the 3 (III), the ix (IX), the middle, or anywhere in the lower half of the clock face. If you do not see a pigsty, and your clock did non come with a creepo or primal, see the instructions for chain-wound clocks instead.

2. two

   Obtain a clock crank or primal of the correct size. Newly purchased clocks of this type should come up with a key or crank, only if you lot caused a used clock, or misplaced the winding implement, you tin can find a new one online or from a clockmaker. Open the door protecting the clock confront, and measure the width of each pigsty precisely using a ruler or tape measure with a millimeter scale (mm), or preferably a set of calipers that can measure out in 0.25 mm increments.^[i] Purchase a creepo or primal with this shaft width for safe and easy winding. Yous may wish to buy three or four winding implements in different sizes, in case your measurement was slightly off.

   • Notation: When purchasing a crank, brand sure the length of the shaft is sufficient to raise the crank above the level of the clock easily, so you tin can turn it 360º without dissentious them.^[2]
   • Some manufacturers sell keys in a numbered scale, rather than by shaft width. Withal, there is no single industry-broad scale, so referring to the exact millimeter size is recommended.^[3]

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3. 3

   Use the creepo or key to wind the commencement weight. Gently push button the shaft of the crank or key into whatever one of the winding holes. Information technology should be a snug fit, simply do not force it in. Gently hold the clock face steady with one hand, and use the other to gently plow the crank. Try turning in both directions, and encounter which i moves smoothly; each individual clock winds either clockwise or counterclockwise. One of the long weights lower downward in the clock should ascent as you plow. Stop turning right before the weight touches the wooden "seat board," or when the key no longer hands turns.^[4]

   • If you cannot plough the key hands, or yous exercise not come across a weight moving, check to run across if one of the weights is already at the height. If one or more of the chimes is turned off, the weight responsible for timing that chime will not fall, and does non need to be wound.
   • The weights are typically located above the pendulum. You may or may not demand to open up the lowercase in order to come across them.

4. 4

   Repeat the process for the other winding points. If your clock has more than one weight, it should also take more than one winding bespeak in the clock face. Move the crank or fundamental to the remaining winding points, turning it in each i until every weight is nearly touching the wooden board higher up it.

5. v

   If necessary, make adjustments carefully. Now is a practiced time to check whether the clock is still displaying the correct time. If not, you may physically motility merely the infinitesimal manus to the right time, moving it clockwise only. Always stop at the 12 (XII) and let the clock to strike the hour before standing.^[v] Exercise the aforementioned for other points if the clock chimes at additional times (typically the quarter hours at the three, 6, and nine).

   • There are some clocks that can safely take their infinitesimal hand turned counterclockwise, but practise not risk it unless you are certain. If the infinitesimal hand "resists" attempts to move it clockwise, and tin move smoothly counterclockwise, y'all may have an unusual model that should be adapted counterclockwise.^[6]
   • If your clock is running besides fast or too slow, find the knob or nut at the bottom of the swinging pendulum. Tighten it clockwise in order to slow the clock down, or loosen information technology counterclockwise to speed information technology up.

6. vi

   Wind weekly, or equally necessary. Almost all grandfather clocks are made to run for seven or eight days without winding, so winding them on the aforementioned 24-hour interval each week will ensure that it never stops. If your clock stops earlier its regular winding time, however, you lot may demand to wind it more oftentimes.

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1. 1

   Look for chains hanging next to the weights. Open the door protecting the long, hanging weights in the clock case (not the pendulum). Most clocks have one, two, or three weights, simply there may exist more on unusual models. If you lot see a hanging chain next to each weight, your clock is probably chain-wound.

   • If yous cannot find either a chain or a winding hole in the clock face up, ask someone to aid you look, or consult a professional clockmaker or clock repair shop.

2. two

   Gently pull on one of the chains. Grasp a chain hanging next to a weight that is not at the top of the case. Slowly pull down on the chain and spotter the weight rise. Keep until the weight is almost touching the board at the top of the weight case, or until you cannot move the weight past pulling at the same gentle rate.^[seven]

   • Pull on the chain next to a weight, never the chain the weight is attached to.
   • It does not thing which weight you wind start.

