How To Repair A Colonial Grandfather Clock

BACKGROUND

Just like regular oil changes extend the life of your car'due south engine, regular clock oiling extends the life of your clock. Oiling your clock every two years will forestall expensive clock repairs and ensure that your clock will terminal for the generations to come. Imagine never changing your car's oil; it wouldn't take long for the engine to seize. Without regular oiling your clock will end upwardly requiring a major service, or possibly a new motility. For those interested in learning how to oil a clock, this tutorial will prove you how it is done.

USE THE CORRECT OIL

The most of import thing to remember is to ensure that you only utilise high quality clock oil. Many professionals utilise synthetic oil but there are numerous loftier quality non-constructed clock oils. The main thing to be cognizant of when choosing clock oil is to ensure it is designed to be used in clocks. But similar it'due south non a good thought to melt with motor oil you don't want to oil your clock using the wrong oil. Using substitutes like WD40 can actually impairment your clock's motility.

Remember the aureate rule, "You go what you pay for." There are several websites challenge to sell synthetic clock oil simply actually sell synthetic motor oil. Constructed clock oil is non cheap because it is specifically formulated for the metals used in clocks. Brass and steel are used in clocks because when properly lubricated with the right oil it forms a perfect bearing. Brass is a soft metallic which is why you won't find it in car engines. Using oil designed for hard metals or containing additives like graphite will really cause harm to the brass clock plate and pb to premature aging and wear.

WHAT CLOCKS Can BE OILED?

All mechanical clocks can and should be oiled. However the ease of oiling and frequency of oiling depends upon several factors. The age and type of clock are the main two factors. Most grandfather clocks have access panels on the sides or have the ability to remove the hood which exposes the movement. Modernistic grandfather clocks usually have more than complicated movements which makes reaching all the oil points a little more difficult. Table or mantle clocks accept smaller movements which also makes reaching all the oiling points more complicated.

REMOVE THE CLOCK'South MOVEMENT

By and large, removing the movement from the clock will make oiling easier and we always recommend removing the motility and dial earlier oiling. Because we are experts in antique grandfather clocks, let's talk about an antique granddaddy clock. For the purpose of this article, nosotros are simplifying the procedure. However, the process outlined below should generally describe how to remove most movements.

Beginning, you will need to remove the clock hood. Never effort to remove the hood without at least 1 weight being in place. The hood of most grandfather clocks is removed by sliding it forward. Before sliding the hood forward secure the drinking glass door to forbid it from opening while removing the hood. Next, remove the time side (right) weight and and so remove the pendulum from the crutch. Considering in some grandfather clocks the movement is held in place past the downwards force of the weights, when yous remove the strike side (left) weight the move is susceptible to falling. While yous unhook the concluding weight go along pressure on the weight cable, and so remove the movement.

Afterward removing the hood and weights yous will be able to remove the movement from the clock. Clock movements are generally secured to the clock with screws but many older British grandfather clock movements are non fastened at all. The movement sits on the seat board and the seat lath volition either exist screwed into the clock example or just sits on the case and is held in place by the clock's weights. Once the screws are removed the motion should but lift out of the clock with the clock punch attached.

Once the movement is removed you will remove the clock hands. Remove the nut or pin that holds the hands in place past gently holding the minute hand. In one case the nut or pivot is removed gently remove the minute hand. Sometimes information technology volition stick and a gentle rocking dorsum and forth will loosen the hand and information technology will come up off. Next you will need to remove the hour hand by gently pulling on the base of the manus and again gently rocking it back and forth until it comes off.

HOW TO OIL A CLOCK'Due south Motility

The first pace in oiling or servicing your Granddaddy clock is to make sure yous use latex gloves when handling whatever brass or metal parts. at every phase. There is acid in the oils of our fingers and this acid eats through the sparse layer of lacquer when it comes in contact with brass.

Now that the move is costless from the case yous will observe multiple oil sinks on the surface of each clock plate. Oil sinks are located where the ends of the steel arbor meet the clock plate. In-between the two clock plates are all the clocks gears. These gears are held in place by a steel arbor that is pressed into the clock plate. Equally the gear turn the steel arbor rotates effectually while the clock plate remain stationary.

Without oil friction will eventually crusade the hole in the clock plate to enlarge and become elongated. This happens because brass is a softer metallic than steel and the downwardly forcefulness of gravity will crusade more wear on the bottom side of the clock plate. When the hole that holds the steel arbor in place becomes enlarged the clocks gear will not plow correctly and volition eventually crusade the clock to stop working.

To oil a clock use one drop of oil to each oil sink. It is best to use a clock oiling pen or a bottle with a long needle. This will make it easier to utilise a single drib to each oil sink. Don't try and fill the oil sink, because the oil is held in place by surface tension. If you employ too much oil, the surface tension volition non hold and the oil volition run down the plate, leaving the bearing dry. Repeat the oiling process for all oil sinks on both the clock plates. Don't forget to oil the weight pulleys and the forepart plate posts.

PURCHASE SYNTHETIC CLOCK OIL

TickTockTony sells clock oil that is specially manufactured for clocks. Every order comes with 15cc'due south of high quality constructed clock oil in an oil syringe needle which is pictured in a higher place. The stainless steel needle is three.25" long which allows you lot to utilise oil in tight spaces. To purchase the clock oil using PayPal's secure servers, click the push button below. The kit costs $sixteen.99 plus aircraft. Unfortunately we do not ship exterior the United States.

We accept created the video below showing how to oil a clock's movement. Visit our YouTube channel to sentry more videos. There yous will find numerous tutorials covering topics like how to remove a clock'due south movement from the case, how to remove a clock's dial, and how to suit a clock'due south beat.

Here is our YouTube Channel: TickTockTony

Source: https://ticktocktony.com/Clock-Repair-How-To-Articles/how-to-oil-a-clock.html

Posted by: ruffinappood1968.blogspot.com

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