reasons a clock runs fast

[chaplin37]

What are some of the reasons why a clock runs fast? I have a modern clock made in the last 10 years and it has never been serviced before, bushings look good and ive adjusted the pendulum nut and it still runs fast

[willofiam]

Well, there may be several reasons but the first thing that comes to my mind since you have mentioned it has never been serviced….is that it is gooey and sticky and it is not getting enough power to give the pendulum a full oscillation. It would help to know what type of clock, brand, escapement, ect….William

[chaplin37]

Thanks William, those were my thoughts exactly as I look at the movement it has some hair build up. Im very familiar with why a watch will run fast or slow, but being somewhat new to clocks I figured I would ask.

[disciple_dan]

Hello, everyone. discipledan here.
I have a Gewes mantle clock that I bought on ebay. It was advertised as “for parts” but when I got, it was in very good condition. I disassembled it and cleaned it in an ultrasonic cleaner and found it did not need to be bushed. I had to repair the pendulum rod but only the pin that holds the pendulum to the rod.
I can’t be positive it’s the right pendulum. It looks like it most likely is but I just don’t know how to verify that. I have just about bottomed out the rod nut and it seems to still run fast.
Would a smaller pendulum have a lower center of gravity, therefore slowing the oscillation? I’m going to try to send some pics.
Any ideas would be great.
Thanks, God, bless, Take care,Danny

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by Tamas Richard.

[arutha]

If you dont have the pallet depth set up deep enough the escape wheel can trip through the pallets now and again giving the appearence of gaining time. I cant tell by your picture but if you can see the escape wheel teeth just watch them for a couple of minutes making sure they tick through one at a time. If the suspension spring has been changed for one which is too short this can also cause the clock to run fast but not by much. If this looks ok then it is possible it has the wrong pendulum. How much room do you have between the bottom of the pendulum and the case floor?
Paul.

[disciple_dan]

Hey, Paul. thanks for the info. I’ll look at that. There is only about 1/8 between the rod and floor.
Hey, Paul. I’m just editing my last post since it was just a few minutes ago.
It looks to working great. No skipping. The suspension spring has been reworked.It couldn’t have been any longer though unless the rod is not original either. It’s just about dragging bottom now. It is damaged a little. It’s got a small kink in it. Could that cause it to not make a full swing? the probably wouldn’t even run then, would it? This clock is running great, a little too great. Danny

[arutha]

How much is it gaining per hour or day Danny?

[disciple_dan]

Hello Paul, In about 12 hours it has gained about 6 minutes. I have the pendulum as low as it will go. I checked the escapement, it is not skipping a tooth. I had asked earlier if a smaller bob would lower the center of gravity and slow it down? How does a clock maker design the weight and size of the bob anyway. Can you point me to some info on that so I can have a better understanding?
Thanks, Danny.

[arutha]

Hi Danny,
a good place to learn about pendulums is in Bobs clock repair video, remember the big glass pendulum bob/jar where he was tipping shot into it to slow down the clock and get the rate correct?
I think I am correct in saying yes, a smaller bob will lower the centre of gravity, give it a try and see what happens.
Looking at your picture again it does look like a very large pendulum bob for a timepiece but having never seen one of these clocks before it is possible its correct, but also possible its not!
Paul.

[disciple_dan]

Thanks, Paul, I’ll watch that video again tonight but just from memory, I think Bod said weight is not all that critical. I think you need some weight but not too much. What do you suggest for a makeshift bob? Maybe some large washers?
Danny

[bernie weishapl]

Dan I have seen pendulums this big on German clocks, English clocks and would suspect either the depthing of the pallets on the escape wheel or suspension spring. I would probably suspect the suspension spring more since you said it wasn’t skipping teeth. I am guessing that somewhere down the line the suspension spring has been changed which is more common than you think. If it is not correct it will throw off your timing. If it were mine I would start there. A thinner spring will slow the clock and a thicker spring will make it faster. Good info to remember.

[disciple_dan]

Hello, Bernie. How are you making it on your home repairs? Hope you got it back together the way you wanted it. Or better. That was probably a good time to make those improvements you wanted.
I think you may be right on the suspension. It has been worked on. I can see where it was pinned and soldered to the rod. It does look to be a bit stiff.
How would a man figure out the correct size for that?
These are the things that make me think I can’t get far enough fast enough without proper training. It’s so hard to try to learn from a book. I’m not giving up, though.
Thank,s Bernie, That is what I’m looking at next. Great help.

Paul, I’ll just put a comment for you about the bob on this Gewes. I put a 4.5mm socket on the pendulum rod as the bob. This time, running for 12 hours It was about 4 minutes slow. So, now I have learned something. That gives me a great feeling.
I think Bernie is right about the suspension spring. I am going to try that with the bob that came with the clock. Most likely it is the correct bob with the wrong suspension. I could probably make the clock work if I made a makeshift bob but I want to do things right. Don’t you think I should?
Thanks for all the help. I m very encouraged by it.
Here’s a pic of the socket I used to slow the clock.
God bless, Take care, Danny

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by Tamas Richard.

[disciple_dan]

Hey, Y’all.
I just thought I would give you some dimensions of the rod and pendulum and maybe you will see something that doesn’t look right.
I’m not asking you guys to give me all the correct dimensions, just to help me with the method of finding them.
The spring is 0.002″ thick, 0.330″ Long, and 0.155″ wide.
The rods total length from the center of the support arm to the tip is 4.250″.
The total swing space in the clock housing is 4.375″.
With the bob at the center of its adjustment travel (up / down), it measures 3.250″ from the center of the support arm to the center of the bob. The bob diameter is 1.632″, and it weighs 52 grams or 1.8 ozs.Total, pendulum and rod.

I don’t know how you could get much thinner in the spring without being able to read a newspaper through it.
What would it do to make the spring longer? I would have to shorten the rod and add that length back to the spring. I’m just thinking here.
So, if there is anybody that doesn’t cringe when they see ” by discipe_dan” I could really use your help.
Please help me now so I will be able to help others later. Thanks, Danny.

[disciple_dan]

Just thought I would throw these up there for your viewing pleasure.
This first one is the soldier job. the next one is I think the new hole location. Then this last one I think is the original hole that pinned the spring to the rod. I don’t know for sure, do you?

• This reply was modified 3 years ago by Tamas Richard.

[Bob Tascione]

Hi Danny,
From the looks of those last pics you may not be the first person who had to deal with this issue.
I took a quick look at your post and have to run out so gonna make it fast. Is it possible that the bob is upside down? Some bobs have the weight placed inside at the bottom of the bob so if it’s upside down the weight would be at the top which would cause a rate gain. The slot on the top of the bob looks a bit wider than the slot on the bottom. Can’t really tell from the pic but if that nut might just fit up in that wider slot permitting the bob to drop down lower around the nut the bob would then sit lower in the case. Again just a guess and could be very wrong but thought I would throw it out there before running out, just in case. Might be worth a try.

Ok good luck and adios for now guys!

Bob

[Author]

Posts