400 Day / Anniversary Clock

Paul I had that happen one time to me and if IIRC I moved the fork up slightly higher on the spring. It seemed to me that putting it higher gave it more swing when the verge arm moves from one side to the other.

I don’t mind working on them at all. I generally change the mainspring on all I work on and replace the suspension spring as 99% of them are broke when they come in. Generally I leave the pallets out and I like it to start turning with 1 to 1 1/2 turns or less. I let it run till it stops to see how it reacts. Sometimes you can tell it there is a problem if it stops abruptly. A friend of mine Joe is a expert at working on these clocks will leave the pallets out and he wants his clock to start running with 2 turns or less without the clock being oiled. He will also run the clock for several days with no oil on it. He says a 400 day should run with no oil for many days. I have tried it on a couple and they do run. He says if it doesn’t run without oil you still have a problem.

Hey Paul. one other thing to check with the fork is that it is not too tight or too loose, check it throughout the full pendulum swing to make sure it is not binding, the book is saying ONLY enough clearance to ensure the tines never grip the pin in any position. too loose will lose power, are you going back to the original sus. spring? William

Nice story Paul, but where’s the photos Dewd 😆

This is going to sound like a daft bat question to you clock guys but…….. What’s a 400 day clock, do you only have to wind it every 400 days or replace it after 400 days 😆 Seriously, I have no clue..

Hey Chris,
The movement is mostly mainspring but the secret to it’s long run is the escapement itself. Very little impulse needed with long duration between beats.
When you have a chance google ‘torsion escapement’.
We’re gonna get you hooked on clocks yet!
Bob