How to Regulate the Time on a Grandfather Clock

If your grandfather clock is not keeping the correct time, you'll learn how to adjust the pendulum length until the clock is keeping the correct time, or is regulated.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper, Pencil

1. 
    
   Pendulum Nut for Regulating Grandfather Clock Time

   A common problem that grandfather clock owners have is adjusting the clock to keep the correct time, or regulating the time. There is a nut which is adjusted on the clock on the bottom of the pendulum that is used to control the speed of the clock mechanism. You shorten the pendulum to make the clock runs faster, and you lengthen the pendulum to make the clock run slower. This is done by turning a nut on the bottom of the pendulum.

2. 
    
   Example Clock Adjustment Log

   Most clock owners have no starting reference point when making an adjustment to establish how far to turn the nut to make the clock run slower or faster. This is a trial and error process which will determine how many turns need to be made to the nut and in what direction. They need to log the date and time of the adjustment, the time on the clock, how many turns they made, and in what direction they turned the nut--clockwise or counterclockwise.
   Next they need to wait for 24 hours and see the result of the adjustment--how many minutes the clock is running slower or faster. After doing this a few times, they will begin to get a yardstick by which to measure. For instance, one turn of the nut equals so many minutes.
   The experienced clock repair person does the same thing--logging all the adjustments, and keeping track of the time of the adjustments. It is best to make a record until you learn what the calibration is with each turn. This process could take as long as a week to accurately get the clock adjusted to keep the correct time.

3. The clock repairman will have an electronic counter that is attached to the clock. This device counts the number of ticks per hour. If he happens to know how many beats per hour the clock is taking, they he can set it up on the electronic counter and can determine exactly what adjustment needs to be made the get the number correct. Most large grandfather clocks tick once per second: 60 beats per minute or 3600 ticks per hour. The repairman can set the counter, make the adjustment and when the beat count reaches 3600 and the clock is regulated and should keep the correct time.
   Note: All grandfather clocks do not beat at the same frequency.
   
   For more information on clock repair, go to http://www.clockrepairdallas.com

Resources

• Clock Repairman