John Wilding Weight driven alarm clock

[Dave DowdingParticipant @davedowding61101]

The alarm clock will run for 12hrs and then stop or for five minutes and then stop

• Pivots will lean in pivot holes by 5 degrees as per J Wilding instructions in one of his books
• Varied driving weight by up to 1 lb this makes no difference
• The clock only has a light jockey weight as it will not work with the correct weight
• Clock will not beat at less than 37 beats a minute should be 27
• Clock can be driven with light finger pressure on the great wheel with no weight attached
• Unable to find the correct driving rope so have substituted an equivalent. it does not hang up on the driving pulley

Any suggestions great fully received

Kind Regards Dave Dowding

[Dave DowdingParticipant @davedowding61101]

Clock will not consistantly run

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Hi Dave, Try posting your question on "Mad Modder" there does not seem to be a great deal of intrest in clocks on this site, or maybe no one knows the answer to your question !!!!!!

Cheers Derek.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Clock will not beat at less than 37 beats a minute should be 27

I'm no expert on clocks, but that suggests to me there is excessive resistance somewhere in the train. Are all the pivots a 'trattling fit'? Are any gears binding or not perfectly concentric?

Neil

[AJSParticipant @ajs]

Clocks with escapements such as this one uses are very dependant on the driving weight. This means if the weight is increased the clock will tend to run much faster.The effect of lightning the jockey weight will cause this effect. Also the weights on the folio bar should be the correct weight and the beats per minute may be changed by moving them in or out.

When the clock has stopped try gently moving each wheel in turn, starting at the escape wheel,and moving down the train, to discover where the loss of power occurs. It is possible that one particular combination of wheel and pinion tooth.is causing the stoppage.

let us know how you get on.

Alan

[Dave DowdingParticipant @davedowding61101]

Thank to Derek, Neil and Alan for quick replys

• Answer to Derek, Thanks thats a site I did not know about
• Answer to Neil message, pivots are a "rattle fit" but concentricity I had not thought about, I have stood on a chair and shined a "maglight" on them so that I could watch them mesh, they did not seem to bind. All the gears were machined on a Myford and the gears cut and lantern pinions drilled without removing from the lathe until all operations were complete
• Answer to Alan message, weights on the foliot are at the maximium distance and to size according to the drawing. I will try your suggestion of working down from the escape wheel when it is stopped. What I have difficulty in understanding, is the jockey weight weighs 6 oz is this designed to counteract the 4lb weight of the driving weight as a 1oz weight will keep the rope taught
• When it works correctly I will keep this thread informed

[Author]

Posts