Bodge job ...or not?

[Solster]

Hi All,

The movement in the photo below was only doing one strike at every hour in the same way as for the half hour. I realised that it was because the toothed arm was not dropping to the hour position at the point it should do as the activating arm was not quite clearing it. I'm thinking this is likely to be due to wear at multiple points and I imagine it would cost a lot of time and money to replace or repair them. So I think there are two simple solutions - either give the activating arm a little extra lift by placing the copper clip as show, or to bend the lug under it up slightly.

My general philosophy regarding 'found' clocks (at least for now) is to get them working again rather than return them to pristine condition. I'm also thinking that the copper is likely to rub through over a relatively short period of time, so a better quality clip would be ideal if possible. In conclusion, I think a tweak of the lug might be better! I respect and enjoy the beauty of old clocks, and don't want to bodge them, so as part of my learning process I'd be really interested to hear whether you think this kind of fix would be considered as such!

Please excuse the incorrect terminology used for the movement parts!

Thanks.

[oldhippy]

This looks like a Smiths strike. Before you go bending anything and I advice you not to. You need to address the two obvious problems that I have circled in red, The one on the strike side and the escape wheel. Striking levers don't tend to wear, sometimes the teeth on the rack can cause problems but on your clock they look fine. I would remove that copper band as that is adding weight which is not needed. Remove all the leavers (the 3 dark blue) let the spring down on the strike side and check for wear in the pivot holes. Tell me what you find and get back. 

[Solster]

Many thanks OH, I think I get the message! Haha. Good point on the extra weight of the copper band, I hadn't considered that. It's very light, but even so. I'll have a go at what you suggest, although I dread to think what it will lead to! The movement has Enfield stamped on it, but I know they were linked with Smiths.

[transporter]

Yes as OH says do not bend anything, that’s the worst thing you can do, it’s a mechanical machine that worked, now you need to find out why it doesn’t. As OH says look for wear around the post holes, you might even find the levers habe no correct lubrication on the posts.

i thorough inspection will expose the fault.