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Repair Methodology
Online information resources for adjusting and repairing clock and watch movements; tips and step-by-step instructions
Also see Restoration of Movements for machining services for repair and replacement parts
Adjusting Timepieces
Repair Methods
Online Forums
Calculators
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Adjusting Timepieces (tips and instructions for owners of timepieces)
Repair Methods & Techniques (for the professional)
Clocks - General
Clock Repair Tips, Ticks, & Secrets from Wayne Berry
Notes from the Bench , by David Tarsi, an online clock repair technical journal. Many topics
Basic Repair Hints for the Atmos from Mike's Clock Clinic
Determining which chain to use on a weight driven clock when the chain is missing from Mike's Clock Clinic
How to easily count the teeth in a clock wheel by Harry Gilmore
Atmospheric Suspension Spring Replacement Instructions by Dennis Kaye
The Hermle Floating Balance - Adjusting the Beat & Increasing the Speed from Mike's Clock Clinic
Tips for regulating the Atmos when the adjustment lever is all the way fast or slow from Mike's Clock Clinic
Instructions for installing a Silk Thread Pendulum by Rob Beaver
Some Thoughts on Adjusting Deadbeat Pallets by John C Losch
Chime and Strike Governors in Clocks by Mark Headrick
Alternative Methods to Determine the Correct Pendulum Length for a Clock by Mark Headrick
Modern Grandfather Clock Weights by Mark Headrick
Marine Chronometers from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Alarms of America Mantel Clocks by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 261KB
Escape Wheel Problems by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 193KB
Servicing A Platform by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 273KB
Waterbury Regulator Restoration by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 866KB
French Clock Beat Rates by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 88KB
Identifying A Missing Repeat Pull by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 58KB
In The Can - Servicing the "B" Type Telechron Rotor by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 231KB
The Levers of American Striking Movments by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 672KB
Restauratie van Friese staart en stoelklokken [Repair of Friese Staart and Stoel Clocks] Translate from Dutch
Repairing Cuckoo-clock Music Movements by John Shadle
A Method for Assembly and Accurate Synchronising of American - German - French Striking Clocks and Chiming Clocks by Sylvester A Crowley
400-Day "Anniversary" Clocks , by Steven R Osburn
Cuckoo Clocks , by Steven R Osburn
Spring Driven Pendulum Clocks , by Steven R Osburn
Weight Driven Clocks , by Steven R Osburn
Also see Horological Calculators for pendulum length calculators
Clocks - Mainsprings
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Clock Mainsprings from Mike's Clock Clinic
Punching Mainsprings and Attaching Loops by John C Losch
Hooking Watch and Clock Springs by John C Losch
Some Random Thoughts on Mainsprings by John C Losch
To Find the Length of a Mainspring in a Barrel by John C Losch
Clock Mainsprings by Mark Headrick
Also see Horological Calculators for mainspring length and thickness calculators
Clocks - Bushing and Pivot Polishing
Why Pallets, Pivots, and Bearings Wear by John C Losch
Diagnosing Worn Brass Bushings in a Mechanical Clock by Mark Headrick
About Commercial Bushings by Mark Headrick
Polishing Clock Pivots from dave west clocks
Bushing Clock Plates from dave west clocks
Pivot Polishing Techniques by John C Losch
Burnishing by David LaBounty Adobe Acrobat 393KB
Clocks - Cleaning and Lubricating
Rudimentary cleaning and lubrication of a clock movement for the amateur from Mike's Clock Clinic
Home-made Clock Cleaning Solution from Mike's Clock Clinic
Clock Lubrication by Brian Shaw
Some Thoughts on Choosing and Using Clock Oil by John C Losch
Horological Lubricants , a collection of thoughts from members of the Clocks mailing list
How Lubricants Work by Mark Headrick
Cleaning and Polishing Brass by Mark Headrick
Clock and Watch Lubrication by Mark Headrick
Some Thoughts on [Cleaning] Fluids Used in Horology from Antica Orologeria Lambetlan
Tumbling Your Clock Movements by Ray Marsolek
Clock Movements - Repairing or Replacing Parts
Repairing a broken tooth on the hour wheel of a Longcase clock from dave west clocks
How to Replace a Missing Gathering Pallet by Dave West
Making or Replacing a Rack Tail for a Longcase Clock by Dave West
Repairing a Hoop Wheel by Dave West
Date Wheel Replacement from dave west clocks
Longcase Crutch repair from dave west clocks
