How to Change a Wind-Up Clock to Quartz

Open the front panel of the clock to access its face, or dial. Check how the hands of the clock are secured to the movement and shaft that sticks through the dial. Most hands will be screwed in place with a decorative nut cap. Remove this front nut cap or screw, turning it counterclockwise. Take the hands off the center shaft of the wind-up movement and remove them from the clock.

Turn the clock around and open the back compartment that leads to the wind-up movement. Analyze the corners and sides of the movement to understand how it's attached to the clock. Most wind-up clock movements will be screwed into the clock. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws. Remove the movement through the back of the clock.

Place a circular rubber gasket, which should be included with the quartz movement along with needed screws, washers and supplies, over the shaft of the movement. Put the movement in the back of the clock, with its shaft going through the hole in the dial of the clock. Hold it in place with one hand.

Put a brass washer around the front of the shaft, so that it sits flush against the dial of the clock. Thread a mounting nut down the shaft, turning it clockwise until it rests against the washer and the dial of the clock. This will fix the quartz movement in place.

Put the hole of the clock's hour hand (which is the shorter of the two) on the shaft of the quartz movement. Ensure the hand has the decorated side facing up. Turn the hand around the shaft until its notched hole shape aligns with the shape of that section of the shaft. Place the minute hand onto the shaft of the quartz movement, also aligning its slot's shape with the shape of the movement's shaft.

Screw the cap nut of the quartz movement on top of the shaft, securing it over the minute hand, if you don't want to use a sweeping second hand. If you do want to install a second hand, place an open nut on the shaft against the minute hand, then push the second hand through the nut's hole until it's securely in place.

Move the minute hand clockwise around the dial of the clock. Ensure that it does not touch the hour hand as it makes its rotation. If the two hands do meet, use your hand to bend the minute hand gently away from the hour hand so that it has a clear passage. Set the hands to the correct time of day and close the front casing of the clock.

Place the appropriate-sized battery into the battery slot on the back of the quartz movement. The clock will being operating on its own. Close the back of the clock.