Repair and Upkeep (Mostly for weight driven Clocks)

• Problem - My chimes are way too loud or I can barely hear them - The bell hammer can be adjusted by slightly bending the hammer rod. To make the sound softer, you can also cover the bell in plaster or if you would prefer not to hear it at all simply remove the weight governing that particular train.  This is normally the weight to the left if you are standing in front of the clock.  If it is key wound, most of these will have a silencing option that can be activated with the flip of a switch.
• Problem - I need to change the time - Do not try changing the time by moving the hour hand or you may cause damage to the clock.  Never move the minute hand back more than a couple of minutes and not at all past the number 12. When you need to change it an hour or more, the easiest thing to do is stop the clock for the appropriate amount of time.  When moving them forward, remember to let the clock strike the hour as it goes past 12.
• Problem - My clock is not keeping time accurately - You can adjust the pendulum bob to make the clock go faster or slower.   The pendulum bob is the round disk at the end of the pendulum.  There is a nut on the pendulum bob that allows it to be moved up or down. Simply move it up for slower and down for faster.
• Tip - Moving Your Clock - When carrying a grandfather clock make sure that the hinges are at the top and pointing downwards so that if the door opens you don't rip it off the hinges. If this happens it can result in very costly repairs.
• Tip - Winding the weights - When you are winding the weights remember to always leave the weight on the right hand side 4 half an inch lower than the one on the left. If you don't, the strike may not stay in the correct sequence if the clock keeps running after the strike runs out.