Model Engineer Clock

[bellerophonParticipant @bellerophon]

I have built the above and have been unable to get it to run for more than an hour at best. I have double checked the escapement (the going train is free and correctly aligned) and my local clock repairer suggests a weaker suspension spring or lighter pendulum which helps but doesn’t cure the problem) but the escapement hangs up at different teeth on the escapement wheel.

 

The clock is on a level surface, the wheel is cut to the correct angles – anyone else have this problem or any suggestion as to how to get it going?

[bellerophonParticipant @bellerophon]

Problems getting it to run!!

[keithmartParticipant @keithmart]

The fact that the escape wheel stops at different places suggests that the problem is further back in the chain.

Check the wheels carefully and remove any stiffness in the meshing.

Bear in mind that from the great wheel to the escapement is a very high gear ratio, and it doesn’t take much to stop it.

Regards

Keith

Leeds UK

[bellerophonParticipant @bellerophon]

Many thanks – I’ll try that but it runs very freely!

[bellerophonParticipant @bellerophon]

Keith

 

Thanks for the tip – you were right (as was the original construction article) Model engineers make things too tight! I disconnected the escapement, took the clock apart and put a mixture of Brasso and clock oil in each pivot hole, reassembled the clock and ran it at bottom speed on the lathe for 30 minutes, the cleaned all up and IT WORKS!!

 

Hope anyone else with the problem is helped by this so I’ll post it in the thread

 

[keithmartParticipant @keithmart]

Hi

As I always say,  ’It is easy to make a clock, but, it is a lot harder to make it go!!’

Glad you got it sorted.

regards Keith

Leeds UK

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