Our cable wound grandfather clock quit working, so I called a clock repair person. We had to wait 3 weeks for him to show up, and then he said it was too old to fix (made in 1987) so we needed to get a new movement. He said he'd put it in for $950.00. I watched your RU-vid videos, ordered a cleaning kit, cleaned it myself, and it's working fine - for less than $40! Thanks so much.
Mr Gold was so great in helping me get my grandfather working again after it was not chiming or striking the hour right for almost 4 months. I was about ready to give up. My sweet husband of 35 years died four years ago and gave this to me on our first anniversary so it is very dear to me. Thank you so much for helping me. I got the kit from you and going to watch this video several times to make sure I do this oiling properly. I will look for and watch all your other videos about GF clocks as well. Thank you sir, you made my day, week, and month!
Since I found your channel today. I am watching every video in detail about the cleaning and repairs of Grandfather Clocks. I along with others I'm sure are very glad to have someone like yourself willing to take the time and teach others and give info on the care and repair of these great timepieces. Thank you so much and keep them coming.
My grandfather just kept having issues even after the fix. I finally replaced both hands with new hands and it is working again. The only problem is the chiming is off by five minutes but I had shoulder surgery and taking the minute hand off and putting it in the correct position is just too difficult when I am down to my non dominate hand. I will get it right eventually doing the procedure you showed me.
What a wonderful site and series of video tutorials for a Grandfather Clock. I am retired and my neighbor asked me if could set up and oil and clean their Grandfather Clock that they have had for over 40 years. I am in no way a clock guy, but I said I would be glad to give it a try!!! Unfortunately, the job was much more involved than just handing the pendulum and weights and winding it up.... After doing that as carelully as I knew how, the clock would only run for for maybe 10 minutes and the chimes would do nothing!!!! The wife said she "used to oil" her grandfather clock, but had not in years..... Fortunately, I found these well done videos and they gave me the confidence to remove the works and attempt a thorough cleaning and oiling... I found lots of gunked up oil and dust in the works that was pretty sticky to say the least!!!! An email to "my Bench Jeweler" was promptly answered with great suggestions... I ended up getting instruction on how to carefully clean with oderless mineral oil... That was a majic cleaner and washed years of old oil, dust, and gunk out!!! I carefully dabbed and dobbed with q-tips that my Bench Jeweler" included in the Clock Kit I purchased from him... after lots of patience, everything was back to clean... I then cleaned the oil wells and oiled each as described in one of the 4 videos on the site.... As soon as the works were reinstalled and the weights hung and the pendulum started, the chimes performed greatly!!! Unfortunately, the clock would still not stay running and would only run about 10 minutes... Another email to "my bench jeweler" was answered quickly with an easy solution!!! He believed the clock was likely out of beat and he told me how to quickly try to reset the beat.... By swinging the pendulum all the way to the ends of travel inside the case and then letting it go... that apparently resets the clock "beat".... The clock has now run for 24 hours and the chimes are beautiful after I adjusted the hammers as described in one of videos!!! Thank goodness for Google and You Tube, but a bigger thank you to "My Bench Jeweler"... He was most patient and helpful and gave me the confidence to try a new skill!!!
Thank you. I watched your three videos on clock cleaning (along with a host of other RU-vid videos on the subject) and purchased your cleaning kit. Today, January 14, 2024, I took the movement which I had earlier removed from the clock and cleaned and oiled it. I took my time and the work progressed without a hitch. Upon completion, I reinstalled the movement, face, weights, and pendulum. The clock now chimes all three tunes and gongs without any problems. Most of my time spent on this project involved watching RU-vid videos and taking notes on the subject before I started anything else. The cleaning and oiling work really is very straight forward. Oh, and I did find using toothpicks would work but the force required to clean old oil out of the "shaft journals" caused the toothpicks to splinter or break. Toothpick wood is too soft for this work.
I can’t believe my step siblings let me have my parents’ grandfather clock. It is a Ridgeway. My father bought it for my mother for their 25th anniversary. My step mom said it stopped working when my father died - just like the song. Come to find out she never kept up with pulling the weights back up. So now that I have it and it works, it was fine but now sounds so off tune! My father repaired organs so it is so bothersome. It probably has never been cleaned. I am so thankful for your videos! I will be ordering your kit soon! I also have two coo coo clocks that don’t work. I have to see if I can find a video on that. What a joy it is to have in my home! Thank you again and we will keep in touch through ordering!
@@rhjgold That is awesome! My clock has just stopped. I moved it over about a foot onto carpet. I even tried moving it back and the pendulum always stops. I think I figured it out. It’s even. I checked that. I believe it has something to do with the middle weight. It looks like it isn’t advancing. I had gloves on and was working with it and it came off the hook. I checked the chain and it slid way up. So when I put the weight back on it was up too high into the cabinet. I have tried to not over wind. Could that middle weight be the problem? It takes care of the minutes right? I figure I’ll just wait until I get the kit to take it apart and look at it. I’ll be ordering it tomorrow. Thanks again for your great videos and sharing your expertise!
