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FAQ
FAQ gears Answers for your problem time piece

 

 

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Do you repair clocks and watches?
How often should my clock be oiled?
Why does a clock have to be cleaned and oiled?
My owners’ manual says that I should get my clock professionally cleaned every 5 to 7 years. What does that mean?
Do you always recommend cleaning a clock’s works?


My uncle used to spray WD-40 into his clocks. It seems to me that he had nothing but trouble with them after that.  What do you think?

Do you repair Cuckoo clocks?
Do you repair and service Grandfather clocks?
Do you repair wall clocks, table clocks, and mantle clocks?
What is the oldest clock you have repaired?


Do you ever recommend replacing a worn movement with a brand new one?
Do you repair quartz battery operated clocks?
Do you repair “Big Ben” alarm clocks?
My Grandfather clock will only keep running for 15 – 20 minutes after starting up the pendulum.  What could be wrong with my clock?
Is it necessary to have a clock repairman prepare my Grandfather clock before I move it across town?


After moving my clock into another room to put down new carpet, we put it back where it was.  However, the clock won’t keep running very long.  In addition, the chimes skip sometimes, and are very sluggish.  Also, the striking of the hours is very loud and fast now.  What is wrong?
We moved our clock for new carpeting.  Everything seems to run okay, but only for about 5 days, then it stops.  What can be the matter?
My 30 year old clock has been running fine all these years without any oiling.  The outside weights are now not falling at the same rate as the center weight, and sometimes the chimes do not ring on the quarter hour.  What is going on?
My 23 year old table clock chimes very slowly, and even skips a chime every now and again.  What is going on?
The wooden case of my grandparents’ camel back (tambour) mantle clock is not looking good, although it is running fine.  Can you do anything to improve its appearance?


I have a 1920’s electric mantle clock.  It makes a noise, but the hands don’t move.  Can you repair this?
Do you repair the big tubular chime clocks, including the Herschede tubular chime clocks?
What type of watches can you repair?
Why do you choose to focus on vintage/antique watches?
What common brands would this include?


Where do you get parts, when needed, for these vintage watches?
What is the most common repair needed for these vintage watches?
What other items are commonly repaired on vintage watches to enhance their appeal for daily use or collecting?
Will you consider repairing my modern quartz battery operated watch?


Do you repair clocks and watches?
Yes.  I started my career repairing watches. All the watch instructors kept saying, “you never want to repair clocks – they are so complicated”.  My customers kept asking me, “can you fix my clock?”, so I received professional training in clock repair to meet my customers’ needs.  The majority of my repairs now are clock repairs.  See questions #23 and beyond for watch questions.


How often should my clock be oiled?
Manufacturers recommend oiling every 2 to 3 years, with a professional cleaning every 5 to 7 years.  To get the most years out of your clock’s movement, you should follow this advice.


Why does a clock have to be cleaned and oiled?
The movement or works of a clock is a mechanical device with gears moving in contact with other gears. These gears are made of steel.  These steel axles (pivots) are positioned between two brass plates.  The brass plates are usually coated with lacquer to prevent oxidation (tarnish).  The holes in the brass where the steel axles rotate are NOT covered with lacquer.  Tarnish will form in those areas unless protected by oil.  This tarnish (oxide) breaks off in abrasive particles.  It is like putting sand in a mechanical engine.  These abrasive particles cause both the steel axles and the brass hole to wear out.  The holes become egg shaped, and the gears no longer mesh properly, causing premature friction and wear.  This is what kills a clock movement.

 In addition, the fresh oil acts as a lubricant.  The pendulum of a mechanical clock oscillates anywhere from 3600 beats per hour to over 10,000 beats per hour.  This goes on 24 hours a day, seven days a week for years .Can you imagine running your car or your sewing machine without oiling it? I have seen newer clocks be completely shot in 17 years without oiling. Older clocks will last longer due to thicker brass plates   At any rate, it appears that with proper oiling and cleaning the clock movement will last for 10 additional years,or more.   

  
My owners’ manual says that I should get my clock professionally cleaned every 5 to 7 years. What does that mean?
This refers to ultrasonic cleaning of the movement to remove all of the accumulated abrasive tarnish particles, and to remove old oils that begin to turn to varnish (also abrasive).  This is beyond the spot cleaning that can be done in the house while oiling.  The movement must go back to the shop for this thorough cleaning. Fresh clock oil is then applied in the proper locations. 


Do you always recommend cleaning a clock’s works?
No.  Sometimes too many years have gone by without proper cleaning and oiling.  The accumulated particles and debris are so bad that removing these particles then reveals the worn holes in the brass plate.  The clock which is on its last legs, so to speak, will then not work due to sloppy fit up of mating parts.  I do what I can to get the clock to keep going for a few more years, but the end is in sight for such movements.  Either an overhaul or a replacement of the movement will be required soon (or perhaps right then and there). 

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My uncle used to spray WD-40 into his clocks. It seems to me that he had nothing but trouble with them after that.  What do you think?
Many clock repairmen just turn around and leave when they see that a clock has been sprayed with WD 40 (and its obvious).  This spray leaves a gummy mess all over the movement.  It is on the gear teeth, as well as everywhere else.  This material hardens and gets sticky.  It holds dust and spider webs.  This mess greatly increases friction in the gears, and stops the clock.  It is nearly impossible to remove this gummy mess.  A new movement is usually recommended.  There are about 40 locations in a clock that require the right lubricant – and nothing else is to be lubricated.  You can learn to do this yourself, or pay a clock repairman to do it for you. 


