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Clock Repairing and Cleaning

Of all timekeeping mechanisms, the ordinary household clock has probably passed through the greatest variety of experiences, from that bordering on the mysterious down to those when the watchmaker's apprentice for the first time attempts to make the thing go. How fearfully and wonderfully the clock is made, is now, to him, for the first time a stern reality, a thing which must be conquered and subdued. While the clock, as a rule, is stronger and consequently can withstand the rough handling of an apprentice, his efforts should, however be guided by an experienced hand. When a clock is brought in for repairs the first thing is to examine the movement thoroughly, either before or immediately after removing it from the case, according to the style of clock, and in which position the examination can be best conducted. It, as is sometimes the case, a clock has been running for some time, and is so dirty that a satisfactory examination cannot be made, it should be cleaned, to permit of examining, by the use of gasoline, which will quickly remove the old oil and dirt. If many repairs are necessary, a list of them should be written down on a piece of paper, so that nothing may be overlooked when it comes to doing the actual work of repairing. When examining the movement it should be noticed that all the wheels are free, the depthings correct and the wear on the pivots and pivot holes, which if excessive must be corrected by refinishing the pivot and bushing the holes. Sometimes a new pivot, or perhaps a new arbor will be needed to correct the fault entirely. Having examined the train, the escapement must be carefully scrutinized, as it is here that any slight inaccuracies or wear will be the most detrimental. The pivots of the escapement should fit the hole with only a sufficient amount of play for freedom. Notice if the pallets are pitted even slightly, and if they are it will be necessary to regrind and polish them so as to leave them perfectly smooth. The escapement should be set as close as possible, noting that the drops are equal upon each pallet. Notice the teeth of the escape wheel that they are not bent, a fault very likely to occur with some forms of teeth. Where the crutch strikes, the pendulum rod should be examined, and if worn it must be smoothed off. The crutch itself should fit the rod freely, but without play. If the clock is regulated from the front, and has a slide working along the suspension spring, this slide should fit the spring accurately, so that while there is no binding there is no lost motion. If the action of the striking train is correct each pair of wheels and pinions may be marked by a small dot, so that after the movement is taken apart the pieces may be assembled as before. If it is a spring clock the mainspring must be let down before the movement is taken apart. The above general remarks apply equally well to all kinds of clocks, but in addition to these there are several kinds, a full description of which would be beyond the range of this book, since the matter necessary for a complete description would be sufficient for a separate volume, consequently we must advise that the action of the mechanism be studied until thoroughly understood before attempting to repair any of the more complicated clocks. A great many workmen are content to immerse the parts of the movement in benzine or gasoline (which is about the same thing as usually sold), but the substance, while good for removing the old oil, does not leave the parts in good condition for the preservation of the oil, a very necessary and important thing, sometimes giving trouble even with the greatest possible care.

In the better grades of clocks the same care should be exercised as in cleaning a watch. Have the pivots and pivot holes thoroughly cleaned, if the cleaning is done by benzine, so as to remove every trace of it from them. The mainspring, if the clock has one, must be cleaned and the old and gummy oil removed thoroughly. When a clock is running a noise is sometimes heard which is caused by the coils of the mainspring sticking together on account of the old oil which has become so gummy as to absorb a good portion of its power, and as the spring unwinds, the coils slip upon each other. When the mainspring is mounted in a barrel it should be tested to see that it is true by twirling it upon its arbor. If the test shows it to be untrue, one or both of the holes should be bushed and up-righted. The teeth of the various wheels must be examined to see if any are bent. The depthings must be correct, and this may be tested, by putting the one which is suspected in the plates and by holding a piece of pegwood upon the pinion arbor so as to make it turn quite hard, the correctness of it when the power of the mainspring is on may be judged. In cleaning French or other clocks where the brass is polished and has become tarnished, the brass may be cleaned by using a stiff clock brush moistened in a solution of cyanide of potassium in the proportion of about one ounce of the cyanide to a quart of water. After the brush is moistened dip it in prepared chalk or other good polishing powder, and by brushing the tarnish may be easily removed. Another brush should be at hand which is perfectly dry and clean, with which follow the cyanide brush, for if the solution is too strong, or is left on too long, the action of the cyanide on the brass will be to blacken it, thus the work will be no better than it was before. The teeth of the wheels and the leaves of the pinions, if rough or rusted, should each be carefully polished and cleaned. It is certainly a disgusting sight to see a movement that is well made and polished left covered with finger marks and tarnish which has become so thoroughly fixed as to be very difficult to remove. No workman who is at all worthy of the name of watch or clockmaker should think for a moment of allowing such a job to leave his hands. When putting the movement together, after the various pieces are in place, the top plate may be put on and held loosely in place by a screw or pin in one of the pillars. When the movement is in the case it should be set upon a level place and the escapement adjusted until the beats are equal. After the clock is set up it is to be timed, and if at first there is any great gain, it may be corrected at once, but after it runs for some time with no perceptible variation, it should be allowed to run a longer and longer period of time, until it runs from one winding to another before making an alteration, this being especially so when the motive power is a spring, as these will vary between windings.