Workshop Hints
Quartz Anniversary Clocks
The British Horological Institute has archived and edited the following from e-mails sent to the Clock/Clockers mailing lists on the Internet. The information here does not necessarily indicate a method approved by the BHI, we are only publishing this digest so that others can decide for themselves whether the methods listed below will suit them.
From: Jeanne Barrndt, Blake Novak, Mike Loebbaka, Donn Lathrop
Problem
I hope that someone with more experience can help me on a quartz Bulova 400 day clock.I installed a new battery, time works just fine. The problem is the balls don't turn. As I inspected the unit, there is like a small hairspring that it rest on (hope that makes sense.) I did put a small drop of oil where I thought it was rubbing which seemed to help somewhat. But it stopped during the night, so run for about 6 hours.
Information on the clock is as follows: Quartz W993 S. Haller Made in Germany
Is it possible to replace the whole unit, and if so, can it be obtained? Or is there something else I should look for?
Solutions
- This unit is obsolete, and the new Haller movements will not just "fit-up" without more time and expense. You will find that your hands and dial may/may not fit. Same for fitting the movement to the pillars.
- From your description, I think you have the unit that has a hairspring attached between near the top of the pendulum and the underside of the movement housing, and the base of the pendulum "pivots" on opposing magnets. If you're game, look at the following:
- Crud inside the magnet cup may cause drag that will stop the pendulum. Clean out. Inside the movement housing there is an electromagnet impulsing the pendulum and the pendulum pivots in a jewel. Is the electromagnet working? Clean jewel and pivot.
- Also make sure the hairspring is flat and the coils aren't touching and that the hairspring is "in-beat" to be impulsed by the electromagnet properly. I know it sounds crazy but they can get knocked out of beat if moved without locking the pendulum down.
- If that seems ok there is a spring that is internal to the movement that winds as the movement runs it is the job of that spring to keep the pendulum in motion. This spring could be slipping in its barrel causing your problem, I have seen it happen.
- The impulse units are just a clock movement with a very slow impulse, and the mentioned 'hairspring' is to rotate the unit back for another impulse. The drive unit may be dirty--pry it open and check for dirt on pivots and in gear teeth, etc.
- Check the battery holder for corrosion and other muck--polish the contacts with an ink eraser.
- A lot of these units malfunction because the clock was dropped and the drive movement case broke and is misaligned, pivots broke, or the printed circuit board broke. In the last case the unit will usually quit--it won't "tick" as they usually do. Solder repair of the board is fairly easy, or a printed circuit repair kit may do the trick. A cracked board should be soldered, because a foil repair or a 'paint-on' repair will just break again.
- The movement can be taken apart but odds are that the part is wore out and needs replaced. I have replaced the movement by sending the old one to Bulova. they can match something up and maybe get you going again.
