Clock Regulation
Adjustments for most pendulum clocks.
To adjust speed:
The position of the disk (bob) on the pendulum determines the rate of
speed of your clock.
To speed the clock up - move the bob up by turning the nut to the right
(Your thumb to the right).
To slow the clock down - move the bob down by turning the nut to the left (Your
thumb to the left).
On most pendulums, one complete turn (360 degrees) of the nut below
the bob will change the speed of the clock by 30 seconds in a 24 hour period.
*Note: Unless the bob moves the speed will not change. When moving the nut down make sure the bob stays in contact with the nut. Whenever you adjust the pendulum reset the time. Check the clock again in 24 hours. Continue until the clock is keeping the correct time.
To adjust the hands:
Always use the minute hand to adjust the time. The minute hand is tied
in to the gearing, so as you advance the minute hand the wheels advance. On
almost all modern grandfather clocks the hour hand is only friction fit on its
arbor. When you move it, it slides without changing the hour setting for the
strike. This will cause the hour hand to be out of agreement with the hour
strike. ( Most modern grandfather clocks use either Hermle, Urgos or Kieninger
movements. Where Urgos and Kieninger movements allow the hands to be moved
counter-clockwise, Hermle movements should only have their hands moved
clockwise)
Modern Grandfather movements: 1.Turn off the chime. 2. Advance the minute hand past the next quarter hour and listen for the sound of gears running. 3a. If you hear nothing advance the minute hand to the hour and listen again. If you hear nothing move the minute hand clockwise around the dial until the clock reads the correct time. Turn the chime back on. By the time the minute hand completes an hour cycle around the dial the chime sequence will reset if it is off. 3b. If you hear gears running, after they stop move the minute hand backwards listening as you pass the quarter hours. If you hear gears running let them finish and then continue until the clock reads the correct time.
Antique Grandfather movements: Never move the hour hand unless you know that the movement will allow it. Move the minute hand forward stopping at each quarter hour and allowing the chiming to finish before advancing to the next quarter hour.
(When moving the minute hand always do so slowly being prepared to stop immediately if any resistance is noticed!)
To adjust moon dial:
The moon dial advances one click per day (two for Hershede and most
antiques).
Find a calendar or local newspaper (usually on the weather page) with the phases
of the moon listed for the month.
Find the closest Full or New moon.
Set the moon dial to correspond to the most recent of the two. For a full moon,
center the moon on the dial under the 15. For a new moon, adjust so no moon is
visible . Now advance the moon dial one click for each day that has passed
since (two for Hershede and most antiques).
If you're clock stops:
Many times the problem with a pendulum clock that stops working is that
the clock is out of beat. Most modern movements have a self adjusting verge.
This means that you can very easily correct this issue. If you notice that the
beat of the clock (the tick tock) is not even simply bring the pendulum over to
one side of the case. Back off a hair and release. Let the pendulum swing as
wide as possible and the movement should adjust itself to a perfectly even tick
tock. This assures that optimum power is getting to the pendulum from the
weight.
If you're clock is not striking the proper hour:
The call we get most often is that the clock doesn't strike the proper
number of times for the hour. On modern clocks this is usually due to someone
moving the hour hand to adjust the hour instead of using the minute hand. To
correct this issue simply move the minute hand to the 12 on the dial. Take note
of what hour the clock strikes. Slide the hour hand to the corresponding number.
Then reset the time using the minute hand. (Never force the hands if you feel
any resistance!)
If you're clock is not chiming the proper quarter hour:
On Modern clocks and most Antiques: This is usually due to the minute
hand falling off and being placed back on the square arbor pointing to a
different direction than it was prior to falling off. To correct this issue;
advance the hand around the dial allowing the clock to chime each quarter. When
you hear the clock strike the hour, remove the minute hand and replace it on the
square arbor pointing to the "12" on the dial.
Remember to keep your clock on the proper service schedule!
(3 year intervals)
For a more in-depth explanation of regulating procedures click on the link below to download a Howard Miller owner's manual (the adjustments are the same for most modern movements):