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My Grandfather Clock is Not Striking Right

Grandfather clocks have a complex set of inner and outer mechanisms that work together in synchronized order. If a Grandfather clock is not striking right, then it will have to be examined to determine what the problem is. The outer mechanisms of a Grandfather clock include a pendulum, chimes, face and hands. The mechanisms within work to regulate the outer mechanisms, which include the clock face, where the hands strike on the hour to produce a chime sound. If any part of the clock is out of alignment, then the clock will not function properly and the clock will not strike correctly.

Things You'll Need

Small pair of pliers
Clock oil

Instructions

- 1
  Open the back of the Grandfather clock. Use a small pair of pliers to pop open the back and examine the inner mechanisms to see that they are functioning. Look at the spring of the clock to see if it is moving. Oil the spring in the sections where the pivots connect and replace the spring if there is any sign of bad rust or breakage.
- 2
  Examine the gears next. Place a small amount of clock oil onto the gear teeth where the parts of the gears touch. Oil the clock once every 3 years in these sections for maintenance purposes, and to enable the spring and gears to work with less strain on the parts.
- 3
  Close the back case after maintenance inside the clock, so that no dust gets inside. Go to the front of the Grandfather clock and examine the weights. Remove the pendulum from the front, which is the long part that swings with the rounded bottom. Make sure the weights are pulled up and in their proper places.
- 4
  Untangle the weights (which are marked left, right and center) and hang them accordingly if they are twisted. Put the pendulum back on the clock with the shiny side facing front. Move the pendulum to get it swinging by pushing on it in either the left or right direction.
- 5
  Move the pendulum bob up to make the clock run faster and push it down to make the clock run slower. Examine the hands on the grandfather clock to see if they are stuck in place or stuck together. If they are stuck, oil the pivot point where the hands connect to the dial.
- 6
  Move the smaller hand gently counterclockwise and set it on the hour you want the clock to strike. Wind the bigger hand around one time and set in on the "12." Do not overwind. By setting the time after adjusting all the parts, the clock should strike on the hour.

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