Clock Wont Stop Chiming

7/5/2017

We had a customer call us out for a Grandfather clock repair today. Along with some other problems, one of her main issues was the clock would not stop striking on the hour, it would just chime until the weight would run down. There are a few reasons this happens on not only Grandfather clocks, but all clocks. This Grandfather clock was a modern day Grandfather clock made by King Author Clock company, back in 1985. King Author Clock company is now longer in business, however, they used a Urgoes movement that is still available today. The problem for the non stop striking was the "locking pallets" stop pin was broken off. With the stop pin broken off, there was nothing to stop the locking pallet from stopping. We do carry several Locking pallets on our service van, so I was able to replace the locking pallet without any problems. If we don't have the correct locking pallet on our vans, we have been able to repair the stop in with a tapered pin. Simply tapping out the reaming parts of the stopping pin inside the locking tablet, then installing the correct sized tapers pin and cutting it off to the correct size always works fine.

The pictures to the right will show the process of replacing the new locking pallet. There are just 2 small screws that will hold the locking pallet on to the shaft on the movmeent.

Once the old Locking pallet was removed, I installed the new locking pallet. Lining up the new locking pallet can get tricky sometimes, you have to make sure the stop pin will stop the levers at the correct time. If you are unable to, the stop pin will not catch correctly and the clock movement will not stop striking, giving you the same problem as if the stop pin was broken off.

The picture to the right shows the old and new locking pallet. The locking pallet on the right side is the old one. You can see the new locking pallet on the left side with the stop pin in tact.

As you can see from the picture to the right, the new locking pallet was installed and adjusted. After I cleaned and re-oiled this movement I re-installed the movement back into the Grandfather clock case, calibrated it and got it up and running for our customer.

Her Grandfather Clock was back up and running in less than an hour. She was very happy and was glad to hear her Grandfather clock ticking and chiming correctly.

Placement of the "Locking Pallet"

"Locking Pallet" Removed from the movement

Locking pallet on the right has the stop pin sheared off

44 Comments

Clint

12/6/2017 07:21:40 pm

I have a Regulator, Ridgeway Clock for the walk that is battery operated. It’s been a great clock, but recently it started chiming upward to 18 times on the hour. It still only chimes once on the half hour, but will sometimes chime several times at the 45 min mark. The clock is simple and nothing like the video. Any sufgestions?

Lance

5/2/2020 10:47:15 am

I have a similar problem with my Hershede “the Clock”. It will not stop chiming at ant quarter hour unless I move the heaviest weight. The clock was serviced about 4 months ago and was running perfectly up until a few weeks ago I called my service man and he wanted another $400.00 for a house call!
Please advise...
Thanks!

Scott Zubee

12/4/2020 07:27:53 am

Hello Can someone please helm me to understand how to Lining up the new locking pallet correctly? Thank you so much for your help
Scott estatesplus@gmail.com

Bob link

12/7/2017 04:54:27 am

Clint,

On Batt clocks there are no mechanical parts, they are all electronic, so unfortunately, when one starts acting like you have described the only thing you can do is replace the movement. There were a ton of batt movements that were used in Howard Miller, Ridgeway and others that are no longer made anymore. If you can send me a picture of the movement or the model # I will let you know if they are still made.

Paul Friday

12/29/2017 03:24:15 am

I would like to stop the grandfather clock striking after it has done 12 o clock and not keep going

Bob Bartow

12/29/2017 04:56:52 am

Paul, Can you send a picture of the movement to me. There are a few things that can go wrong with the movement, If I can see which movement it is I can give a few suggestions to help you fix it. My direct email is:

bob@clockrepairservice.com

If you cant send pictures, then see if you can find a model # of the movement and let me know. Usually, the # is on the back side of the movement.

Thanks

Joe Barone

1/13/2018 02:31:41 pm

My Ridgeway Grandfather clock won’t stop chiming on the hour strike. Model-114, Movement -KN 66005, Serial-11/6/81. It has stop once in a while so I think the locking pallet stop pin must be ok. Any ideas?

Thank you.... Joe

Bob

1/13/2018 03:41:19 pm

Joe,

if it stops at all it should be fine. The rack and snail most likely needs to be oiled. If the pictures dont help let me know, I can send you others. You will have to remove the face in order to get to them.

Joe

1/18/2018 10:19:10 am

Thanks,
I oiled and is running and chiming correctly. I was able to use a 3-1 spray oil with a plastic extender, without taking apart. I have learned a lot about these clocks. Doing final adjustments to correct time now. Thanks for your help.

Jonathan

1/22/2018 02:34:54 pm

This is exactly what I need to fix my clock where can I buy a locking pallet.. my locking pallet pin is sheared off just like in the pictures...