My grandfather clock doesn’t seem to be working so I’m going to follow your instructions on cleaning it and get it moving again, can I buy the cleaning kit from you? Delivery to Australia?
Loved you instructional videos regarding oiling a Grandfather clock. Great information. I ordered your kit and will try to attempt oiling my Grandmother clock. I think we might of had service a long time ago, but I believe it's been over 20 years. It's been working, but recently the chimes stopped working. Hoping it just needs cleaning and oiling. I do have another issue that maybe you can help me with. The clock started awhile ago, not chiming the hour correctly, it's one chime less than the actual hour. Any advice would be appreciated.
Yes, can be a simple fix. let's say it's 9 Oclock and your clock chimes 8 times with a careful thumb and first finger gently hold the hour hand and move it back one hour. The hour hand has a tight but slip bushing and you can move it back words without hurting the clock. Let me know how it goes. The Bench Jeweler...
I have a Ridgeway model #226, movement cc1161-853-114 cm, made date 11/15-84. It was not running for about 10 years so I order your oil kit. Chimes work great but it will not stay running. Have you got anything you can help me to get it running.
RHJ - you have some great videos - you should create playlists to group the series videos, such as "How to clean and oil your grandfather clock part 1, 1, 3, and other related groups.
You can use odor-free mineral spirits which should help remove dirt and dust from the movement front and black plates. You should use clock Oil to re-oil the movement. Don't use sewing machine oil 3&1 oils you will need to buy a high grade of oil such as our Red Dragon Clock Oil. Thanks The Bench Jeweler Mike E.
@@rhjgold Thank you so much! I have picked up a clock movement that is rather dusty and was planning on ordering your kit to help. Can a movement be saved if it is covered in a thick dust?
Good day and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. I live in Canada and have a Hermle grandfather clock and the two outer weights (both are wound right to at the top position and no longer come down. The middle weight works fine and we are able to use the clock, but unfortunately this means that we have to wind more frequently can you direct me on where I can find how to fix this please. thank you so much. Lou
Sorry, somehow I missed this message. Most if not all Grandfather clocks run between 7 to 8 days. I choose a day in the week to wind mine back up I picked Sunday mornings. Even though your chime weight and strike weights are not coming down have no effect on the time weight in the middle it should still take 7 days before winding. If it stops sooner then it to has developed problems. We do make a cleaning kit and videos on how to oil your clock but this only works if you didn't let it run too many years without cleaning and oiling. You may have bigger issues with your clock? Is this a chain-driven clock or cable with a wind-up key? Thanks for watching our channel. The Bench Jeweler.
I have a Ridgeway model #226, movement cc1161-853-114 cm, made date 11/15-84. It was not running for about 10 years so I order your oil kit. Chimes work great but it will not stay running. Have you got anything you can help me to get it running. 15:03
@@rhjgold I inherited an Urgos UV6/37. The chiming sequence is very laggard. The hammers free fall. So, i suspect the spring is bone dry and is resisting un-winding: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sDsIg3PqBOc.html&app=desktop.
@@keithgale5913, You just about need a letdown key. The mainsprings have a ratchet on the wind-up side or front. With a letdown tool, you can open each ratch and let the spring down. Never try using a key. Once your springs have no power you can check the gear pivots for bushing play as seen in the cuckoo clock video. Once you have cleaned all the pivots from dirt you can have a much better idea of what might be slowing down the clock. Cleaning and Oiling might do the trick without removing the springs and barrel lids first place to start. You can make a letdown tool but it requires a second key that you can remove the handle from and using a hard piece of wood dowel pin drill a hole and pin the key shank so it can't spin.
Love your videos, and recently purchase your kit to clean and oil my 1982 Ridgeway Grand Father clock. We live in a coastal city where humidity is always an issue. The clock haven’t been serviced since 2011. After removing the movement, two things were observed: #1 the weights are tarnished and the chime bars have surface rust on them. Can these be cleaned.
I have never had much luck polishing brass weights, most are lacquered the chime rods can be cleaned with a bright pad you can buy them from most food stores or auto parts stores. You can try a brass polish compound then respray your brass tubes with clear lacquer you need to remove the lead or steel inserts out before you start.
Thank you for your quick reply. One last question regarding using a bright pad on the chimes. Should I spray the chimes with a lacquer to prevent further rusting?
You could pull the chime rods out and spray them but personally, I would not just clean the rust off them and should be good to go. one last warning or tip be very, very, careful when cleaning them don't bend them clean straight up and down at the top of the rod very thin and they can break off and costly to replace. Do as little as possible to clean them. The Bench Jeweler
I also have an Emperor Mantle clock that I bought as a DIY kit in1977. It hasn’t worked for a couple of years and I just cleaned and oiled it using your kit that I purchased recently. The clock platform cover needs to be replaced (I can supply a photo if required). Do you carry this or know where I can purchase one?
