Those of you who follow my Instructables probably have noticed that I like to take something old and non-functional and save it from the scrap heap by giving it life once again. I love to frequent flea markets and the challenge of fixing that which others have thought unfixable.
During my outings I'm always on the lookout for an old clock, particularly old alarm clocks and mantle clocks.
Why clocks? First, the mechanical nature of old clocks intrigues me -- I mean they have gears, and sprockets, and springs, and levers -- all sorts of neat stuff that, when working as designed, actually captures the passage of time! Second, except for rare expensive clocks, when an old clock quits working, most people assume it is done for.
What I have learned over the years is an old clock can generally be fixed -- often very easily. And, if it can't be fixed, AND it is of a style that is interesting, it can always be converted to a quartz movement, but I only do that as a last resort.
This Instructable won't make you an expert in clock repair, nor will it cover the details of clock repair, but I will try to go over what I generally find wrong with these old clocks and how I get them running.
During my outings I'm always on the lookout for an old clock, particularly old alarm clocks and mantle clocks.
Why clocks? First, the mechanical nature of old clocks intrigues me -- I mean they have gears, and sprockets, and springs, and levers -- all sorts of neat stuff that, when working as designed, actually captures the passage of time! Second, except for rare expensive clocks, when an old clock quits working, most people assume it is done for.
What I have learned over the years is an old clock can generally be fixed -- often very easily. And, if it can't be fixed, AND it is of a style that is interesting, it can always be converted to a quartz movement, but I only do that as a last resort.
This Instructable won't make you an expert in clock repair, nor will it cover the details of clock repair, but I will try to go over what I generally find wrong with these old clocks and how I get them running.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Misaligned gear trains
The first thing I do when I look at a clock is to look for evidence of damage to the case. If a case is cracked or broken, quite often a gear train has popped loose inside the clock. The clock if the photo below is a good example. It is an old General Electric clock from the '50's, and refused to run when plugged into the wall, On the back of the case was a large crack, indicating it had been dropped. Upon removing the case, I found the set of gears that had popped out of place, popped them back in, and the clock has now been running constantly (and keeping perfect time) for the past 3-4 years.
The case on this clock was plastic, and I fixed the crack (not shown) on the back with super glue. Super glue tends to work well on old plastics. I glue the crack shut, then fill any small gaps with more super glue. If the crack is on the front of the clock housing, I then overfill the crack, sand it smooth, and paint the entire housing. If it is on the back or the bottom, I simply glue the crack.
The case on this clock was plastic, and I fixed the crack (not shown) on the back with super glue. Super glue tends to work well on old plastics. I glue the crack shut, then fill any small gaps with more super glue. If the crack is on the front of the clock housing, I then overfill the crack, sand it smooth, and paint the entire housing. If it is on the back or the bottom, I simply glue the crack.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
The NAWCC that I mentioned above, has a national museum in Washington DC. They have chapters all over the USA, so you can join the national chapter by mail, then join a local chapter...go to meetings,...shows and see a lot of collectors and clocks.!......I would like to add a tip.......many times there is ONE gear that has worn its pivot hole and is out of alignment that prevents the mechanism from working. If you can find this gear, push it back in center and stake it with a small screw in the brass plate, and a repair bushing. You can buy an in expensive kit of repair bushings and screws from many clock repair companies on line. Don't forget to check out local hobby stores who may have the kit and the tools the author suggests.
Thanks again for a great article. Monday I am going to examine all the non working clocks I have........................... and resume my hobby !!!!!
Professional clock makers have a love-hate relationship with the "WD40 mob". Hate because any decent horologist knows that treating a clock in this way does little more than hasten it's decline. Love? because you generate so much work for the professionals once the poor clock has ground to a halt again.
A spray of WD40 will neither clean a clock, nor lubricate it properly. Clocks are not lubricated with light oils, they are lubricated with the heaviest oil you can get away with without compromising the motion and only at the bearings and other selected places - the teeth on the wheels must run dry or they wear rapidly. The only time WD40 would ever be used would be when struggling to dismantle an old, seized mechanism; then it would be immediately cleaned. Proper cleaning requires the complete disassembly of the movement.
A spray of WD40 may get an old clock moving, but what you have applied is not a lubricant, but a cutting oil which mixes with the grit and dust and old dried oil to create a slurry that wears the pivots and their bearing holes with frightening speed. Once a pivot hole has been enlarged enough, no amount of WD40 will ever get that clock moving again. It will require the attentions of a professional to re-bush the clock and clean up the heavily scored pivots. Not a cheap job.
My speciality is watches. The use of the correct oil in the correct place is critical not only for the function of a watch, but also its longevity. The gear teeth must run dry or they will wear like cheese. The pivots must have lubricant or they will score and the lubricant must be applied in such a way that it does not immediately creep away. If I open the back of a watch and the distinctive smell of WD40 wafts in my direction, I will either politely give it back to the owner, or, if pressed, double the price for looking at it because I know there is going to be trouble.
If you don't know how to work on a watch, let me simply say that spraying WD40 in the back is as inappropriate as putting petrol through a diesel engine and your watch will grind to a halt again shortly afterwards.
It's great to get old things going and I'm not trying to be a snobby professional sneering at the amateur - there are a great many gifted amateurs. But, if you are have a clock or watch of great sentimental, or actual value, please do yourself a favour and give it to someone who knows what they are doing if you don't.
Knife141 is clearly an intelligent and resourceful guy, but this article could have been written deliberately to upset clock repairers, it contains so much bad practice and inaccurate information. Persuading an old clock to limp into action is not the same as caring for it.
it will keep the time for a few hours at a time, otherwise it doesnt do anything.
theres a 8 pin chip, a quartz crystal, and there seems to be a variable resistor of some sort too.
it hasnt ever been dropped, and the gears dont seem to be bent or anything, as far as i can tell the clock should be in perfect working order. its strange that its working like this, do you know what could be wrong?