Instructions for setting up a shelf clock
Setting up a clock is fairly easy and if performed properly will allow your clock to run properly. The following steps need to be taken to properly set up your clock so it will run reliably.
1. Level the clock
In order for a clock to run properly it must be level, both side to side and back to front. When a clock is repaired, it is adjusted to run correctly when it is properly level. Wall clocks can be leveled with a short carpenters level placed on any flat part of the clock. The clock is then shifted on the wall until level and a retaining screw inserted to keep the clock from rocking. Usually there are holes in the back of the clock. If there are none, you might not want to drill a hole in the case and just make sue the clock is level after winding it. I don't recommend putting new holes in antique clocks. l
Shelf and grandfather clocks must be level and set up so they don't rock because they don't fit flush with the shelf or floor they will run poorly if at all. If possible, grandfather clocks should not be placed on a carpet as this will allow the clock to rock and possibly run poorly. To level and remove any rock I recommend that carpenters wood shims, available in any lumber yard or hardware store be used to prop up the short leg and set the clock to a level condition. Leveling and making sure the clock doesn't rock is very important.
2. Pendulum and Weights
Hang the pendulum and if the clock is weight driven, hang the weights. NOTE, if the weight cables are loose, you will probably need to have the clock professionally set up since the dial will have to be removed to correct the cables. Once the pendulum is in place and the weights attached, give the pendulum a small push and the clock should start. Listed to the tick the clock is making. The tick should be even with the same amount of quiet between each tick. If the clock is ticking unevenly, i.e. tick, tick... tick. tick... etc it means the clock is out of beat and should be adjusted be a repair person. If the clock is only slightly out of beat you can tilt one side of the clock or the other (side to side) until the clock is in beat. If it is not too far out of level it will run just fine. NOTE: a properly repaired click should run correctly if it is leveled. If the clock is not level back to front you may hear a slight scraping sound as the pendulum rubs against another part of the clock. The clock will stop almost at once and not run until the rubbing is eliminated.
3. Winding
When winding a clock you use a crank to wind a weight driven clock where the weights are on cables.unless If the weights are on chains then they are just pulled up. Spring driven clocks use a key to wind. If you have lost the key, your repairman can get a replacement. Clocks can have one, two or three places to wind depending on if the clock is time only, time and strike or time, strike and chime (Westminister for example). The clock should be fully would until you feel a sudden large increase in the force needed to turn the key. DO NOT try to give it "just one more click" as this will stress the works, and in the case of French or carriage clocks where the springs are thin, you can actually damage the spring requiring a costly repair and possibly real damage to the clock.
4. Setting the Time
Before we start, I would recommend that the safest way to set a clock, particularly an antique is to not touch the hands at all. Just stop the clock, wait for the time showing on the clock comes around and then re-start the clock. Touching the hands can, if done improperly create problems which will require a visit by the clock doctor. That said, lets move on to actually setting the hands. Generally, you should ONLY move the minute hand. The hour hand will follow along corectly. Many new clocks allow the minute hand to be moved both clock-wise and anti-clock wise with no damage to the clock. Almost ALL older clocks do not. If you are moving the hand only by a few minutes, generally it is ok to move the hand backwards. The only times this does NOT apply is when the hand is being moved past the time the clock strikes or chimes. That means if the clock only strikes the hours you should NOT move the hand between the 12 and 10 positions. If it also strikes the half hour you should not move the hand between the 6 and 4 positions. If it strikes the quarters, you should not move the hand backwards at all. If you are moving the hand clockwise and you pass over one of the times the clock strikes or chimes, pause until the clock is quiet before moving the hand further. Moving the hand while it is chiming or striking can cause problems. Many old clocks can have the strike get out of step with the hour the hour hand. If, for example, the clock strikes 4 when the hour hand is pointing at 3, the strike has to be adjusted. Many older clocks will have a small wire hanging down below the dial to do this. Either pulling or pushing on the wire will cause the clock to strike the next hour. Sone wires are pulled and some are pushed. It depends on the clock. Just keep activating the strike until the strike is synchronized with the time the hour hand is pointing to. If there isn't a wire, the hour hand must be moved until it points to the hour which has struck and then the minute hand moved to set the time. or stop the clock until the correct time comes around and then restart the clock. I do not recommend doing this until you have been trained by a clock repair person since there are some issues too complex to get into here which may occurr.
5. Going Away For an Extended time
If you will not be in a position to wind the clock when needed, it is better to stop the clock and re-start it after you return. If you let the clock run down, it is possible for the strike to become out of step with the time showing on the clock requiring the re-synching of the time and strike. Additionally, on some very delicate movments, allowing the clock to unwind can possibly do damage to the escape wheel which can be very expensive to fix.
