Setting Winding Your Clock

Clocks with a pendulum must be level prior to set up. Side to side, and front to back. This applies to wall, mantel and Grandfather/Floor Standing clocks. On antique timepieces the pendulum should only be pushed far enough to “tick.” If the pendulum is pushed too far to one side, it may knock the verge, “out of beat.” This will require adjustments from the clockmaker. There may be charges.

It is a common myth that you can “overwind” a clock. To overwind a clock would mean that a spring is broken or has come loose on its connecting end.

 

Winding your clock: 8 day clocks should be wound, fully (until the key stops), once a week. 1 day/30 hour clocks should be wound, fully (until the key stops), once a day. 31 day clocks may be wound once a month, or for easier winding, once a week. Clocks wind clockwise and counterclockwise. A clock that is not fully wound, will not perform as it should and may lose or gain time, stop and/or your hands may no longer be lined up properly. This is normal for older and antique movements.

Mechanical clocks that wind all the way down and stop may jam. You may not even her a “ticking” sound on these items. This should be prevented. If you will be away from home, and not able to wind it on your normal winding day, stop your clock and start it back upon your return. Modern clock movements will self adjust, but some may still experience running issues and/or stop, if allowed to wind all the way down.

Weight driven clocks. It is important on chain driven clocks (cuckoo and grandfather) not to allow slack in the chain by supporting the weights when winding them. The weights (gravity) are what is holding the chains in place. You may guide the weights up to the top but do not assist them. Allowing slack in the chains can cause them to come off their ratchet wheels and possibly causing the weight to crash to the bottom. There may be additional charges and potential damage to the clock case.

Setting the time: Antique clocks should never be set backwards/counterclockwise. This can break/bend gears/parts. Newer, more modern clock movements may be set clockwise or counterclockwise. Please let us know if you have questions? If your clock strikes/chimes, please always allow the clock to finish, before proceeding forward with the minute hand.

Hour hands are usually friction fitted and should not be moved independently from the minute hand. When advancing the minute hand, the hour hand follows!

Cuckoo clocks should be hung high enough that your chains are off the ground. Otherwise the clock will not run as long as its intended.

The timekeeping on your repaired timepiece may need to be adjusted and is normal for the customer to make final tweeks at home. Older/normally worn clock movements may run up to several minutes off a day and not usually quartz accurate.

Having trouble setting up your floor standing clock that we repaired? We can help! If you live within 30 miles, we offer in-home set up on clocks that we have repaired and offer a 1 year, In-Home limited warranty. Please click on “In-Home/Office Service Call” tab above for more information.