Big ben alarm clock cracked#
Big ben alarm clock full#

Weak rotation can be caused by many things including general wear, dirt, lack of lubrication, too much lubrication, oil that's too heavy, 'messed up' hair spring and/or regulator loop. Weak balance rotation almost always results in the clock running too fast, especially if the rotation is less than 270 degrees. First, how much total rotation do you have of the balance wheel from when it stops in one direction to where it stops in the other? Goal is about 360 degrees but it may run OK with 270. That's a common problem with these old Big Bens. If it has short hairspring with no extra after the terminal pin.Ĭlick to expand.As with the 'slipping problem' it is best to determine why it is running fast before messing with stuff. That is another reason why clocks and watches that run slow is good and fast is bad. For once you remove you can't add unless you cheat and use a portion of hairspring attached by super glue. Not easy for beginners and this is often why hairspring length should never be cut. If the farthest setting does not do enough then it is time to re-vibrate the spring. This is a general description so first regulate as best you can with the regulator. The regulation is fine tuning of only minutes a day, it can not overcome major tuning of much more. When this is not attended to new owners will unknowingly bend the hairspring when they adjust the regulation. This is needed because often the arc of the regulator loop does not match the radius of the hairspring coils. The bend of the hairspring at the termination point that provides the gliding portion of the hairspring to the regulator is called the 'dog leg'. This may mean adjusting the loop to better accommodate the hairspring or adjusting the bends at the end of the hairspring to accommodate the regulation loop.

Big ben alarm clock full#

When the hairspring is adjusted from it's full + or -, the regulation loop should not deform/push the main body of the coil. The hairspring regulation loop should slide smoothly in a small arc of only a small amount of degrees over a small portion of the hairspring near it's terminal end. Eventually the thin little strip of metal bust. You can straighten a bent up hairspring with tweezers but you don't get too many forgiveness bends. The concern is what often happens when the regulation loop is not proper it can snag the hairspring of the balance wheel and bend it up. The middle position is where it should have been when out of the factory. While movement is out of the case examine the regulation loop adjustment and set to approximate middle. Try to avoid pushing the regulation adjustment fast. It usually makes sense that it now is too fast as the previous owner may have adjusted the regulation to faster to try to compensate for the clock running slow/behind but now understood as most likely slipping. Later you can restore the bushing/pinion properly if you wish.Ĭool beans. If you do so, try to go sparingly on the super glue by applying drop to a plate or something and then use a small screwdriver tip to apply tiny amount. That and the balance wheel cup assembly is not as service friendly as watches are.Īnother option (highly discouraged) is if you have a split pinion/bushing is to super glue it. Some require pinion gear pullers and are a bit rough to deal with.

Taking an alarm clock apart is not good for a first clock as some of the pieces are threaded on (some left handed threads too) and others are peened/friction fit.

Big ben alarm clock cracked#

Cracked bushings can have a hairline crack which is hard to spot sometimes.

Turn the time setting knob and see where it slips on center minute arbor.īut if I am correct and that bushing is working like a stop, then inserting a screwdriver blade between the plate and bushing and with a twisting action you might be able to scoot the bushing over making it tighter. I am only guessing as I can only sort of see it.

If after examining carefully, you may have success inserting a semi wide flat blade screwdriver and with twisting motion get the brass bushing that the arrow is pointing at to slide.