1/22/2018 02:42:36 pm

What is the model # of the clock. It should be on the back right side. Let me know and we should have one in the shop. My personal email is:

Bob@clockrepairservice.com if you want to contact me that way

1/22/2018 03:19:39 pm

Model #451-050

bob

1/22/2018 06:53:37 pm

We do have some, however they are used. New ones are so hard to find in the old style original part. Here is a link for it if you would like to purchase it:

https://www.clockpartsplus.com/store/p113/Hermle_Locking_Pallet__340%2F451%2F1151_OLD_STYLE.html

Dont worry about filling out the form, we have 6 in stock. I hope this helps

1/22/2018 07:13:09 pm

Thank you for your time. That's very helpful.

Corine

2/11/2018 01:44:06 pm

I have an 8 day German movement cuckoo clock. It keeps perfect time and gongs at the correct hour, but the chime keeps going and won't stop until the chain/weight has hit the floor. Could you tell me what to look for to try to fix. Please and thank you.

Bill

2/19/2018 09:54:23 am

I have a Howard Miller Grandfather Clock that after our last move it stopped chiming. It was in storage for 16 months and I was concerned that had something to do with it. Any thoughts?

Lisa Mays

2/21/2018 03:38:51 pm

In the 1980's a close family friend built me a grandfather clock from a kit. The paper work lists EMPEROR CLOCK COMPANY, Model 101 High Pallet Bridge 8 Day Weight Driven, Chain wind full Westminster Chimes Chimes each quarter hour, strikes each hour. The Gong, and chimes had previously stopped working, now the time. I opened it up & oiled it, now the pendulum will work, so it keeps time, but when it reaches the quarter hour & starts chiming, the chime isn't correct & it chimes & gongs for ten minutes. Can someone give me some advice?

2/22/2018 04:46:39 am

Lisa, you will have to get to the front of the movement in order to clean and oil the correct spots. Most people will just squirt oil on the movement without removing the movement. Here is a video we did on properly cleaning and oiling a movement. Its a little shaky and your movement will look different, however the participles are the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ithFb8NH1zw

If you are uncomfortable removing the movement. You will at least have to remove the face in order to get to the parts that are shown in the pictures on this blog so you can oil them properly. I hop this helps, let me know

erika edde

5/1/2018 05:59:01 am

I have a german wall clock it wont run long it stoppes all the time.

josef

8/28/2018 03:41:27 am

Hi
I'm from Israel and I have exactly the same problem and exactly the same mechanism.
With I pull out the part with the missing pin after repair I will put a drill in the car in diameter I think it is 1.5 mm from the people I have to return the repaired part
On the axle and close the two screws on the same angle as before. Which was and thank you very much for having so beautifully explained the problem with pictures and years that my clock keeps ringing
Your josef ... and lots of thanks

Lewis Kauffman

9/6/2018 07:33:36 am

I have a Emperor grandfather clock Model 101, High Pallet Bridge 8 day clock. Recently the clock only chimes about half the time ( usually from 6 to 12). I have oiled it as per the manual but that didn't help. Thank you in advance for any suggestions?

Jeffrey Poe

1/3/2019 11:41:11 am

My Howard-Miller grandfather clock chimes out of control and off tune, it will not stop , had to put on silent and push the chime shaft toward the front of the clock so I could get the lever in silent position. The clock is probably 45 year old given to us . Could it be locking pallet and or pin.

Mike Parquette

2/11/2019 09:25:55 pm

I have a clock made by Gilbert ca. 1910 with a rack and snail movement with no name or any other information on the plate. My problem is the clock time wise works perfectly, it strikes the half and hour perfectly until it comes to 12. As soon as the chime lifting lever hits the 12 on the snail, the rack falls too far down for the gathering pallet to grab the rack and start the count down so it continues to strike either until the chime side spring unwinds or I stop it by moving the rack up a bit.
Any suggestions please and thank you,
Mike

Meg

3/2/2019 06:22:31 pm

Ok help please. I have a Sessions mantle clock that chimed at 5pm, didnt chime at 6pm or 7pm, THEN at 8pm chimed 21 times (6+7+8=21) and then chimed 30 times at 9pm (6+7+8+9=30). What in the world did I do?

Joseph Jones

5/27/2019 06:06:47 pm

My mantle clock won't chime on the right hour and won't stop chiming. Is it just resting?

Bernie Knutson

6/30/2019 05:19:06 pm

I have a Trend (by Sligh) mantel clock that would only run off balance. I looked on line on how to adjust and now works level. My problem now is it wont stop chiming.

