Jump to content

Clock not working: any usual suspects?


woodrow

Recommended Posts

I have to say I'm full of questions since joining the forum but I also have to say that all of my questions are answered generously.  That's what makes this forum awesome; the willingness to help. 

 So I have ascertained that because I have a Special Deluxe that is the reason why there is a clock in the dash.  After 71 years of resistance the radio in my car suprisingly still works, but not so lucky with the clock.  I'm never satisfied, it seems, to leave well enough alone. That, coupled with the fact that I am always looking to perfect  what I can, leaves me wanting to make that little clock tick.  I want so bad to take it out of the dash and have a go at it but I've realized by now that somebody on this forum has most likely been there: done that.  So can anyone tell me; is there  anything that I should look for in particular in order to fix the clock  or is it just one of those things whereby it could be just about anything wrong with it.  Thanks in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

usually you need to just clean and lube the movement, clean the contacts and ensure you got a good fuse....if you at all familiar with working clock...walk in the park...if you do not know any of this..not hard to learn but if you have no confidence...remove it and hand it off to someone who can do the work and protect everything.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unfortunately my Meadowbrook does not have a clock but my Cadillac 75 has 2 of them. It was explained to me that when the clock winds down the metal tab attached to the winding mechanism comes into contact with the body of the clock. This creates a short which throws the mechanism back up and keeps it wound. When the car sits for a long time without being run the battery wears down. Even though the battery has voltage the amperage becomes too low to throw the clock mechanism. So it heats up and either fuses the 2 pieces together or creates oxidation (correct me if I’m wrong on that last part) that causes the contact to be unable to throw the mechanism when a new battery is put on. In my case, I took the back cover off of the clock, sprayed it with an electrical cleaner, gently cleaned the contact points where the winding mechanism meets the housing and then gently moved the rocking piece that spins back and forth. I don’t know the technical term for that piece. I hooked a wire to the hot stud and the positive terminal of the battery at my work bench and another wire to one of the outer studs on the clock and the negative terminal. It stopped a couple time so I had to keep moving that spinning piece but soon enough it ran nonstop and once the winding got down to the housing it clicked it back up and kept going. 

 

Edited by 51_Meadowbrook
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had the clock in my 47 Dodge professionally fixed.  It will run for over 24 hours on a bench hooked to a battery.  As soon as I put it in the car it lasts maybe 20 minutes and quits.  Even if just sitting.  I have a good ground and good amps/volts to the clock.  I don't understand it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I clean the contacts in both my 46 and 48 Chryslers years ago and they still work just fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, casper50 said:

I had the clock in my 47 Dodge professionally fixed.  It will run for over 24 hours on a bench hooked to a battery.  As soon as I put it in the car it lasts maybe 20 minutes and quits.  Even if just sitting.  I have a good ground and good amps/volts to the clock.  I don't understand it.

it may be the position it sits.  It may be something rubbing ... one of the hands, or the escapement wheel, or part of the winding mech.  sitting on the bench may allow whatever is rubbing to move slightly thereby removing the rub.  I would start by carefully examining the position of the hands.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, casper50 said:

I set it in the same position on the bench as it sits in the car but I'll take a look at the hands. Tks

Maybe your spring is weak....hooked straight to the battery it gets enough juice to run, wired through the car there maybe enough voltage drop so that it doesn't get enough juice to function properly.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gotta love the click of the clock... points close....clock rewinds....the sounds of old cars.

2nd hand Clock movement.gif

Edited by Dodgeb4ya
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I soldered a diode across the points of my P-15 clock to prevent arcing. It ran well for years and was still running when I sold it. I saw the diode trick in an article in the P-15 Driver newsletter that was available years ago.

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took the clock out today to have a look.  I didn't see anything there that I could possibly or conceivably alter that would result in an operational unit.  I couldn't even get into the area where the gears were.  I was surprised tho that of the 2 wires coming from the unit that one of them was simply for a bulb.  I did put some power to the other wire and grounded the body of the clock just to see if perhaps a little jolt might produce some results but to no avail. I may in fact just do as somebody mentioned; switch to a quartz mechanism.  or just leave it one altogether. I have it back together now and somehow forgot to get one picture of the damn thing! I usually take pictures constantly when I am working on something on one of my cars but totally forgot this time.  oh well, on to the next item.  thx for all the replies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Deleted

Edited by Dodgeb4ya
Link to comment
Share on other sites

At my age Id like a clock that runs backwards... Do they run backward when you change to negative ground ?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Terms of Use