Repair Methodology

Online information resources for adjusting and repairing clock and watch movements; tips and step-by-step instructions

Also see Restoration of Dials and Cases for techniques, services, and sources

Also see Restoration of Movements for machining services for repair and replacement parts

• Adjusting Timepieces (tips and instructions for owners of timepieces)
  • Clocks
  • How to set the moon dial on your clock from Brian Loomes
  • How to assemble and set up your pendulum clock from Brian Loomes
  • How to set the calendar dial of your clock from Brian Loomes
  • How to set the moon dial on your clock from Brian Loomes
  • How to set up a Pendulum Clock from Robert Loomes
  • Fault Finder from Robert Loomes, a few simple tips which may help you to get your longcase clock going
  • How to set up a Grandfather Clock from John Shone
  • Care of Old Clocks from antiquesclocks.com
  • How to Repair Clocks
  • Longcase clocks that don't work -- solutions to common problems from Charles Edwin Inc.
  • Vienna Regulator Hanging & Set Up Suggestions by Dave Blackman
  • General notes for the winding and care of clocks by Wealden Clock Repairs
  • Atmos Clock Care and Operating Instructions by Mike's Clock Clinic
  • Placing the Atmos clock "In-Beat" from Mike's Clock Clinic
  • Adjusting the hour hand when the strike does not match the time indicated from Mike's Clock Clinic
  • Owner's Guides to Clocks, Watches, and Barometers by John Locke
  • Antique American Clock Instructions by Pendley's Clock Repair
  • Cuckoo Clock Instructions by Pendley's Clock Repair
  • Chime Clock Instructions by Pendley's Clock Repair
  • Fixing Electric Clocks - You can troubleshoot and repair an electric clock with basic tools
  • Clock Myths by Michael Gainey
  • Kit Cat Clock Service Guide
  • 400 Day Clocks from The Clockworks
  • Weight Driven Clocks from The Clockworks
  • Spring Driven Clocks from The Clockworks
  • Cuckoo Clocks from The Clockworks
  • I overwound my clock, what do I do? by Robin C Nance
  • What way do I turn the key to wind my clock? by Robin C Nance
  • Care of Old Clocks from Siew Cheong Clocks
  • Care and Setup Information for Wood Works Clocks by Don Bruno
  • The Countwheel Striking System by Sylvester A Crowley
  • The Floating Balance by Sylvester A Crowley
  • Setting Up Swedish and Danish Clocks from The Country Gallery Antiques
  • Cuckoo Help and Information from the Black Forest Clock Association
  • How to Set, Regulate and Level a Clock from OPM Trading Post
  • Set Up and Operation of Old Clocks with Paris Movements from Liberty's
  • Set Up and Operation of Cuckoo Clocks from Liberty's
  • Atmos Clock Instructions and Care from Atmos Clock Repair
  • Care and Feeding of Your Early American Clock by Robert Croswell, Adobe Acrobat 1.2MB
  • Dates of Moon Phases from Anthony Gray Clocks, to facilitate the setting of the moon dial found on some clocks
  • Watches
  • Information about the care for your antique pocket watch from PocketWatcher
  • How to open your pocket watch case from PocketWatcher
  • Winding and setting a pocket watch from PocketWatcher
  • Instructions for winding and setting a Key Wind Watch from PocketWatcher
  • How to Set a Lever Set Watch from PocketWatcher
  • How to Open a Watch Case by Kevin James
  • How to Set Time on a Railroad Watch by Time Machine
  • Important Guidance Notes for the Owner of a Lever Escapement Watch by Sylvester A Crowley
  • Basic Guidance Notes for the Owner of Automatic Watches & Chronographs by Sylvester A Crowley
  • How to Wind a Pocket Watch from OPM Trading Post
  • How to care for vintage mechanical watches from watchmaker.net

• 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.

• Online Forums for Repair
  • Clock Repair Forum at the NAWCC
  • ClockForum - the community for wooden works clock builders and aficionados
  • Clockmakers Newsletter Forum
  • Clocksmiths - restricted to those directly involved in the Trade
  • Club Horology - for watchmakers, clockmakers, watch collectors, hobbyists and all people that like watches
  • Horological Tools Forum at the NAWCC
  • Horology for Mini Lathes Group on Yahoo
  • Watch Repair Forum at the NAWCC
  • Watch Repair Group on Yahoo
  • Watchmaking & Repair Forum at timezone.com
  • Watchmaking & Repair Forum at watchuseek.com

• 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.
  • Mainspring Calculators
  • Mainspring Length - if the thickness is known
  • Mainspring Thickness - if the length is known
  • Mainspring Length and Thickness - if you need to change the width of the mainspring
  • Estimated Mainspring Length and Thickness - if the mainspring is lost, you can still calculate what you need.