I have a Ridgeway model 145, serial number 1237690, It has been running just fine for the last few years. Recently it has started running for a minute or two, until the paendulum stops. If i do not reset immediately it will not run. The center weight does not seem to be dropping. The two outside weights drop as designed.. So - suggestions as to why the clock stops running??
Facing the front of your clock the far-right weight is your chime weight which chime's on the quarter-hour, half-hour, three-quarter hour, and on the hour. The middleweight is your time weight. and the far left weight is your strike weight which strikes the hour that it's on. If the middleweight stopped so does the chime and strike weight. Is your clock a chain-driven or is it a cable-driven if cable it will have a handle crank to wind all three weights. if chain-driven you will wind the clock by pulling the chains up. If you can open the back of the clock cabinet you will need to look inside at the movement and give me the movement number. If your clock opens on the side only you may need to use a mirror to read the movement number. Be careful not to tip the clock over as it is top-heavy. The Bench Jeweler.
Well, best not to touch your brass weights use cotton gloves. On the brass, I use a lint-free jewelry polishing clothes or you can use a very soft cotton towel be sure to take them off the chain or cables and wipe them clean. If they are really bad or tarnished you can try making a lemon backing soda paste rubbing them lightly and wiping clean. Try this on the bottom of the weight first always use caution. 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a tiny bit of soda. They make a brass cleaner to but I don't like using it. The Bench Jeweler
I am doomed on my clock, a friend lubed it with ISO 32 hydraulic oil now everything is too sticky to work. Now I have to very carefully dismantle it and clean every piece in an ultrasonic cleaner which I do have. Tedious...
It's sad but people have used all kinds of oils and sprays that over a small period of time not only gum up the works or movement but cause real damage to the bushing plates and gears. You can use plain odorless mineral spirits if you have an ultrasonic even better but only clean it for 5 minutes in the tank with no heat, dry with a hairdryer, and then use proper oil to get it back to working condition. The Bench Jeweler.
I think that part 2 is really part 1 and part 3 is part 2 and part 4 is part 3 and there was supposed to be a part 4 installing the clock back into the case which was lost. I believe that was how it was to be numbered. Mike E The Bench Jeweler.
You can use mineral sprites to rinse off the WD40 You can buy a small can of mineral sprites a spray bottle or brush then a hair dryer to dry off the clock. Never use a spray oil of any kind most are cutting oils at best. Clock Oil Only! The Bench Jeweler Mike E.
i recently acquired a grandfather clock with 3 weights; i oiled wirh liberty and greased with mobius after following your video--thanks by the way--when i put the pendulum in motion, it only swings for a minute or two; there is no tic toc sound and the????? does not advance the ?? wheel?; it almost seem like the mechanism is locked; i also attached the minut hand and advanced it manually but as is say..."locked" ??? means i don't know the name... please help ric
Need to know if this is a chain-driven clock or is it cables? Make sure when facing the front of the clock that the heaviest weight is on the right side. Use cotton gloves when handling the brass weights. If it's a cable clock it will have a crank handle. Some clocks have a sweep second hand and minute hand and hour hand does your clock have the sweep second hand if so make sure it's free and not bent dragging on the dial. Remove the pendulum and set it aside that is if you can access the movement from the back, now carefully move the leader from right to left with one finger and listen to see if you can hear the tick-tock if you can see the fork which is connected to the leader watch for the escape wheel movement. Let me know what you see and hear. All of this is very important. There are several newer videos I posted which show how to set the beat of the clock using the leader. The Bench Jeweler
wow quick response.. thks; it is chain driven; no second hands in the works; i removedthe pendulum and moved the leader/crotch but there is no tic/toc whereby the "fork" does not advance the escape wheel; as i mentioned -it seems that the system is "locked"; i have looked at setting the beat video but does not work if the escape wheel is static/still or locked onto the same tooth of the whel.... ric
MISTAKE!!! when i moved the leader (brass arm/crotch) by hand , the escapement wheel did advance; i going to attach the penulum and try to see if the pendulum will advance the wheel... back in 15
You need to set the beat before you do anything else. You can look at one of the "Trouble Shooting Videos" to learn how to do this. With one finger with the pendulum off, then move the leader to the right until you have moved it as far as you can then move it to the center of movement then lightly to the left about 1/4" see if that puts the movement back in beat so the clock is running tick-tock even sound. The Bench Jeweler
Just a couple of observations.. #1 a weighted bag of lead shot, sand etc placed in the bottom of the clock would keep the clock from falling over..#2 although this guy is giving great tips, I would never get him to touch my clock..as he is very rough and haphazard with the customers clock..a bull in a fine china store comes to mind.. lol..that said thank you for the tips..
It's best to fashion to the wall at the top of the clock. Makes easier winding without shaking the clock. The wood cover in the bottom of the clock is made of very thin wood lightly secured so as not to damage the heavy weights in case of one dropping, not too strong for heavy leadbags.
