Turret-Clock-handbook

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Lubricate the... <strong>Clock</strong> movement Leading-off work Motion work Bell hammers and cranks Wire lines Make minor adjustments as necessary Report on any work that needs doing Safety Checks Weight lines Lines made of galvanised steel must be checked carefully. They must be replaced if they are shiny and worn smooth, rusty on the surface or inside, or have sharp prickles on the surface. The standing end of the line is often a place where rust can start and escape notice. Occasionally hemp or fibre ropes are used; these should be checked for fraying; a powdery deposit inside the rope indicates that it needs replacing. Weight line attachment points Must be checked for being secure as beams suffer from rot and beetle attack. This is particularly difficult if an iron eye has been screwed into a beam. If in doubt replace with a ‘U’ bolt round the beam, or an eye bolt all the way through the beam. Pulleys Must be checked for worn pins. This requires the lowering of weights which is a specialist’s job. Only needs doing occasionally, say every five years. Flys Clicks must be checked for wear and security. Where tapered pins are used to secure the fly, these are best replaced with tapered pins with spilt ends that can be splayed apart so that there can be no possibility of the pin coming out and the fly coming off. Barrel clicks Must be checked for wear and security. Suspension spring Must be checked for cracks and rust Bell hammers and check springs Must be checked for security and correct hammer clearance from bell. Bell hammer pull offs Must be checked to ensure they operate correctly, the hammers clearing the bells and their wheels. Also make sure that the pull off securing hook in the wall is secure. [ 22 ]
Dial security The dial’s fixings must be checked visually with binoculars. To check a dial properly is a steeplejack’s job, but a visual examination can reveal potential problems. Cleaning During a maintenance visit cleaning can only involve removal of any excess oil, grease and dirt. It would not cover major work requiring the dismantling of the clock or other parts which would be required in a full overhaul or restoration. Cleaning (wiping down) is best done with rags but dirt in wheel teeth and pinion leaves can be brushed out with a stiff paintbrush. Lubrication Where oil is needed use turret clock oil (available from watch and clock suppliers) or failing that, a straight SAE 30 oil. Engine oils are unsuitable as they are designed for operation at high temperature and pressure and they have many special additives and detergents. Cycle oil and sewing machine oil are too light. Where grease is specified, use an all-weather grease (available from lubrication specialists) or a car grease. <strong>Clock</strong> movement Every rotating pivot is oiled, two drops for small pivots four drops for large ones. Also pivots on levers are oiled. Oiling the escapement is best done by putting several drops of oil on each of the pallet pads and letting the oil distribute over the tips of the wheel teeth. The escape wheel is the only wheel which is oiled in a turret clock as there is a sliding action between the wheel teeth and the pallets. Everywhere a sliding action takes place between two parts, grease need to be applied. Such places include cams and hammer lifting pins. Sometimes a lever which lets off the striking will lift another lever; where the two rub a small amount of grease is needed. A smear of oil or grease on the suspension spring serves to keep rust away. There are parts on the clock which need lubricating but are not as obvious as the pivots on the front of the clock. There are of course all the pivots on the back of the clock as well as places which are hidden from view like the barrel clicks, centres of the great wheels, clicks on the flys, and the flys. DO NOTs DO NOT oil or grease wheel teeth DO NOT oil or grease pinion leaves DO NOT oil the crutch pins (the part which contacts the pendulum) on a gravity escapement, but these may be wiped with an oily rag to prevent rust. Leading-off work and motion work Rotating parts on the motion work and bevel gears all need oiling. Since these parts are usually much more exposed to the weather they need greater care to ensure the clock works properly. Sometimes long leading-off rods are supported by rollers or hangers; these too will need lubrication. [ 23 ]
Page 1 and 2: THE TURRET CLOCK KEEPER’S HANDBOO
Page 3 and 4: THE TURRET CLOCK KEEPER’S HANDBOO
Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS Foreword 6 Turret Clocks
Page 7 and 8: TURRET CLOCKS— A BRIEF HISTORY Wh
Page 9 and 10: hand outside runs through a hole in
Page 11 and 12: motion. Each dial is driven by a le
Page 13 and 14: When working alone in a church towe
Page 15 and 16: There are several different systems
Page 17 and 18: Setting to British Summer Time and
Page 19 and 20: Correcting the striking or chiming
Page 21: TURRET CLOCK MAINTENANCE Turret clo
Page 25 and 26: The Council for the Care of Churche
Page 27 and 28: TURRET CLOCK TERMINOLOGY This secti
Page 29 and 30: Flatbed Becoming popular around 185
Page 31 and 32: Deadbeat Invented in 1675, but not
Page 33 and 34: The four basic types of automatic w
Page 35 and 36: GORDON. G.F.C. Clockmaking Past and
Page 37 and 38: Friction clutch Going train Great w
Page 39 and 40: POSTSCRIPT Dear Turret Clock Keeper
Page 41 and 42: Frames types End to end Birdcage Si

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