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Troubleshooting a Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clock

Tempus fugit grandfathers are a generic category of clocks, not a brand name. The Latin phrase means "Time flies" and has adorned the face of grandfather clocks made by scores of different clock makers for more than 200 years. The category broadly comprises pendulum-timed, weight-operated, stand-up floor model clocks that chime every quarter-hour. Most display phases of the moon in addition to the time. All have "Tempus Fugit" conspicuously inscribed in cursive script somewhere on the clock face. While the specifics of tempus fugit grandfathers vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, similarities in the basic design and construction permit some standardized troubleshooting.

Things You'll Need

Needle-nose pliers
Screwdriver

Instructions

Clock Doesn't Chime on Time
- 1
  Remove the minute hand and adjust it if the clock chimes more than one minute before or after the correct time.
- 2
  Stop the pendulum when the clock begins to chime. Note the position of the minute hand and its distance from the correct mark.
- 3
  Rotate the small nut that secures the minute hand counter-clockwise with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Hold the minute hand as you unscrew the nut and remove it from the shaft.
- 4
  Pull the minute hand straight off the shaft.
- 5
  Grip the bushing that surrounds the minute hand mounting hole with the pliers. While holding the bushing so it cannot move, rotate the minute hand forward or backward the distance required to adjust it to the correct time.
- 6
  Reinstall the minute hand on the shaft. It should now be pointing straight at the chime time. If it is not, repeat the above steps. Reinstall the shaft nut and tighten when the minute hand is correctly aligned with the chime time.
- 7
  Restart the pendulum. Use the manufacturer's standard procedure to reset the clock to the correct time.
Clock Does Not Strike Correct Hour
- 8
  Stop the pendulum.
- 9
  Grasp the hour hand only and push it either forward or backward to the correct hour.
- 10
  Move the minute hand in a backward direction only to set it to the correct minute.
- 11
  Restart the pendulum.
Clock Does Not Chime
- 12
  Verify that the clock is not set to run in "Silent Mode." Determine whether the clock is equipped with nighttime chime shutoff.
- 13
  Make sure the three weights are attached to their correct respective cables. Weights are usually labeled "Left," "Right" and "Center" to identify the cable they should be hung on.
- 14
  If the clock offers a variety of chime melodies, try setting it to a different melody and evaluated the results.
Chimes Have Bad Tone
- 15
  Adjust the chime hammer arms so they do not rest on the chime rods nor interfere with each other as they strike. In many grandfather clocks, the chime hammer arms are soft brass and adjustment may be accomplished by gently bending the arms.
- 16
  Bend the arms so they rest approximately 1/8-inch away from the chime rods.
- 17
  Observe the chime hammer arms when they retract before striking. The hammer arms should retract approximately the length of the hammer. Bend the rods to correct the retract distance.
- 18
  Make sure the hammer arms are not too close to the chime rods and bouncing when they strike the chime. Bouncing double strikes muffle the chime sound. Bend the rods back to eliminate double strikes.
Moon Dial Hard to Turn
- 19
  Remove the top side panel, open the side door or remove the rear access panel depending on the make and model of the clock.
- 20
  Locate the click spring on the back of the moon dial. The spring engages with the notches in the sawtooth edge of the dial.
- 21
  Pull the click spring back from the moon dial about 1/2-inch, then let it snap back in place. This should realign the click spring with the dial.
- 22
  Move the minute hand backward three hours if the moon dial is still difficult to turn after realigning the click spring.

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