Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Wall Clock Kit
This quality Mechanical Wall Clock Kit has a German made spring driven clock movement will run 8 days on a single wind up. The movement has 5 hammers below that will play the progressive Westminster melody on the quarter hours. The kit comes with the movement, chime block and rods, the dial, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case!
Westminster
Spring Driven
6 inch overall dial diameter
Grid pendulum 12' tip to tip with R/A bob
Bottom 5 rod chimeblock
German made movement
2-year warranty
The Clock Movement
Plays 4/4 Westminster chimes sound each quarter hour and strike the full hour. It comes factory oiled and ready for installation. It includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. It has two square shaped outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the Westminster chime. This is a German made 8 day key wound movement made by the Hermle Clock company.
Movement Installation
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if your wanting a custom design. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with hole in them, you only need some small Phillips head wood screws to install the movement. This movement is sold as a front mount intention, the case will need a 4 or 5 inch hole drilled in a wood front of the case. The movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial gets mounted on the front of it. The kit will come with instructions for everything, and we are here to guide you if you get stuck.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Westminster Vienna Clock Kit
Mechanical Westminster Vienna Clock Kit is a Westminster, side or back strike, 8 day, Vienna regulator wall clock kit with a German made Hermle clock movement. This clock movement has one cable that holds up two weights by a pulley yoke. The chime and the strike are spring driven. The dial has feet that lock into the movement and is 7 7/8 inch in diameter.
The Movement
German made by Hermle, this Westminster chime clock movement is the best of quality. This is a side or back strike movement with an 8 day run time. The movement comes oiled and with its pulley and cable. Brand new with a 3 year factory warranty, comes with instructions and expert support.
Pendulum Description
Quality lyre style clock pendulum with a 4 1/2 inch diameter bob for the 55cm and 5 1/2 for 75cm and 85cm. The bob has its nut on the threads underneath it to regulate timekeeping. The pendulum it self will not be the CM length chosen, see below on how to get the right length.
Determining CM Length
The CM length is the length of the overall pendulum assembly in centimeters. This is from the top of the movement, not the pendulum only in itself. So it is the pendulum from tip to tip, the leader it hangs on, and also the suspension spring up top, all in one measurement. Please select from the options box how long the pendulum length is to be from the top of the movement and down. You can say the hand shaft hole in the dial will be two inches less than from the top of the movement if that helps. The bob diameter and the weight of the pendulum would make this CM length fluctuate some from actual, so please leave some wiggle room.
The Dial
German made Drilled Round Dial for 351 Clock Movement. 7 7/8 inch wide the time track diameter is 7 inches. Will fit all 351 units such as 351-020, also will fit the 350 series.
The Weights
The kit includes the clock weights for the center time train yoke pulley. Two weights at 47mm x 149mm long and 4.3lbs each. This is the perfect weight for this clock movement to run for many years.
The Crank
Crank key is made in Germany and is the best quality. It is used on the center time train to wind the cable so the weight comes back up. It is size 8 crank with a Mahogany hardwood handle.
The Key
Either the crank can be used to wind the side springs, or this key, the kit comes with both the crank and the key. The idea is to wind the center with the crank handle and the side springs with the key.
The Hands
Black spade clock hands for a German made mechanical clock movement. These hands are best for the 6 inch time track on the dial. These have the bushings in the mounting holes to mount to this particular clock movement.
The Chimeblock
Choice for a 5 rod side chime block for Westminster mechanical clocks, or the 8 rod back chime block. The longest rod measures 7 1/2 inches from one end to the other through the block on the side block, about 12 inches for the back strike block.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Mantel Westminster Clock Kit
Mechanical Mantel Westminster Clock Kit comes with a round Arabic 7 1/4 inch wide dial. The dial is drilled to fit the winders of the movement. Hinged convex glass bezel dial pan combination allows one to open the bezel door to wind in 8 days.
The Measurements
German Movement with 120mm wide plates
7 1/4" wide dial bezel glass
5 Rod Chime Block with bolts
Key Size 8
Needs a case
7 1/2"W or more
7 1/2"H or more
2 1/2"D or more
340-020 Hermle Clock Movement
The Hermle clock movement 340-020 is a Westminster Chime unit with five chime hammers below and takes a number 8 clock key. This high quality spring driven German movement comes pre oiled and includes the improved balance system for ease of fine timing.