Ron Lawrence

8/4/2019 08:24:34 pm

I have a new haven mantel clock that gains an hour chime on each hour strike starting at 4. From 1-3 it chimes the hour correctly

Jennifer L Dillard

12/10/2019 09:05:48 am

The left weight onmy Howard Miller grandfather clock is dropping slower than the other two so the chime count is incorrect...Is this something I can fix?

Rod

1/10/2020 11:20:00 am

A simple question.
I have a Hanson Floor clock that has just recently started doing this.
some times it strikes the correct number of chimes. At other times it strikes either one too many or one too short.

Deb

1/11/2020 08:09:48 pm

I have a 1981 Ridgeway grandfather clock, model #120. I don’t know the manufacturer of the movement itself, but the movement number listed on the documentation is #32570. The numbers are preceded by the letters “GN.” It is a chain driven movement with triple chimes and a moving moon dial. It keeps perfect time, but it will not chimes on the quarter hour or strike the hour. I am located pretty far from any clock repair service so I’m thinking replacement of the movement might be my best choice. My question is can I purchase any type of replacement movement for this case or does it have to be a specific kind or a direct replacement of what I have. Thank you for any help you can provide!

1/28/2021 10:35:52 am

Just checking in for any news.

Pamela Rickman

3/13/2020 09:07:01 am

1986 statue of liberty centennial clock will not stop chiming when wound. Please help. That is the last thing that needs repair.

Paul

4/19/2020 10:35:20 am

I have a Sligh grandfather clock. It has twelve chimes that can chime three different melodies. When the hour chime, chimes it always chimes twelve times. Do you know how I can fix this problem

4/19/2020 11:10:23 am

Paul, without seeing the clock I can only let you know a few things that I can guess at this point. In order to fix, or even see what is going on, you will have to remove the face, which isnt a big deal. My first guess is that the clock might be dirty and needs a good cleaning and re-oiling. After that I would say there is a part on the front of the movement that drops down and then is lifted up slowly counting out the strike's on the hour, This piece is falling down to far each time. If thats the case the part that tells it to stop at each hour is either broken off or bent and it is not stopping at the correct time. Other than that, I would have to see the movement in order to tell.

Kenny

5/3/2020 03:06:00 pm

I have a Meiji 1920 regulator clock where the chime keeps running. Any suggestions?

Eileen Smith

6/7/2020 04:20:16 am

My clock is keeping perfect time and chimes properly on the quarter, half and three quarters, but does not stop on the hour. It has chimed over a hundred times before we figured out how to stop it.

Lori Davis

8/29/2020 11:17:44 am

I have a grandfather clock that my late father made for us, it has a clock movement Hermile 1161‑853csk in it. It won’t stop striking. Could you please help me?

8/29/2020 12:13:46 pm

Lori. You might want to clean and re oilthe movement you can look to see if the piece in the blog is broken

Mike Lame

11/16/2020 06:29:20 am

Bob: I have a Ridgeway Grandmother clock that gongs excessively on the hour, to where I have to turn the gongs off. It was working properly ( correct gongs on each hour,) but when it got to 4:00, it gonged 5 times, and each hour after that, it gongs till I have to stop it. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Manny

12/18/2020 05:49:06 am

After ultrasonic cleaning, my Ridgeway grandfather clock with a Hermle 1161-853BS, 94 cm movement goes through the Westminster melody 2-1/4 times at the quarter hour. Thereafter it will not chime again at the other 15 minute intervals or strike the hour. What can be done? Thanks in advance for any help that you can offer.

Tad link

12/26/2020 02:49:39 pm

Bob,
I have a Waltham Regulator 31 day clock and the symptoms are: first it started chiming the full hour on the half hour, when normally it is one chime for half hour, then recently it started constant chiming even with the clock pendulum completely stopped. The only way to stop the chiming is to rotate the hands till it stops. Since this is a popular model, is there a typical issue causing this problem?

Sherry Edwards

1/10/2021 10:45:48 am

We have a Linden quartz strike clock #7012 bought in 1984. Up until last year worked great. Now when chimes are turned on it will not stop chiming. It belonged to my parents and would love to get it fixed. It keeps great time and is battery operated

ron mccombs

1/28/2021 09:21:29 am

i have a alaron 31 day it chimes on the 1/2 hr but not on the it keeps good time i bought it off e bay i have gotten found of clocks while staying at home can i fix this chime myself ?? chimes on the 1/2 hr nothing on the hrs.

Larry Weaver link

4/1/2021 11:54:03 am

Thanks for pointing out that a Grandfather Clock could be repaired and back up and running in less than an hour. My parents want to buy a grandfather clock this summer, but they are concerned about maintaining one. I'll tell them that repairing a Grandfather Clock should be pretty simple, especially if they hire a professional for repairs.

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