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Calibrating a Mechanical Clock

A mechanical clock utilizes a mechanical mechanism in order to keep time. The mainspring in a mechanical watch has to be wound from time to time in order to keep the watch calibrated and telling the correct time. Many modern watches aren̵7;t mechanical, but instead are electronic; older watches and clocks, like grandfather clocks, are usually mechanical. Mechanical clocks may also be referred to as ̶0;wind-up clocks,̶1; because of the spring and mechanism inside the clock.

Instructions

- 1
  Move the minute hand clockwise to set the clock to the correct time. Make sure not to move the hour hand, which could damage the clock internally.
- 2
  Watch the clock over one week̵7;s time to see if it̵7;s running too slowly or too fast. Keep an eye on the time in comparison to time that is known for sure to be accurate, like a cell phone or the weather channel on TV. If the clock is running too slow or too fast, turn the adjustment nut on the clock to the left to slow it down or turn it to the right to speed it up.
- 3
  Wind the clock. Repeat this every week, on the same day of the week and at approximately the same time. Some mechanical clocks require a clock key in order to wind them.
- 4
  Adjust the clock̵7;s moon dial if the clock has one. The moon dial will keep track of the different phases of the moon. Adjust the moon dial by first finding out the date of the last full moon and then moving the picture of the full moon to that date.

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