How to Identify Mechanical Clock Parts

Gears and springs of a mechanical clock.

Identifying the parts to your mechanical clock are beneficial to expedite repairs on the spot. Mechanical watches wind up and run by gears and stored energy, without the use of a battery. These clocks are often expensive due to their distinctive components that are crafted by the prestigious designers worldwide.

Things You'll Need

• Mechanical clock parts guide

Instructions

1. Unscrew or pop off the face of the clock to reveal the mechanics beneath. Loosen the gears, as a whole unit, from the back casing of the watch or clock. Turning the mechanics unit on its side, you will begin to see the individual gears and springs of the mechanical clock.

2. Notice the main wheel, the brass gear wheel that sits below a thin strip of metal that is tightly wound. This strip is called the main spring and it holds a specific amount of energy based on its composition.

3. See the three gears of the wheel train below the main wheel and main spring. These gears are positioned close together, turning each other at a steady pace, thus keeping time. The largest gear turns the minute hand, the smallest turns the second hand, and the center wheel keeps pace between the two.

4. See the four components of the escapement gear just beside the wheel train. A fourth wheel, as it appears, sits beside the second hand gear, as the escape wheel. This wheel is connected to the pallet fork that, in turn, connects to the balance wheel further to the side of the wheel train. As the balance wheel swings, the balance spring, located above the balance wheel, will oscillate. This creates a divided time that is stored as energy to power the clock gears.

5. Place the mechanical unit back into the base of the clock and press the face back over the gears and springs. Wind the gears on the back of the clock and turn the clock over to see the minute and second hands begin to turn.

References

• Horology Zone: Mechanical watch parts