Clock Repair - Cleaning and Lubricating Clock Mainsprings 

Finally, a decent demonstration of a mainspring winder.

I'm retired and clocks have become my total obsession. I just love them. Every video you show us is a lesson to my clock repairs. What do I do with these previous clock wrecks? I fix them and restore them as well as I can afford and keep them as my collection. I love puzzles and I consider clocks as 3D puzzles. Thank you for your video postings. Your tutorials are, in my opinion, of high quality and you don't use jargon to explain things, so it's really easy to follow and definitely not boring.

I'm glad you kept the odd spring in the video rather than editing it out or rerecording it. That's interesting to see.

Thanks for the posting. I would encourage everyone using this type of winder on a hole end to use the adjustable clamp and stop that comes with the winder. It alleviates the need to hold the barrel to insert the sleeve and it is a lot safer than doing this operation entirely by hand. It also saves a lot of time!!

Great video! Can you please make 2 videos. 1) Please showing EXACTLY what you are looking at with an old main spring that would make it not worth using again (junk). What are the signs of wearing out? Thanks and I hope to see this video soon! 2) Please show us EXACTLY how to measure out an old main spring so we know how to order the correct new replacement main spring. I would like to make a little suggestion for you too. When you took the barrel fully assembled and you were popping the lid off the barrel by striking it on the back of the vice (11:56 mark of this video) you risk doing damage to the arbor. I'd like to suggest getting a brass hammer like one from Harbor Freight. Lay the hammer on its side and use the flat side as the surface to hit the arbor on. The brass will dent and not risk doing damage to the arbor. Just a suggestion. Again I loved the video!!!

I too dislike reversing the arbor support when changing from loop end to hole end springs. So I made a modification to my Ollie and no longer need to reverse it. I removed the pins in the arbor support, that held the ''runner'' in place, tapped a hole where the pin was and installed a "clamping knob'', that's what ACE hardware calls them. Screw with plastic knob, they have various sizes. I also replaced the 'runner' with one that is 5'' long, rather than 2 1/2'' origional length. I turned the ends with a center drill just as the origional was, 60 deg. female centers. Works great!

lol I love the clock chimes going on the background. 🤣

Very good video with extraordinary clear explanations and sensible safety advises. Thank you!

I am starting my mission to learn clock repair . I have an old 400 day clock made in West Germany that some dear friends gave my mother it has never ran. Broke suspension spring. Anyway finally got the nerve to start tearing it apart this week and I really enjoyed it. I do Marine repair for a living so all of this is all new to me. I want to try and learn clock repair and then move into watch repair . Been watching Watch repair vids and it mesmerizing and tranquil .Just amazes me they get something 80 years old that is dead hasnt worked in 50 years and bring it back to life. Very good video my man and you went slow and methodical. Keep up the good work wish me well on my new journey

First rate video, answers many questions about mainspring winders. I've removed and cleaned several Victrola mainsprings from their barrels, without any winder or other fancy tools ------ I don't recommend it! I need to remove and clean the mainsprings from an older Chelsea Ship's bell clock, which I've sent back to the factory twice, and the time spring still grabs and feels glitchy. I will now try to do it myself, AFTER I've purchased a mainspring winder. Cheerio!

excellent tutorial...Best I've seen...You're a natural teacher...Thank you...

Excellent video! You answered a lot of questions that I had. Thank you so very much!

Very good video on main springs and lube and yes they can be very dangerous thank you

Just what I've been waiting for. Been enjoying your content a great deal, thanks. Especially like your series of the cottage clock...

When I had a barrel like the one you were working on, ''reverse winding square'' I worked on the winder end with the arbor support. I turned the winder until I was looking into the barrel. Then with my gloved left hand, I grabed the barrel from the back side of the winder and held onto it from the bottom of the barrel. The barrel hook can be easily seen when rotated to the top of the winder 12 o'clock position. Then procede as usual. You can easily do this as your winder is mounted on th eleft side of your bench, but you would have to move your banjo. The Seth Thomas 124 has all three barrels with ''reverse arbors''. With this clock I made an arbor to replace the one that came with the clock and it worked great, and have used it with all other 'reverse arbors'

Thank you very much for the great video, learning here.

