How to Oil a Wind Up Clock

Like other pieces of machinery, a wind up clock needs maintenance and oil service to operate smoothly. A clock that runs without oil can face permanent damage to its internal parts. Follow the steps below to prevent your wind up clock from going slow and keep it running like new all year long.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clock oil kit

1. Familiarize yourself with the wind up clock. Read the user manual to help you identify the various points through which you can oil your clock. Proceed by removing the clock from its case.

2. Purchase an oil kit specially designed for oiling clocks. Fill the narrow applicator with the clock oil up to 3/8 inches. Carefully pour the oil through the narrow holes in the back of the clock. Squeeze the applicator one hole at a time for a small drop of oil drop. This is usually enough for any clock.

3. Oil the front of the clock with extreme care. The front holes are much smaller than the back ones. Do not oil the gears during this process; they need to stay dry to maintain an efficient working condition.

4. Pour oil in the large holes used for winding the clock. Because of their diameter they require double the oil than the smaller holes. Squeeze two drops per hole for a proper oiling. Place the clock back in its case.

5. Wind the clock by putting the key in the wind hole and turning it clockwise or counter clockwise depending upon the make of the clock. Consult the user manual to find out the exact direction.

6. Continue winding until you feel a certain resistance when moving the key forward. Do not push the key beyond this point as it has wound up to its maximum. Set the time.

Tips & Warnings

• Oil your clock every two years to prevent problems that may arise in the clock.
• Send the clock to a specialist for a complete service after four oiling periods.

[clockguy]

on 2/4/2009 You forgot the most important place to oil:
One should also oil the leading edges of the pallets where they contact the escape wheel teeth. The pallets are usually at the top center of the clock movement. Follow the linkage up from the pendulum through the crutch until you get to the first wheel that it comes in contact with. That will be the escape wheel and the pallets are the two metal fingers that rock in and out of the path of the escape wheel teeth.