My 2 outside weights won't drop...

We often receive questions or calls about a customer's grandfather clock weights on the outside are not dropping and that only the center weight is dropping and the clock is not chiming.

Here is a quick description how the clock weights work.:

The grandfather clocks' weights are what powers the clock.  The left weight (your left facing the clock) powers the hour striking of the clock.  The center weight powers the time side of the clock and the right weight (the heaviest) will power the 1/4 hour chiming side of the clock.

The time side of the clock will tell the chiming side of the clock what to do and the chiming side will tell the hour striking side what to do.  If the time side tells the 1/4 hour chiming side to chime, but it is hung up, it will not be able to chime, nor will it be able to tell the hour striking side what to do.

If the clock is running but not chiming, then only the center weight will drop.  Typically, what we find is that the grandfather clock has not been serviced and the oil has dried up in the movement and therefore the chiming side of the clock is hung up, or worst, worn out.

We service around 650 grandfather clocks in customers'  homes each year.  Most of the time a good cleaning and re-oiling will get the clock up and running properly.  The manufacturers of all style clocks recommend that you have your clock cleaned and re-oiled every 2-3 years.

A good cleaning and re-oiling of a clock every 2-3 years will minimize the damage to your clocks' movement and keep it running for years.  The cleaning and re-oiling is also the least expensive  repair of your grandfather clocks' movement and is the best place to start.  Once the grandfather clocks' movement  is cleaned, the technician will be able to look at the condition of the grandfather clocks' movement in order to determine if there are worn parts that might need replacing.

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