Mounting the Movement
This particular kit is designed with the front mount style in mind. It includes the four dog ear front mounting brackets, that go underneath the movement pillar nuts. In other words the gear sandwich is held together by 4 posts, remove the hex nut (one at a time only) and put the bracket on the post, reinstall the hex nut. The movement screws to the wood case.
About the Dial
7-1/4(184mm) Dial Bezel Glass for 340/341 series clock movements. Made in Germany with black Arabic numerals. This dial is on a dial pan, has a hinged bezel with convex glass. Has a 6 inch time track diameter (152mm). This dial has the holes drilled into it, so the 340 or 341 Hermle clock movement can be wound up. Perfect for movements such as 340-020 or 341-020. To mount the dial it would be required to drill small holes in the outer ring, and attach with small brass nails into the wood case.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Clock Kit - Bell Strike
Mechanical Clock Kit - Bell Strike for a shelf clock case creation. Comes with a round Arabic 6 inch dial and 18cm pendulum length from the top of the movement and all the way down. With this clock movement kit and a wood worker, it will make a nice clock with a 8 day run time.
The Measurements
6" wide dial
Steel and brass pendulum
installed, included, bell
Approx 90mm round Movement
Needs a case
6 1/2"W or more
8 1/2"H or more
2 1/2"D or more
The Movement
This is a quality 8 day, German made, Bell strike, spring driven unit. It has the 131-070 18cm Hermle clock movement with the one hammer on the back. Kit comes with the movement, installed bell, the dial, pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case.
Mounting the Movement
This particular kit is designed with the front mount style in mind. It includes the three dog ear front mounting brackets, that go up from underneath the movement pillar nuts. In other words the gear sandwich is held together by 3 posts, remove the hex nut (one at a time only) and put the bracket on the post, reinstall the hex nut.
About the Dial
These 6" dials are no longer produced and we are lucky to be able to supply what stock is left. These are new dials made in Germany, they are unique in that they have the posts they are drilled in the correct spots to wind the clock. The dial is mounted by means of either epoxy to a thin board, or drill small holes in the trim for a small brass screw / nail mount.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Shelf Clock Kit - Bell Strike
Mechanical Shelf Clock Kit - Bell Strike for a shelf clock case creation. Comes with a round Arabic 6 inch dial and 18cm pendulum length from the top of the movement and all the way down. With this clock movement kit and a wood worker, it will make a nice clock with a 8 day run time.
The Measurements
6" wide dial
Steel and brass pendulum
installed, included, bell
Approx 90mm round Movement
Needs a case
6 1/2"W or more
8 1/2"H or more
2 1/2"D or more
The Movement
This is a quality 8 day, German made, Bell strike, spring driven unit. It has the 131-081 18cm Hermle clock movement with the two hammers on the back. Kit comes with the movement, installed bell, the dial, pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case.
Mounting the Movement
This particular kit is designed with the front mount style in mind. It includes the three dog ear front mounting brackes, that go up from underneath the movement pillar nuts. In other words the gear sandwich is held together by 3 posts, remove the hex nut (one at a time only) and put the bracket on the post, reinstall the hex nut.
About the Dial
These 6" dials are no longer produced and we are lucky to be able to supply what stock is left. These are new dials made in Germany, they are unique in that they have the posts they are drilled in the correct spots to wind the clock. The dial is mounted by means of either epoxy to a thin board, or drill small holes in the trim for a small brass screw / nail mount.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Shelf Clock Kit - Gong Strike
This gong-strike kit for a shelf clock case creation. Comes with a round Arabic 6 inch dial and 25cm pendulum length from the top of the movement and all the way down. With this clock movement kit and a wood worker, it will make a nice clock with a 8 day run time.
The Measurements
6" wide dial
Steel and brass pendulum
2 3/4" Gong and mount
Approx 90mm round Movement
Needs a case
6 1/2"W or more
12"H or more
2 1/2"D or more
The Movement
This is a quality 8 day, German made, Gong strike, spring driven unit. It has the 131-041 25cm Hermle clock movement with the one hammer on the back. Kit comes with the movement, gong with mount, the dial, pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case.
