Your clock should be cleaned and oiled every 2 1/2
to 3 1/2 years and it is best if you can have a professional
clockmaker do the work. There are many years of training
and experience involved in the making of a good clockmaker.
The next few pages provide only very basic instructions
on the servicing of your clock. If there is not a good
clockmaker in your area you might be able to service it
yourself until you find one.
Removing the mechanism
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The first thing you need to do is wind the weights
to about 5 inches from the top before removing them.
On the newer clocks the weights are marked left, center,
and right. That is as you are facing the clock. Do not
handle the weights with your bare hands. Use either
soft gloves, or a soft cloth. The brass will tarnish
where you touch them with your hands.
Next you will want to remove the pendulum. Again
you should use gloves when possible. The brass
usually has a lacquer coating, but this is thin
and the chemicals from your hands can leave stains.
The pendulum hangs with a hooked end, and just lifts
out of the crutch. BE CAREFUL not to damage the
suspension spring when you are lifting the pendulum.
Many grandfather clocks have some kind of locking
device securing the top of the dial to keep it from
vibrating during shipping. It also keeps the top of
the dial tight against the clock case. As a rule
this is just a screw, but sometimes it is a clip that
just twists to release. This will need to be removed.
Radial dial selectors. Found on some of
the more expensive clocks.
A short metal rod connects from the indicator
to the chime lever. This is held by one screw.
Make a note of where the bracket attaches to the
selector lever so you can reinstall it at the same
location. Usually if you just loosen the screw, the
bracket will slide off the end of the lever.
Next you will remove the bolts that hold the
seat board. Some clocks us one bolt per side while
some clockmakers use two bolts per side. After
the bolts are removed, you will be able to slide
the clock mechanism back about one and a half
inches. This will make it possible to remove
the wooden frame from around the clock dial.
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