How to Get a Pendulum to Work on a Grandfather Clock

Grandfather clocks restore the elegance of older homes.

A pendulum regulates how fast a grandfather clock will run. The pendulum's speed is controlled by how long the pendulum shaft is and where the weights in the pendulum are located. Once you have hung the pendulum and assembled the clock movement in a grandfather clock, make several adjustments to ensure that the pendulum swings correctly and keeps the correct speed.

Things You'll Need

• Grandfather clock
• Small thickness of wood or carpet

Instructions

1. Start the pendulum swinging once you have wound the clock by lifting it up to the left and releasing it. Listen for a regular sound. This should be "tick..tock..tick..tock." If you hear an irregular sound such as "tick..tock..........tick....tock," then the clock needs adjusting.

2. Place a small thickness of wood or carpet under the front foot of the side where the irregular sound is being made. This will lean the case in the proper direction to bring about a steady beat.

3. Bend the pendulum crutch. This is the thin wire rod that the feather or suspension spring on top of the pendulum is threaded through. Stand in front of the clock and place your arms on either side of the clock dial. Position one thumb on top of the crutch and one at the base. Bend the crutch to the left or the right (depending on which side is giving the irregular beat) towards your lower thumb. It will only require a small bend to get a regular "tick..tock..tick..tock" beat. Adjust the pendulum crutch until you have found the correct rhythm.

References

• Antique Grandfather Clocks: How to Set Up a Grandfather Clock