VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Radios, Tools, Accessories Clock hands removal

So this question brought me here, and still don’t have an answer I can work with. Seen others ask about removal of the clock hands but the thread inevitably turns toward color or some other tidbit about these cool old windup clocks.

Mine works great, but the hands have rotted to pieces. I have 2 replacements but don’t want to mar the clock in the process. Any of you former askers or current gurus have tips for removing the clock hands without damage? I popped the minute hand cap off, but now stuck on the hour.

1948 Fleetline. Need any more info?

Since no one has responded I will make a comment or two. I've NOT pulled the hands off a clock like yours but on some others I have use a table fork to get under and GENTLY pry one off.....there was also a post some time ago where you could go on Amazon and find a small "tweezer" type tool to pull off the hands on some old Chev truck speedo. They were dirt cheap but I never got one.

Not sure this helps but maybe google and see what happens....never know.

I would contact a local clock repair shop/person . I can't imagine it costing very much .

Thanks for the reply! Actually in lieu of a response here, and absolutely nothing helpful on the internet (it’s almost like outside of this forum, these clocks don’t exist), I stumbled across a small business down in South Carolina (I think) that specializes in old car instrument repair. I thought “what the heck” and emailed them at the address listed on the webpage. Some mystery expert named “Jack” replied, and seemed very familiar with exactly what I was working on. By this time I had already popped the cap holding the minute hand off successfully, using the fork method you mentioned above.

His advice (in case anyone else needs this info) was that the minute hand cap is just a pressed-on fitting, and pops off. The hour hand is originally pressed onto a metal sleeve (silver, with grippy surface on the outside). That sleeve presses onto the hour hand shaft, and should be removed. The replacement needle is designed to press directly onto the shaft. Use care to not damage the hour hand shaft or gear. The reproduction minute hand should be glued onto the groove in the cap using a slow cure super glue or epoxy.

I’m no expert, but almost got this back together now. And if you’re in the area, stop by and say hi to jack at.... um... I’ll have to look up the name of his company and post it later. But he sure seems to know his stuff.

D & M Restoration. http://dandmrestoration.com/

YES, know them very well and while Mike and Diane (D&M) are retired Mike sold the business but still works there. They are just 25 miles from me and I've done business with them since back in the 90"s. The business is in Greenville, S.C. just off interstate.
.....in fact, its time for me to stop by and take them a couple hot dogs.

Well do send them my regards. And maybe some ice cream to finish off that hot dog

Almost got the clock back together and it’s exactly as they said it should be.

Mike

I’m all the way up in Ohio otherwise I’d gladly stop by just to check out their place and say hello.