3. iii

   Repeat with the other weights. Each weight has its own concatenation. Gently pull on each of these until the weight associated with it has most touched the lath higher up the weights. Your clock is fully wound in one case all the weights are in the top-most position.

   • Typically, the center weight controls the clock's timekeeping. If other weights are present, they control the hour strike, or the quarter-hour chime.

4. four

   Make adjustments if necessary. Physically rotate the minute paw, non the hour hand, of the clock if you lot need to ready the time. Rotate clockwise unless y'all feel resistance in that direction, and utilise your free hand to steady the clock face up every bit you turn. Be gentle to avoid bending or breaking the clock hand, and stop and look for the clock to strike or time earlier standing to move the hand.

   • A nut on the bottom of the pendulum can be tightened to irksome the clock downwardly, or loosened to speed information technology up. Adjust this if you observe yourself adjusting the time every week or two.

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Add New Question

• Question

  What is the guild of sequence for the weight? My clock doesn't have the left, middle and right letters on the lesser.

  

  The heaviest weight is on the right. Calorie-free weights are in the center and left. On the right side, as you lot are facing the clock, the correct weight usually runs the quarter hr chimes. The other two are for hourly chimes and clock movement.

• Question

  Why won't the pendulum keep swinging?

  

  Is your clock even? If the clock is not on even ground, information technology throws off the pendulum.

• Question

  My clock strikes the incorrect 60 minutes. How do I correct it?

  

  If it is only the number of strikes that is wrong, simply motion the hour hand to match the number of strikes. It is merely held in place by friction, dissimilar the minute mitt which has a hard connection.

• Question

  How do I wind a grandfather clock with no front wind holes on the face?

  

  If there are no holes, it's chain driven from your weights inside. Yous will have to pull the bondage to raise the weights.

• Question

  Tin can someone tell me the order of sequence for the weight? My clock doesn't have the left, middle and correct letters on the bottom.

  

  Heaviest weight on the correct equally you are facing the clock. Low-cal weights center and left. The correct weight usually runs the quarter-hr chimes. The other ii are for hourly chimes and clock movement.

• Question

  What tin I do if my granddad clock is running wearisome?

  

  On the bottom of the pendulum, at that place is a nut. Loosen the nut a little chip to speed it up.

• Question

  How do I wind a grandfather clock if the fundamental just turns but nothing happens?

  

  It sounds similar a broken or unhooked mainspring. Call a clock repair store, as your clock requires service.

• Question

  Can I wind my clock when the pendulum is moving, or should I stop it before winding?

  

  You can wind your clock when the pendulum is moving. It doesn't matter either mode.

• Question

  I accidentally moved the hr hand on my clock, and now it won't keep correct time. What can I exercise?

  

  In that location should be a trip lever. When information technology's pulled, the clock will chime the next 60 minutes and half 60 minutes. Pull it until you reach your desired hour.

• Question

  How would I hang the pendulum?

  

  It depends what type of clock y'all accept. Well-nigh all use a claw and eye organisation, yet. Concord the pendulum and gently claw it into place. Brand certain information technology'south not loose past gently pulling down on it. Permit go of the pendulum and showtime the clock.

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• If you practise not want quarter-60 minutes or hourly chimes, exercise not wind the two weights that control those aspects. Alternatively, look for a lever on the dial or the side of the clock that let y'all to turn off the chime completely or during night hours.

• If your clock has a moon dial gear up within the clock face, you may adjust information technology to the correct moon phase by gently applying pressure level to this minor dial, and moving information technology clockwise. This also applies to other modest dials on your clock face up.^[eight]

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• Do non force the key or crank into the winding points.

• If the key or crank is not turning smoothly or the chains will not pull downward, do not continue. Contact a professional.

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Things You'll Need

• Clock key or creepo

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Commodity Summary X

To wind a grandfather clock, offset by locating the winding points on the face of the clock, which are usually close to the iii, the 9, and the heart. If you don't have a key, measure the openings in millimeters, so purchase a new key online, or from a clockmaker. Side by side, insert the cardinal into the first winding bespeak and rotate it until it no longer turns easily. Then, repeat this procedure with the two other winding points. Finally, check to see if the clock is still displaying the correct time, and make adjustments as necessary. To larn how to air current a chain-wound clock, read on!

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