How To Resolve Common Timepiece Issues At Home
Can you overwind a watch or clock? Why does my automatic wristwatch need winding?
The truth is that you can’t over-wind your clock or watch. Over-winding is basically a myth.
All automatic timepieces benefit from a manual wind, approximately once per week. Wind until you feel the natural stop.
If we start to lead a more inactive lifestyle, then the need to 'top up' wind on automatic wristwatches can become more apparent
Why isn't my clock running for its expected duration?
If a clock doesn't seem to operate for long enough, you may not be winding it fully
When winding, continue turning until you feel the spring come to a definite stop
If this doesn't solve your issue, bring it in to us for a free health check. It may be in need of a service.
Why does my clock run briefly then stop?
What if your clock only runs for a few minutes then stops? Most times this happens because the clock is not in beat. In beat means that you can hear a steady tick tock, i.e. the time between each tick and tock is evenly spaced.
To determine if your clock is out of beat, start the pendulum swinging and listen carefully. Is the tick and tock steady and rhythmic or does it sound like it is limping?
If your clock is not in beat, there are several things you can try to correct the beat:
If your clock is mounted on a wall by a single fixing, move the bottom of the clock case left or right until the clock sounds in beat
Small pieces of wood or cardboard can be positioned under the feet of mantel clocks or longcases to adjust the case and enable pendulums to swing evenly
Professionals will set the case to be level and adjust the escapement until the clock is in beat. Contact us for further support or ask for a callout
How do I slow my clock down or speed it up?
Timepieces serviced by us have been regulated. However, in extreme weather conditions or over time they can require further regulation at home. Let the piece settle for 24 hours before commencing adjustments. Then we recommend only ever making small adjustments and monitoring over a significant time period: Maybe 24 hours or at least a few hours. Then adjust again. Continue until you have achieved the desired or best possible accuracy.
Pendulum Clocks
These clocks keep time using the swing of a pendulum. Shorter pendulums swing faster than longer ones do. To speed up a clock you must make the effective length of the pendulum shorter; to slow it down, the pendulum length must be longer. There are two main ways to do this:
1. Most pendulums are made up of a long length of wood / steel with a large disc or weight at the bottom called a bob. Just beneath the bob, you will find a time adjustment nut.
To slow down the clock, loosen the adjustment nut (turn it toward your left). The bob will settle lower, making the effective length of the pendulum longer and so the clock will run slower
To speed up the clock, tighten the nut (turn it toward your right). The bob will rise, making the effective length of the pendulum shorter and the clock faster
2. Some French and American mantel clocks have a time-adjustment arbor. This is a square shaft (much smaller than the winding arbors), and is usually located just above the 12 on the dial. It may also be located below the 12 or even below the hand-turning arbor. There is usually a small F (Faster) and S (Slower) printed on either side of the dial. French clocks may have an R (Retard) and A (Advance)
To make the clock go faster, turn the key toward the F (or A)
To make the clock go slower, turn the key toward the S (or R)
Cuckoo Clocks
The bob on most cuckoo clocks is carved to look like a leaf. It is usually held to the stick by friction.
Slide the bob up to go faster (speed up)
Slide the bob down to go slower (lose time)
Anniversary Clocks
Because the pendulum is spinning instead of swinging, the physics are more like those of a figure skater: when the skater’s arms are far from the body, the skater rotates slowly. When the skater pulls their arms in close, the skater rotates rapidly.
On the top of the pendulum is a small disk that is usually marked SF (slower/faster) or RA (retard/advance) with arrows indicating the direction to turn the disk
Turning the disk in the direction of the S forces the weights farther from the centre and the pendulum spins more slowly
Turning the disk in the direction of the F forces the weights closer to the centre and the pendulum swings faster
Watches and Clocks with Balance Wheels
Many watches and some clocks keep time utilising the oscillations of a balance wheel, attached to a fine spring. As the wheel turns, it winds the spring. The wheel can only rotate so far in one direction before the force of the spring overcomes the momentum of the wheel and the wheel then reverses direction.
Shorter springs become wound more quickly and reverse the wheel more quickly. There is usually a small lever close to the balance wheel with markings indicating slower (-) or faster (+)
Move the lever in the appropriate direction. These are usually very small micro-adjustments. The lever moves along the outer coil and changes the effective length of the spring
Why is my clock striking the wrong hour?
When your clock strikes the wrong number of times, your striking sequence is not synchronized with the hands of the clock. Adjust it as follows:
1. Adjusting the Hourly Strike
When your clock strikes, count the number of times it sounds. This is what time your hourly striker is set to
Move the minute hand forwards (clockwise) an hour and whilst the clock is striking again, move the hour hand forwards to match the hour being sounded
Reset the time using the minute hand only to the correct time (hour and minutes) and the strikes should be correct
2. Adjusting the Quarter Strike:
On most clocks, you can simple remove the minute hand which is friction fit. You have to apply pressure on the tube and it will loosen. Once removed, re-install the minute hand at the correct time. From there you can rotate the minute hand to reset the time
Why is my clock chiming the wrong tune on the quarter hours?
When your clock is chiming the wrong tune at the quarter hours, it has likely got out of sequence, which sometimes occurs when it runs out of wind. You can adjust this yourself by following the steps below:
Steps to follow soon.....
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