Longcase Post Repair from dave west clocks
How to repair a loose or bulging mainspring barrel hook from Mike's Clock Clinic
A procedure for replacing teeth in an electric clock's fiber wheel from Mike's Clock Clinic
Repairing the Strike Rack Mechanism by Mark Headrick
Atmos Suspension Spring Replacement Instructions by Dennis Kaye
Making a Spring Detent for Marine Chronometers by Dewey Clark
Cutting Wheels by Dewey Clark
Making a Balance Staff by Dewey Clark
Making an Escape Wheel by Les Grenz
Making a Replacement Screw by Les Grenz
Making a Compound Rachet by Les Grenz
Retoothing a Mainspring Barrel by Les Grenz
Making Clock Escape Wheels with a Fly Cutter by John Shadle
Repairing Broken Regulator Cogwheels by John Shadle
Making a Strike Lever by John Shadle
Renewing a Longcase Wheel Pivot by Sylvester A Crowley
CNC Machining to Make Clock Parts by Rex Swensen
Watches
Disassembling a Simple Mechanical Watch from Horologie-Suisse, illustrated with drawings Translate from French
Reassembling a Simple Mechanical Watch from Horologie-Suisse, illustrated with drawings Translate from French
Jewels and Pivots from Horologie-Suisse, illustrated with drawings Translate from French
Mounting the Movement in the Case from Horologie-Suisse, illustrated with drawings Translate from French
Mounting the Dial and Hands from Horologie-Suisse, illustrated with drawings Translate from French
Making a Bimetallic Balance by Dewey Clark
How to Clean & Oil a Watch: A Beginners Guide by Kevin James
Watch Refurbishing by Kevin James
Description Of A Watch Movement from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Materials Used In Construction And Repair Of Watches from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair Workshop, Tools, Etc. from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - The Use Of Tools from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Turning from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Making Small Tools from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Cleaning Watches from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Barrels, Fusers, Mainsprings, And Chains from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Depths, Trains Wheels, Etc. from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Escapements from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Balances And Hairsprings, Adjusting And Timing from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Motion Work, Hands, And Dials from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watch Repair - Keyless Work from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Causes Of Stoppage Of Watches from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watches - Conversions And Alterations In Movements from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Repeating Watches, Etc. from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Chronographs, Calendars, Etc. from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace (orig. published 1918)
Watchmaker's Handbook from Waltham Watch Company, Adobe Acrobat 1.6MB
Elgin Bulletin: Balance Poising , Adobe Acrobat 2.0MB
Elgin Bulletin: Balance Truing , Adobe Acrobat 1.7MB
Elgin Bulletin: Cleaning and Oiling Watches , Adobe Acrobat 1.8MB
Elgin Bulletin: Mainsprings , Adobe Acrobat 2.5MB
Restoring a Gruen Curvex by Tom Gref
Fitting Stems and Crowns by Denis Carignan
Removing the Stem by Denis Carignan
Refinishing Watch Hands by Denis Carignan
Straightening Watch Hands by Denis Carignan
Cleaning, Oiling and Checking a Basic Mechanical Watch Movement by Denis Carignan
Removing the Balance Wheel by Denis Carignan
Mainspring and Barrel by Denis Carignan
Truing and Poising the Balance by Denis Carignan
The Watch Jobber's Handybook , A Practical Manual on Cleaning, Repairing and Adjusting [1887] by Paul N Hasluck, transcribed by Oliver Mundy, MS Word 62KB
Untangling a Watch Hairspring by Alice Carpenter
General
Splicing Lathe Belting by Ron Chippeaux
Vigor Electroplating Guide , Adobe Acrobat 12MB
Hardening and Tempering from Antica Orologeria Lambetlan
Also see Chimes and Sounds for chiming sequences, etc.
Calculators for Common Horological Applications (Courtesy of The Horology Source )
Pendulum Length and Beat-Per-Minute Calculators
Pendulum Length and Beats per Hour - if you can count the wheel teeth, you can easily calculate the appropriate length of the pendulum and the beats per hour.
Change in Pendulum Length - is your clock fast or slow? Use this calculator to determine how much to shorten or lengthen the pendulum.
Adjusting Timepieces
Repair Methods
Online Forums
Calculators
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