Wells

Clock Repairs

LeaderGeorge
Meeting patternWeekly on Tuesday at 2.00pm
VenueWookey Not currently meeting face-to-face

This is a chance to see how your old clocks work, and learn how, if they have stopped, what you might do for them.

A Group member's thoughts

Quite often when one tells another member of the U3A that you belong to the Clock Repair Group they immediately start talking about a clock they have which does not work! It is most likely a family heirloom from an earlier generation and has had no maintenance for many years. We thought it might be amusing to give you a brief rather oversimplified report on how the maintenance of such a clock could be carried out.

The two tricks that most people will have already tried to get a nonworking clock to function is to add extra lubrication to the mechanism (perhaps a squirt of WD-40 !) and to fully wind up the springs. If this does not work the poor springs are in tension for many years before help comes.

When the clock is finally given some attention the procedure is to remove the clock from its case and to let down the springs in a controlled way to avoid damage to the gears. On inspection the mechanism is probably dirty, the oil having absorbed dirt to form a grinding paste in the pivot holes. The mechanism is then fully dismantled and cleaned and can be laid out as shown in the photograph.

Next the two springs on the left of the picture are obviously ‘tired’ and new ones need to be ordered. Then the two plates (the sheets with holes cut in them) are reassembled with each of the gears in turn to check for wear in the pivot holes. Hardened steel pivots in brass holes in the plates almost certainly will have produced oval holes, the cause of the clock not working. The holes so damaged have small brass bushes fitted and broached out to the original size.

When all this has been done the clock mechanism can be reassembled, no easy task! When complete it can be tested for a week ‘dry’! If it works satisfactorily the clock can be lubricated sparingly and replaced in its case. Hopefully all will be well but frequently further adjustments are needed. More importantly this all takes a good deal of time. That is why repairs done by a clockmaker are very expensive. But the satisfaction to the amateur is very rewarding!!!

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Appreciating Literature Art Appreciation
Astronomy & Cosmology Group Badminton
Bird Watching Book Group 2
Cards for Pleasure Chemistry - Its Effect on Everyday Life
Chess Clock Repairs
Conversational French Current Affairs
Current Affairs 2 Cycling
Digital Photography Easy Rides Cycling Group
En Français Environmental Issues
Geology German Conversation
History (Eastern Civilisation) Italian Conversation
Jazz, Swing & Crooners Local History
Making Music MOTO (Members On Their Own)
Music Appreciation New Science
Opera Group Out & About
Painting for Pleasure Petanque 1
Petanque 2 Play Reading
Poetry Appreciation Reading for Pleasure
Saturday Lunch Group Shakespeare Group
Spanish Conversation Strollers
Sunday Lunch Group Table Tennis
Tai Chi Theatre Group
Visiting Somerset Churches Walking Group 1
Walking Group 2 Wildflower Walks
Wine Appreciation