Mounting the Movement
This particular kit is designed with the front mount style in mind. It includes the four dog ear front mounting brackes, that go up from underneath the movement pillar nuts. In other words the gear sandwich is held together by 3 posts, remove the hex nut (one at a time only) and put the bracket on the post, reinstall the hex nut.
About the Dial
These 6" dials are no longer produced and we are lucky to be able to supply what stock is left. These are new dials made in Germany, they are unique in that they have the posts they are drilled in the correct spots to wind the clock. The dial is mounted by means of either epoxy to a thin board, or drill small holes in the trim for a small brass screw / nail mount.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit
This gong-strike kit for a wall clock case creation with a silver 7 inch dial and 17 1/2" pendulum theme. With this clock movement kit and a wood worker, it will make a nice clock with a 14 day run time.
The Measurements
7" wide dial
17 1/2" Silver pendulum
4" Gong and mount
Approx 4"W x 5"T Movement
Needs a case
7 1/2"W or more
24"H or more
3 1/2"D or more
The Movement
This is a quality 14 day, German made, Gong strike, spring driven unit. It has the popular 141-041 Hermle clock movement with the one hammer on the back. Kit comes with the movement, gong with mount, the dial, pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case.
Mounting the Movement
The Hermle 141 movement series is diversified with its mounting capabilities, however this particular kit is designed with the bottom mount style in mind. It includes the two rectangle washers and screws, that go up from underneath the movement into its bottom pillar posts. In other words the gear sandwich is held together by 4 posts, the bottom two are threaded so the screws can go up from underneath.
If mounting this movement series from the bottom you would need to create what is known as a seat board. This is only two parallel boards that are 3/4 x 3/4 inch approximately that are running side to side in the clock case with about ½ inch between the two. This allows the front and back plates of the movement to each sit on a board and then be able to mount the movement with the included seat board screws. The screw gets put into the rectangle washer first, and then it goes up from the bottom between the two parallel boards and into the threaded hole in the movement bottom pillars.
About the Dial
These 7" dials are no longer produced and we are lucky to be able to supply what stock is left. These are new dials made in Germany, they are unique in that they have the posts that stick out the back to lock into the movements front plate. This gives the dial the appearance of floating in the air in other words rather than having wood around the back of it as a dial mount. Good for the big rectangle wood cases or Vienna style clocks, where the door of the clock opens exposing the dial and pendulum both. Not only do these dials have the posts sticking out of the back of them, but also they are drilled in the correct spots to wind the clock. This dial gets mounted with a few (included) taper pins. A taper pin is a pin that is wide on one side and skinny on the other. The dial feet have holes in the end of them, the foot goes through the movement's front plate and held there by a taper pin through the hole.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Westminster Vienna Regulator Clock Kit
Westminster Vienna Regulator Clock Kit is a Westminster, side or back strike, 8 day, Vienna regulator wall clock kit with a German made Hermle clock movement. This clock movement has one cable that holds up two weights by a pulley yoke. The chime and the strike are spring driven. The dial has feet that lock into the movement and is 6 1/2 inch in diameter.
The Movement
German made by Hermle, this Westminster chime clock movement is the best of quality. This is a side or back strike movement with an 8 day run time. The movement comes oiled and with its pulley and cable. Brand new with a 3 year factory warranty, comes with instructions and expert support.
Pendulum Description
Quality lyre style clock pendulum with a 4 1/2 inch diameter bob for the 55cm and 5 1/2 for 75cm and 85cm. The bob has its nut on the threads underneath it to regulate timekeeping. The pendulum it self will not be the CM length chosen, see below on how to get the right length.
Determining CM Length
The CM length is the length of the overall pendulum assembly in centimeters. This is from the top of the movement, not the pendulum only in itself. So it is the pendulum from tip to tip, the leader it hangs on, and also the suspension spring up top, all in one measurement. Please select from the options box how long the pendulum length is to be from the top of the movement and down. You can say the hand shaft hole in the dial will be two inches less than from the top of the movement if that helps. The bob diameter and the weight of the pendulum would make this CM length fluctuate some from actual, so please leave some wiggle room.
