One weight has separated from it chain

by Bonnie Riffle
(Tomah, WI)

I recently received a Herschede Grandfather clock from my brother.


It was working just fine until I when to rewind by lifting one weight. When I did, the weight separated from the chain.

The chain is up in the hole but I am not sure how to get the ring down to again attach the weight. It is the right chain looking at the clock's face.

Is this something a novice can do or do I need to call a repairman?

Thanks,
Bonnie

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Mar 05, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		Chain-slip
by: Chris Berry

Hi Bonnie.
It depends on how handy and confident you are. Yes, a novice can do it, but it takes patience and you have to remove the bonnet, then the hands and dial face in order to get close enough to the movement to do the job. and extra long bread tie shaped into a j-hook will allow you to lift the chain and reposition it on the teeth as long as you do it fro0m the side that is not too short! If you try from the other side, you risk taking the chain completely off the wheel... What you want to do is to lift the chain high enough to create a small "puddle" of extra loops at the top of the wheel. Then use the same tool to lift the chain on the short side of the puddle to let down into the case. if you have done this correctly, the chain will have dropped enough to reattach the weight. Do not attempt to make the weights even with one another until the clock has run for at least 24 hours. This gives you enough play to get them right.
Sep 24, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		rechaining the train
by: Chris Berry

Hi Bonnie.
You can do it yourself, if you can remove the top (bonnet) of the clock. Otherwise the movement has to come out of the clock... If the top comes off, you jest need a long thin piece of wire that will be bent into a small "L" at one end. Fish the wire down to the long side of the chain. carefully catch one of the loops in the chain with the wire and lift, moving the chain over to the short side. Then use the wire to drop the hook end of the chain down through the hole in the seatboard and rehang your weight. Then put the Bonnet back on. Do not be tempted to spray anything into or onto the mechanism of the clock (except compressed air) because it looks dusty. If it looks really bad, it likely needs a professional cleaning as all good clocks do every 5 or so years. Also, every movement has a "lifespan" after which the movement needs an overhaul to get it back to perfect again.

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