Do you repair Cuckoo clocks?
Yes.  It is one of my specialties.  Many clock repairmen do not do cuckoo clocks because of all the extra animation features – sometimes it is like building a ship in a bottle.  The price ranges vary quite a bit on repair of cuckoo clocks based on whether the clock has two weights or one weight, musical dancers, and other animation.  People don’t realize that the going price for a new cuckoo clock can range from about $300 to over $3,000 dollars.  I sell new cuckoo clocks, too, by the way.  I am a dealer of Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks.


Do you repair and service Grandfather clocks?
Yes.  Grandfather and Grandmother clocks are a large part of my business.  I am an authorized service center for Howard Miller and Ridgeway clocks.  They are the only companies granting service center approval these days.  All other brands have the same movements inside them, so I repair all brands, including antique Tall Clocks.  These clocks require a house call to do properly.  That is why I have a mobile, home service business – to serve the customer. I am amazed at how many other repairmen expect their customers to pick up the entire grandfather clock and take it to their shop!  Amazing!


Do you repair wall clocks, table clocks, and mantle clocks?
Yes – all types, all brands, all ages.


What is the oldest clock you have repaired?
Many circa 1850 have been repaired. The oldest one was a tall clock dating from the late 1700’s – exact dating was impossible, but it had hand-made hands, and painted dial that pre-date the 1800’s.   

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Do you ever recommend replacing a worn movement with a brand new one?
Absolutely! If the movement is totally shot (usually after about 30 years in service on older clocks, and around 20 years on newer clocks), one has the choice of a major overhaul or a replacement movement.  The standard in the business is to give a one year warranty on overhauls (sometimes 2 years –as I do).  This is because replacement bushings can wear out again – sometimes quickly.  On the other hand, a replacement movement will be expected to give the same amount of time in service as the original. In other words, if you got 30 years out of the first one, a replacement would be expected to give 30 years.  If you got 20 years out of the first one, then you can expect to get 20 years out of the replacement one.  The differences have to do with the brass plate thickness of the design of the movement.  You can add years to the replacement’s life if you have it cleaned and oiled as discussed above.  Replacement movements are only a little more expensive than an overhaul, but give you much better return on your investment.

The exception to what I have just said is for the older, heavier thickness brass plate movements (Jauch and Herschede, for example.)  These will last much longer if overhauled, because adequate replacements are not available). 


Do you repair quartz battery operated clocks?
Yes and No.  I can and do repair them.  These clocks are usually low priced (compared to wind up clocks) when purchased.  People often assume that the repair cost is somehow related to the purchase price.  It is not.  The person is then paying for the repairman’s time and talent.  This is not in any way related to what the original purchase price was.  Often, people just scrap these quartz battery operated clocks and buy a new one – such is our throw away society.  Whenever the clock has special meaning to a person, or can’t be replaced, then if they are willing to compensate me properly for my time and talent, then I do make such repairs – with happy customers. 


Do you repair “Big Ben” alarm clocks?
No.  These can be purchased in good working order on e-bay for about $35.  There are special businesses that do repair these clocks.  They usually charge over $400 for a repair.  I can refer you to them, if you have one of these clocks that you want to get repaired.


My Grandfather clock will only keep running for 15 – 20 minutes after starting up the pendulum.  What could be wrong with my clock?
Your clock is most likely out of beat.  That is the time between the tick and the tock.  This could just need an adjustment, or if your clock is older than about 15 years, it probably indicates a worn verge clutch.  This is a common problem.  A house call is required to sort out the problem.  If the verge clutch has to be repaired or replaced, the movement has to come back to the shop for repair – along with cleaning and oiling.  It is also possible, by the way, that power to the time train is inadequate – either from frayed cables or weights in the wrong place.  Again, there is no way of determining the root cause without a house call to investigate.

Sorry, please check back later for the answers to the remaining questions, or Click Here to contact us now for more information.

Is it necessary to have a clock repairman prepare my Grandfather clock before I move it across town?

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After moving my clock into another room to put down new carpet, we put it back where it was.  However, the clock won’t keep running very long.  In addition, the chimes skip sometimes, and are very sluggish.  Also, the striking of the hours is very loud and fast now.  What is wrong?


We moved our clock for new carpeting.  Everything seems to run okay, but only for about 5 days, then it stops.  What can be the matter?


My 30 year old clock has been running fine all these years without any oiling.  The outside weights are now not falling at the same rate as the center weight, and sometimes the chimes do not ring on the quarter hour.  What is going on?


My 23 year old table clock chimes very slowly, and even skips a chime every now and again.  What is going on?


The wooden case of my grandparents’ camel back (tambour) mantle clock is not looking good, although it is running fine.  Can you do anything to improve its appearance?

Back to Top

Sorry, please check back later for the answers to the remaining questions, or Click Here to contact us now for more information.

I have a 1920’s electric mantle clock.  It makes a noise, but the hands don’t move.  Can you repair this?


Do you repair the big tubular chime clocks, including the Herschede tubular chime clocks?


What type of watches can you repair?


Why do you choose to focus on vintage/antique watches?


What common brands would this include?

Back to Top

Sorry, please check back later for the answers to the remaining questions, or Click Here to contact us now for more information.

Where do you get parts, when needed, for these vintage watches?


What is the most common repair needed for these vintage watches?


What other items are commonly repaired on vintage watches to enhance their appeal for daily use or collecting?


Will you consider repairing my modern quartz battery operated watch?

Back to Top

 

 

 

 



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