Tips on How to Properly Care for Your Grandfather Clock
Note: If your clock is a newer model and it’s under warranty, be careful not to do anything to it that may void your agreement. Or, if you still have the instructions, follow them carefully to keep your clock in the best condition.
Placing and Leveling
First, to make sure it can work correctly, and protect its case, choose a location for your tall clock that’s away from fireplaces, heat/air conditioning ducts, strong sunlight and all other sources of heat and cold. Also, choose a dry location.
Second, although they are beautiful pieces of furniture, Grandfather Clocks are tall- they usually measure over six feet tall- and heavy- they can weigh around fifty pounds or more. Their height, in addition to their weights, make them top heavy. If your Grandfather Clock isn’t placed on a level floor in your home, it could spell d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. Besides being unsafe, an unleveled clock can’t work properly. That is, the pendulum won’t be able to move in proper time if it’s leaning in one direction or the other. Use a level to make sure your timepiece is even from side-to-side, as well as from front-to-back.
Here’s a tip on how to properly care for your Grandfather Clock: If you need to adjust the levelness of your Grandfather Clock, check under each corner of the cabinet. There should be levelers you can screw up or down.
Then, to make your Grandfather Clock even safer from accidentally falling over, you should secure it to the wall studs.
Setting the Time
To avoid causing damage, anytime you need to set the time on your clock, be sure to gently move the minute hand only, not the hour or second hand! Move the minute hand forwards if you need to adjust the time by just a few minutes. You can move it backwards if you need to adjust the time an hour or so. By moving it backwards, you won’t need to wait for the clock to chime.
If you need to adjust the time on your Grandfather Clock more than several minutes ahead, you can also stop the timepiece by gently stopping the swinging pendulum. Wait until the hands are set at the proper time. Then restart the clock once again by pushing the pendulum to the far left and let it go to get it moving again. And, never change the time on your clock while it’s chiming .
Winding Your Clock
Another tip on how to properly care for your Grandfather Clock is to wind it on a regular basis. This type of clock is wound by using a key or by raising the weights. To use the key that came with the clock, place it into the corresponding hole on the face of the clock. Turn it slowly and steadily until the timepiece is fully wound.
If your Grandfather Clock is driven by chains, gently pull on the ends of the chains until the weights are raised up just below the face.
Adjusting a Fast/Slow Running Clock
No matter if your timepiece is running too fast or too slow, you’ll need to adjust the bob on the pendulum. The bob is the round piece at the end. Find the nut at the underside of the bob. Turn it so it raises up to make your Grandfather Clock run faster. Or, turn the nut so it goes down to slow your clock down. Your clock may be one of those that are designed so that one complete turn of the nut equals one minute. If it is, this tip can help you set the time accurately.
Maintaining Your Clock
Every three to five years, you’ll need to contact a professional and have your Grandfather Clock serviced whether it’s running correctly or not. S/he will oil, clean and inspect the inner workings for worn parts. Without lubrication, your timepiece will begin to run slower and slower, and finally stop. Never try to oil the clock yourself! Products like WD-40Ã?® have many uses- click here to read “The Many Wonders of WD-40”. But spraying it into your Grandfather Clock isn’t one of them. The lubricant can ruin the plastic gears and other parts.
