| Grandfather clocks. Amazing pieces of machinery. | | | | If by some chance you've recently moved your |
| Very few people understand how they work and | | | | grandfather clock (they are very temperamental and |
| even fewer know how to fix one, should something | | | | don't like to be moved), the pendulum may have |
| go wrong. Bringing to a repair shop is going to cost | | | | stopped swinging because the case is now leaning at |
| you an arm and a leg, so if you have a grandfather | | | | a different angle. To fix this you simply have to start |
| clock that's not exactly running up to snuff and you | | | | the pendulum swinging and balance your clock. Don't |
| don't have the bucks to fix it, then you might want | | | | use a level. Continue testing until the swinging sounds |
| to try to tackle the job by yourself. In order to do | | | | more balanced. This requires a good ear and a lot of |
| that, aside from needing some mechanical expertise, | | | | patience. Balancing the clock itself may require you to |
| you're going to need some troubleshooting tips, since | | | | do one of several things. |
| these marvels can get pretty complicated. This article | | | | First you may have to actually place something under |
| is going to cover some of the things to do when | | | | the clock on either the left or right side to get the |
| trying to fix the old man. | | | | pendulum swinging just right. A bracket or shim will |
| Let's start with the most common problem of a | | | | probably do the trick for this. |
| grandfather clock. The pendulum itself stops swinging. | | | | Second, you may have to actually tip the clock itself |
| The first thing you have to do is make sure the | | | | towards the wall so that it is slightly leaning. You |
| clock weights have been pulled up. Sometimes all that | | | | have to be very careful when performing these |
| needs to be done is simply wind the weights. This | | | | tricky manoeuvres. You don't want to tip the clock |
| can really save an unnecessary repair. | | | | too far in either direction or back. The clock may fall |
| Next check the hands. Are they touching each other? | | | | too far off balance and spill to the floor. Trying to |
| If they are this will stop the pendulum from swinging. | | | | catch one of these falling monsters is not easy so |
| If they are touching and the time train is jammed all | | | | care is needed. |
| you need to do is push the hour hand slightly | | | | In the next article in this series we're going to |
| towards the dial in order to clear the minute hand. | | | | continue with troubleshooting techniques to figure out |
| Just make sure it doesn't touch the dial. | | | | just what is wrong with the old man, including running |
| Next, check to see if the hands are touching the | | | | too fast or slow, weights not falling, chimes out of |
| glass. If they are, all you have to do is bend the | | | | sequence and others. By the time we're done your |
| minute hand away from the glass. | | | | grandfather clock should be as good as old. |