DIY Ship's Clock Repair

[Old No7]

When we graduated from UMass a long time ago, my late parents had gifted me (and each of my 3 brothers) a very nice West German-made brass Ship's Clock that tolls the classic "8 Bells" over a 4-hour "Dog Watch" routine. Mine has faithfully kept time for 43 years -- until this winter -- with only a weekly winding and an occasional wipe of the brass case (outside only). But this winter, the +/- adjustment setting would no longer keep up with it, as it reached the end of its travel.

When I spoke to a few clock repair shops I got comments like "Well, would you run a car for 43 years without any maintenance?" or "You mean you never had it cleaned, ever?!?!" -- and worse of all, the quotes to clean and inspect it ran from $300 to $500, or $350 plus an additional $250 if it had to be sent out to another clock shop. Ouch! I mean, yes it does have sentimental value and I love to hear the chimes (reminds me of Dad -- he had 3 Ship's Clocks around the house when we were kids), but... Ouch $$$!

So -- being a 3rd generation locksmith and an amateur gunsmith, I figured I'd try my attempts at being a clocksmith.

I found the following "DIY Cleaning & Light Lube" protocol on a Clock & Watch repair website -- and luckily, it DID WORK for me. My clock is now back to keeping perfect time and the +/- adjustment is back to where it started many years ago. This is what I did:

* After removing the hands and face plate, the clock's action was removed from the case (this much was done for each step below)

* Then it got a really good cleaning by being sprayed with Gumout, then blown dry with a small 20v blower, and then it ran "dry" for 2 weeks

* Then it was liberally sprayed with WD40, blown dry again and wiped (where you could), and it ran like that for another 2 weeks

* They it got a heavy rinse with Rosonol Lighter Fluid as the last step. I remember when I used to score Benchrest Rifle matches; as all the benchest shooters would use lighter fluid on their very light "2 ounce" triggers and claimed it "Cleans out the dust and leaves a tiny bit of lubricity after drying"

* Finally, it was reassembled for the last time, adjusted for the +/- setting after yet another week, and now it's keeping time again

I have to say this...
So you might think there's a lot of small precision-made parts in a lock, or a levergun or a carbureator? Go ahead, take a clock apart sometime, or just take it out of the case like I did and take a good look -- yikes! The plethora of small, finely-made parts all made to very precise dimensions is overwhelming! I'm in awe that someone had designed and built the mechanism, and am really glad the protocol above worked for me.

By the way, if there are any clock collectors or clocksmiths on this forum, then I'd be curious about your comments...

But at this point, it's pretty hard to argue with success.

Old No7

8 Bells.jpg

[GunnyMack]

My Dad started making grandfather clocks in the 70s. Granted the works were factory made, ready to install and only the wood parts needing assembly. I've since been in the works on a couple of those he did. I stumbled onto lighter fluid for cleaning and have since used it for mechanical cleaning.
You are right, the clock works are a mind boggling collection of gears- just imagine the first people to think of how to do it!

[44shooter]

Congratulations on getting that timepiece working. It saddens me to see stopped mechanical clocks. Most just need a cleaning and reoiling, sometimes a few worn parts replaced

[gamekeeper]

A job well done, one I would be very reluctant to tackle but I am a believer in the magical properties of lighter fuel I always have a can handy for delicate cleaning projects it even works in my Zippo...

[rossim92]

When we graduated from UMass a long time ago, my late parents had gifted me (and each of my 3 brothers) a very nice West German-made brass Ship's Clock that tolls the classic "8 Bells" over a 4-hour "Dog Watch" routine. Mine has faithfully kept time for 43 years -- until this winter -- with only a weekly winding and an occasional wipe of the brass case (outside only). But this winter, the +/- adjustment setting would no longer keep up with it, as it reached the end of its travel.