1. Level the clock
In order for a clock to run properly it must be level, both side to side and back to front. When a clock is repaired, it is adjusted to run correctly when it is properly level. Wall clocks can be leveled with a short carpenters level placed on any flat part of the clock. The clock is then shifted on the wall until level and a retaining screw inserted to keep the clock from rocking. Usually there are holes in the back of the clock. If there are none, you might not want to drill a hole in the case and just make sue the clock is level after winding it. I don't recommend putting new holes in antique clocks. l
Shelf and grandfather clocks must be level and set up so they don't rock because they don't fit flush with the shelf or floor they will run poorly if at all. If possible, grandfather clocks should not be placed on a carpet as this will allow the clock to rock and possibly run poorly. To level and remove any rock I recommend that carpenters wood shims, available in any lumber yard or hardware store be used to prop up the short leg and set the clock to a level condition. Leveling and making sure the clock doesn't rock is very important.
2. Pendulum and Weights
Hang the pendulum and if the clock is weight driven, hang the weights. NOTE, if the weight cables are loose, you will probably need to have the clock professionally set up since the dial will have to be removed to correct the cables. Once the pendulum is in place and the weights attached, give the pendulum a small push and the clock should start. Listed to the tick the clock is making. The tick should be even with the same amount of quiet between each tick. If the clock is ticking unevenly, i.e. tick, tick... tick. tick... etc it means the clock is out of beat and should be adjusted be a repair person. If the clock is only slightly out of beat you can tilt one side of the clock or the other (side to side) until the clock is in beat. If it is not too far out of level it will run just fine. NOTE: a properly repaired click should run correctly if it is leveled. If the clock is not level back to front you may hear a slight scraping sound as the pendulum rubs against another part of the clock. The clock will stop almost at once and not run until the rubbing is eliminated.
3. Winding
When winding a clock you use a crank to wind a weight driven clock where the weights are on cables.unless If the weights are on chains then they are just pulled up. Spring driven clocks use a key to wind. If you have lost the key, your repairman can get a replacement. Clocks can have one, two or three places to wind depending on if the clock is time only, time and strike or time, strike and chime (Westminister for example). The clock should be fully would until you feel a sudden large increase in the force needed to turn the key. DO NOT try to give it "just one more click" as this will stress the works, and in the case of French or carriage clocks where the springs are thin, you can actually damage the spring requiring a costly repair and possibly real damage to the clock.
4. Setting the Time
Before we start, I would recommend that the safest way to set a clock, particularly an antique is to not touch the hands at all. Just stop the clock, wait for the time showing on the clock comes around and then re-start the clock. Touching the hands can, if done improperly create problems which will require a visit by the clock doctor. That said, lets move on to actually setting the hands. Generally, you should ONLY move the minute hand. The hour hand will follow along corectly. Many new clocks allow the minute hand to be moved both clock-wise and anti-clock wise with no damage to the clock. Almost ALL older clocks do not. If you are moving the hand only by a few minutes, generally it is ok to move the hand backwards. The only times this does NOT apply is when the hand is being moved past the time the clock strikes or chimes. That means if the clock only strikes the hours you should NOT move the hand between the 12 and 10 positions. If it also strikes the half hour you should not move the hand between the 6 and 4 positions. If it strikes the quarters, you should not move the hand backwards at all. If you are moving the hand clockwise and you pass over one of the times the clock strikes or chimes, pause until the clock is quiet before moving the hand further. Moving the hand while it is chiming or striking can cause problems. Many old clocks can have the strike get out of step with the hour the hour hand. If, for example, the clock strikes 4 when the hour hand is pointing at 3, the strike has to be adjusted. Many older clocks will have a small wire hanging down below the dial to do this. Either pulling or pushing on the wire will cause the clock to strike the next hour. Sone wires are pulled and some are pushed. It depends on the clock. Just keep activating the strike until the strike is synchronized with the time the hour hand is pointing to. If there isn't a wire, the hour hand must be moved until it points to the hour which has struck and then the minute hand moved to set the time. or stop the clock until the correct time comes around and then restart the clock. I do not recommend doing this until you have been trained by a clock repair person since there are some issues too complex to get into here which may occurr.
5. Going Away For an Extended time
If you will not be in a position to wind the clock when needed, it is better to stop the clock and re-start it after you return. If you let the clock run down, it is possible for the strike to become out of step with the time showing on the clock requiring the re-synching of the time and strike. Additionally, on some very delicate movments, allowing the clock to unwind can possibly do damage to the escape wheel which can be very expensive to fix.