VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories 30 hour windup clock

I stripped and cleaned my clock with electrical solvent. I oiled the clock with synthetic clock oil and it runs fine on the workbench. When i put the clock in the car it only ticks after i give it a shake. The clock does not start by itself after a wind, does anyone know what is wrong? Thanks Paul

Possibly too much oil.

Thanks JYD

had this happened to me after oiling mine and I just gave it a very light blast of air to blow out the excess. just make sure to hold the wheel that rocks back and forth so it doesn't get damaged. worked for me. this was done to a clock bought off fleabay.
later,bill

Thanks Bill

wannchev: How did you make out on your clock.....did you get it working?

Thanks for the interest JYD, still need to remove the clock.

Removed clock from car. Shook clock to start and ran for 7 hours on bench.Cleaned clock with solvent and oiled again with clock oil. Removed mainspring cover and cleaned off gunk ( New Haven clock). Clock ran for 24 hours rear side down on bench. Clock would not start after winding. Clock running vertically on bench. Lets see how long it runs for.

Hope that the clock keeps running. Let us know.

Clock will run the best when placed vertical. Not intended to run in a horizontal position.

Clock still running vertically on bench. Still refuses to start when wound.Mainspring seems to wind down more with each rewind. Maybe the clock must be run in.

You mention that the clock will not start when wound but that it is "still running vertically on the bench". So, if the clock won't start when wound how is it "still running vertically on the bench"? Can you be more specific?

Clock runs on bench when wound and then twisted or rocked by hand to get it going.Been running for some time now on the bench by winding the clock and then twisting it to start ticking. If I hold the clock firmly in the upright position without twisting it when i wind it up it doesnt start ticking. If i hold the clock firmly in the upright position and move the hands back and forth after winding it still doesnt start ticking.

Sounds like you might need to clean the clock again really well and then be very sparse with the oil. Try that and see what happens.

Thanks JYD, hows Mikey and Wimpy doing?

I saw Mikey today and he is doing fine....just as crazy as ever. And, Wimpy has been busy hauling in more old stuff for my collection the past couple of weeks. The local flour mill that was 143 years old burned down in 2015 on Christmas morning so old Wimpy has been bringing up some cool stuff from the old mill. Wimpy has been working fairly steady the last 45 years that I have owned him and he is still going strong.

Thanks for asking!

The Old Mutt