When I spoke to a few clock repair shops I got comments like "Well, would you run a car for 43 years without any maintenance?" or "You mean you never had it cleaned, ever?!?!" -- and worse of all, the quotes to clean and inspect it ran from $300 to $500, or $350 plus an additional $250 if it had to be sent out to another clock shop. Ouch! I mean, yes it does have sentimental value and I love to hear the chimes (reminds me of Dad -- he had 3 Ship's Clocks around the house when we were kids), but... Ouch $$$!

So -- being a 3rd generation locksmith and an amateur gunsmith, I figured I'd try my attempts at being a clocksmith.

I found the following "DIY Cleaning & Light Lube" protocol on a Clock & Watch repair website -- and luckily, it DID WORK for me. My clock is now back to keeping perfect time and the +/- adjustment is back to where it started many years ago. This is what I did:

* After removing the hands and face plate, the clock's action was removed from the case (this much was done for each step below)

* Then it got a really good cleaning by being sprayed with Gumout, then blown dry with a small 20v blower, and then it ran "dry" for 2 weeks

* Then it was liberally sprayed with WD40, blown dry again and wiped (where you could), and it ran like that for another 2 weeks

* They it got a heavy rinse with Rosonol Lighter Fluid as the last step. I remember when I used to score Benchrest Rifle matches; as all the benchest shooters would use lighter fluid on their very light "2 ounce" triggers and claimed it "Cleans out the dust and leaves a tiny bit of lubricity after drying"

* Finally, it was reassembled for the last time, adjusted for the +/- setting after yet another week, and now it's keeping time again

I have to say this...
So you might think there's a lot of small precision-made parts in a lock, or a levergun or a carbureator? Go ahead, take a clock apart sometime, or just take it out of the case like I did and take a good look -- yikes! The plethora of small, finely-made parts all made to very precise dimensions is overwhelming! I'm in awe that someone had designed and built the mechanism, and am really glad the protocol above worked for me.

By the way, if there are any clock collectors or clocksmiths on this forum, then I'd be curious about your comments...

But at this point, it's pretty hard to argue with success.

Old No7

8 Bells.jpg

can you get a 1969 timex mickey mouse watch ticking again? not sure whats wrong, not sure if its winding up

[Griff]

The worst thing you can do is overwind 'em... I've had my 1930's pocket watch rebuilt several times due my ham-fisted winding. Congrats, I'm intimidated just opening the back of my pocket watch to blow it out once a year. I've often wondered what to use to lube it. Huh? Lighter fluid... Who'd da thunk?

DSCN1600.JPG

[Ji in Hawaii]

WOW, that is extremely cool! My dad was a New England Yankee raised in Worcester, Mass. though he attended UNH on a football scholarship. He loved the ocean, and he loved anything nautical. All through my childhood as far as I could remember there was always a a Seth Thomas brass ship's clock on the wall, and I recall hearing the chimes going off regularly, and my dad winding it up regularly at least until he was in his late 70s. He had it high on a wall which required a step ladder to reach, and my mom told him to stop for his safety, and to preserve her sanity after decades of chimes. I inherited that clock after his passing, and it stayed on the wall of the old homestead for 10 more years before I had to sell the place. Last I knew it was still working, but that was over 25 years ago. I wanted to wind it up back in 2007 when I first moved there, but my wife did not want to hear the chimes 24/7. I can wind the clock, and the chime separately, but I'm a all or nothing kind of guy. I should polish it up at least. You have inspired me to get that old clock out of storage, and at least polish it, and who knows, maybe I'll surprise the wife with chimes. I'm afraid I might break it when winding since it sat for so long.

[Old No7]

Great story Ji! Thanks for sharing!

As for the chimes -- most days, I swear I don't even hear them, and neither does the wife. But it's funny, I miss them when it's not chiming right...

I say TURN ON THE CHIMES and after a few days -- she'll either get used to them, or kill you!

"Ding ding!"

Old No7

[GunnyMack]

You are right No7, after a while you don't hear them chime. At one point I had 3 of dad's grandfather clocks and a Seth Tomas mantle clock going. Any idea how hard it is to get 4 clocks to go off simultaneously? I gave up ...