Great information!!!

That last clock that has the westminster chime I have the same. Needs cleaning dismantle and put back again.

Show the things as it is. Not a planned video. It is natural. Hence a Very good video. Thank you.

What a pretty chime. 🎵

Thank you so much for making this video. As a beginner, it has really helped me a lot.

Great video

I think your video was just great.

Very good video..:) Thank you.

Dear author, where can I buy such a machine?, For example, in Germany. If on Ebay, then what request should I write? What is the name of this machine for unwinding springs?

very good

Very nice sir

Thank you!

Great video with clear explanations. Loved the ending of the video with the sound of that New Haven Striking Clock. Curious to know what model clock that was.

Hi Bracken, Thanks for posting this perfectly video. I’d like to ask you about my mainspring Arbor is an opposite side of the barrel what you show in your sample So please let me know how to get the spring out of the barrel?

What type of Chime tune is playing on that New Haven Tambour? It’s not Westminster but it’s uniquely pretty

UPDATE : I got a spring winder off of ebarf and its very good quality and I got it for a good price . It is similar like yours but parts are missing . This one does not have the hooks and the main arbor that goes into the shaft for the spring is gone. I have about five cups but I think I might have a few missing. I need some help in telling me what is missing and how to use it. These doesnt seem to be a manufacture on it. But it is hell for stout and very well made

Question: in this video you’re using the Keystone light variant oil. On the other videos about the American movement you showed us the Slick 50 One Lube to use for lubricating springs. Do you use one type for barrel one hole springs and another type for open loop end springs?

Just started working on a ST 48R. First time with main spring in a barrel..Video is a great help. Thanks..Do you have a video on the ST 48R or suggest where info can be found? Thanks again..

Excellent video. I'm a mechanic, but an amateur with mechanical clocks. What was the visual signal that you used to say (6:30) the spring mechanism wasn't worth saving?

Thanks for posting. A word of caution though, I have seen the barrel come loose from the gear with the removal method you are using (hitting against a hard surface). Probably more likely with a steel cover but it is still a possibility.

this works good if your using a key with the square end. What about if your key threads onto the arbor. How would you grip this is the spring winder?

very good video, but may i know where is to buy this tools ?

Could it be possible if i placed the quarter main spring in the main clock spring and but the main sclock spring in qauarter one? In westminster chiming kienzle clock Or the no of teeth will not fit the work

That dreaded new Haven triple plate

Hi Sir,, Can you please advise where to buy the Clock Spring (Strike Side) I have Korean made clock which stile side is weak and not striking always nave it’s not turning the gears

When you hold the spring as your winding it down.... if it were to spring out, are the sides sharp enough to cut you? Another reason to be wearing those gloves you keep talking about. 😉

Silly me. I always wound them, bare handed, into spring clamps and/or spring barrels. I have never even seen a main spring winder. I was told that they were a waste of money. The stores that I worked in did everything on the cheap. 😉😁🙄

What is it that keeps the spring from just sliding through the guard where the tail is? 🤔

Can you buy for me 3 new ODO mainspring ?

I didn't realise that dirt and rust could stop a spring working.

Why do you say the spring you removed is garbage?

Куча приблуд по снятию пружины и все ради того, что бы потом растереть по ней грязь старым носком и им же намазать масло. Все делается намного проще - пружина вынимается руками и руками же вставляется обратно. При должном навыке пружина после таких манипуляций сохранит нормальную форму в плоскости и не будет затирать о барабан. А вот мыть пружину нужно начисто и смазывать потом до конца. А на этом видео какое-то рукоблудие.

speaking of safety with springs and showing others safe practise.....is defeated when you use a paper towel to hold barrel gear...perhaps you might edit the video and actually use a glove