How can I reattach the weight chain to a longcase clock?
Question:The chain was pulled off by accident.
Answers:
Not easy-- I did the same, lifted the chain off the gear by accident--- was fortunate that the man I bought it from came over and replaced the chain. He worked from the front and blind in the back of the clock face--it took what seemed like a long time. I presumed he mentally "saw" the gear he was trying to use.
He told me later that if he hadn't been able to place the chain he would have needed to return the clock to his shop and take the back off.
good luck
look on the bhi website for a local clock maker, you can do a lot of expensive damage by messing with it yourself.
We are talking "Grandfather" clock...My own is 250 yrs young, keeping perfect time. The case may be in 2 sections, the lower part, covering the weights and pendulum, the upper part covering the 'works'. Give yourself plenty of room, gently slide the upper part forward, and remove it. Now, you will see the works in all thier glory. There are 2 toothed wheels that the chain passes over, on drives the clock, the other the chimes. Down below, you have the weight with a pulley on it. The chain goes from the weight pulley, up and over one toothed wheel. Then, you have a long length which drops to the floor, and goes back up and over the other toothed wheel, then, back down to be joined to the chain at the weight pulley. Thus, the chain is endless, when you wind the clock, the weight lifts. then 'powers' both the clock and the chime.
While you are there, grandad would love a spray of light machine oil NEVER WD40.
Maybe, he will refuse to tick-tock smoothly after you have moved him. Gently, hold the pendulum, move it to the left...TICK...mark where the pendulum is against the back of the case. Move it to the right, and TOCK. mark where the pendulum is. Take the halfway point, and this should be the 'rest' position of the pendulum. If the pendulum is not there at rest, wedge the clock to get it there, then start by swinging the pendulum gently. I have marked my 'grandad' with the rest position, so if ever he is moved for cleaning, then we know where to set it.
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