Vintage Bezel hinge advice please

[clockboy]

I have had a "Mauthe" vintage Westminster clock in for a service. The movement is very dirty but I do not see any issues. However the bezel has come adrift and it appears that originally it was soldered into place. However my soldering skills are not the best and I am worried that the heat will damage the dial. Any advice much appreciated.

 

[oldhippy]

You need to get hold of something that blocks heat, there are many on the market. I used to use a small soldering iron with lead solder and some flux, which would also control the heat, so much better than a sprit lamp. Tricky little job this one.

[clockboy]

Thanks Oldhippy. Will solder be strong enough if you look at the pics there is a large gap either side of the hinge ie its going to need a lot of solder. I think i will need to practice on a scrap bezel. 

[oldhippy]

If done correctly it will be fine.

[clockboy]

OK thanks.

[Lenj]

Hiya,

As Oldhippy said you have a job on your hands there, shame it's a one piece dial..However, with care you maybe able to close that gap a tad, and need to keep the dial cool, easier said than done..

Good luck with that one let us know how it goes..

Len

[clockboy]

UPDATE

Soldering is not my forte to say the least but this one was a real Bug*er. I could get the solder to attach to the hinge but it would not adhere to the dial bezel. I tried three different solders, Solder paste, Electrical solder & geneural use solder. All three attached great apart from the darn dial bezel. I did a internet search and found this issue raised on a USA site where the same problem put down to some dials are zinc and the only solder that works is a solder with tin added. 

So in the end I inserted the hing into the correct position and soldered along the hinge to the bezel could not come adrift. Then (George Daniels will turn in his grave) finished the job with two part epoxy glue to stop any movement. I have attached some pics but they are not that clear sorry !!!

Hinge cleaned

Hinge soldered

 

With epoxy glue

[Lenj]

Well done looks fine, nice clean job..

Len

Edited March 25, 2018 by Lenj

[oldhippy]

That looks a nice clean repair.

The air was blue when I had to do this type of job. The other thing is making sure the dame thing will close and open.  I can remember one such chime every time it struck the hour the litter b****r would open on its own.

[clockboy]

I know its been a long time ago but i finally got around to fixing the door bezel and the clock is running great. I had to make the original hinge longer by attaching a extra pice of brass. I found the best glue was Gorilla glue. Once attached I separated the two parts and so I attached the hinge and bezel with glue and three 1.6mm bolts. Not the best job I have done and a real pity the dial is so damaged and scratched. Anyway job done see vid & pic of hinge fix.

Westminster chime clock.mov

[oldhippy]

To me it sounds as if the chimes are set wrong.

[clockboy]

To me it sounds as if the chimes are set wrong.

I was thinking that too. However the 1/4 1/2 & 3/4 chimes are spot on. The hammers where badly bent & I straightened them to get it sounding correct.


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[oldhippy]

The 1/4 past should go down the scale the same as the last 3/4. 

[clockboy]

The 1/4 past should go down the scale the same as the last 3/4. 

Yes it does I do a vid tomorrow (if time) it is strange the 1/4 is part of the Westminster follows by half of the Westminster chime & the 3/4 is 3/4’s of the Westminster chime. Ironically I did not strip the chiming section I just clean ed in situ


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[clockboy]

Another thought just wondering if one of the hammers is just out of tune

[clockboy]

Ok after some fiddling with the hammers I think I have made it better but not sure if the final Westminster chime sequence is correct. I found the hammers 4 & 5 were lower than 3,2 & 1 and so hammer 4 was giving a bum note. See vids before & after.

before adjustment.mov

After.mov

 

[oldhippy]

The chime is out of sequence. Your second chime of four on the half hour should be the first on the quarter past. That will then make it the last of the three on the quarter too, which is as it should be to be correct.

[clockboy]

Thanks will investigate. I presume I have to adjust the wheel/s that turns to move the hammers. This is a new one one for me

[oldhippy]

If you remove the middle wheel, turn the small wheell by hand so as to watch the hammers,then replace the wheel, see how that goes. You might then need to ajust the top wheel a bit by un-screwing and slightly move.

[clockboy]

Ok I removed the bottom wheel & moved the sequence wheel several times and now the Westminster chime sounds perfect. I will do another vid.
PS Thanks

[clockboy]

Here is the Vid.

PS Sorry to rest of forum this must seem boring.

Sequence wheel adjustment.mov

[oldhippy]

That's right. Just make sure the hammers don't start to lift on any of the warnings.

I hope others watch it. It will help them to learn.

Edited April 16, 2018 by oldhippy

[clockboy]

1 hour ago, oldhippy said:

That's right. Just make sure the hammers don't start to lift on any of the warnings.

I hope others watch it. It will help them to learn.

Thanks oldhippy another piece of this never ending learning curve logged into my tiny brain . 

[Lenj]

Well done-sounds OK now..

Len

 

[Lenj]

Ooops..Should also have said, great job on the door hinge.

Len