Why Your Grandfather Clock Stopped Running
Before assuming the worst, work through the five causes that account for most stopped tall-case clocks.
1. The case is not level
A longcase clock must be level front to back and side to side. Shim the base and re-check with a spirit level on the movement seat board, not the floor.
2. It is out of beat
The tick should be evenly spaced — tick…tock…tick, not tick-tock…tick-tock. Gently swing the pendulum and move the crutch until the beat is even.
3. Weights hung in the wrong order
Weights are usually marked left, center and right. Swapped weights will stop the chime or strike train within a day.
4. Something is touching the pendulum
Chime rods, cables, the door or a stray packing block will kill the swing quietly.
5. It needs cleaning
If the first four are ruled out, the movement needs service. Call us at (214) 779-9792 and we will diagnose it in the home.
When to call a clockmaker
If a clock has stopped, is losing more than a few minutes a week, sounds wrong when it strikes, or has been stored and not run, stop experimenting and have it inspected. Forcing a dry movement is the most expensive mistake a clock owner can make. We are at (214) 779-9792.
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Have a clock question we did not cover?
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