The Dial
German made Drilled Round Dial for 351 Clock Movement. 6 1/2 inch wide (165mm) the time track diameter is 5 1/2 inches. Will fit all 351 units such as 351-020, also will fit the 350 series.
The Weights
The kit includes the clock weights for the center time train yoke pulley. Two weights at 47mm x 149mm long and 4.3lbs each. This is the perfect weight for this clock movement to run for many years.
The Crank
Crank key is made in Germany and is the best quality. It is used on the center time train to wind the cable so the weight comes back up. It is size 8 crank with a Mahogany hardwood handle.
The Key
Either the crank can be used to wind the side springs, or this key, the kit comes with both the crank and the key. The idea is to wind the center with the crank handle and the side springs with the key.
The Hands
Black spade clock hands for a German made mechanical clock movement. These hands are best for the 6 inch time track on the dial. These have the bushings in the mounting holes to mount to this particular clock movement.
The Chimeblock
Choice for a 5 rod side chime block for Westminster mechanical clocks, or the 8 rod back chime block. The longest rod measures 7 1/2 inches from one end to the other through the block on the side block, about 12 inches for the back strike block.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Gong-Strike Mechanical Wall Clock Kit
Gong-Strike Mechanical Wall Clock Kit for a wall clock case creation. With this clock movement kit and a wood worker, it will make a nice clock with an 8 day run time.
The Movement
This is a quality 14 day, German made, Gong strike, spring driven unit. It has the popular 141-041 Hermle clock movement with the one hammer on the back. Kit comes with the movement, gong with mount, the dial, pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case.
Mounting Options
The Hermle 141 movement series is diversified with its mounting capabilities as it can mount in the front, back or even bottom. It is best to come up with a mount that allows access to the back of the movement without too much hassle. This is in case you need to change the suspension spring at some point or if the leader needs adjusting.
Front Mount Method
A front mounting method would use the dog ear looking brackets that come with the kit. These go onto the front plate pillar posts, under the hex nut that is holding the front on. Of course only one at a time as to not let the movement come apart. Install the movement to the front of the clock case with a board between the front of the movement and the clock dial.
Back Mount Method
Install the four long posts on the back of the movement. This is yet another option for mounting the clock movement. These posts are approximately 2 inches long and have threads on the end. The end with the threads will go through the back of the clock case wood, through the holes in the wood. Use a nut on the back side of the clock to secure it. Now the movement is mounted on the wood back to the case. To mount in a different fashion this is fine just take these long posts right off.
Bottom Mount
If mounting this movement series from the bottom you would need to create what is known as a seat board. This is only two parallel boards that are 3/4 x 3/4 inch approximately that are running side to side in the clock case with about ½ inch between the two. This allows the front and back plates of the movement to each sit on a board and then be able to mount the movement with the enclosed seat board screws. The screw gets put into the rectangle washer first, and then it goes up from the bottom between the two parallel boards and into the threaded hole in the movement bottom pillars.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Spring-Driven Clock Kit
A mechanical clock kit with a spring-driven German made movement. This is a small unit and is the most simplistic of the Hermle line of movements. Time only units are obsolete now so this is now the most simple and least expensive of the German units.
The Movement
This is a quality German movement that will run 8 days on a single wind up. It has a nice bim bam strike with two small bells. Easy to listen to bim bam by bells is preferred for many clocks rather than the louder gong strike. It has a 131-070 18cm Hermle clock movement with the two hammers on the back that strike bells (included).
This is a nice compact quality made round unit that runs for 8 days on a wind. The two bells (included) are nice as there is no chime block to work with. The movement comes with the bells already mounted and ready to go. Mounting the movement is usually done in the front with the front movement mounts (included).
Kit Includes
The kit comes with the movement, bells with mount, the pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case. The clock case would be typically a shelf style and this is to be built on the customers end.
Mounting Options
The Hermle 131 movement series is diversified with its mounting capabilities. It can be mounted in the front or the back depending on the need.
Front Mount Method
The front mounting method uses included dog ear looking brackets. Install them on the front plates pillar posts for a front mount clock. Remove one hex nut, put the bracket on, and then put the hex nut back on. Then do the rest the same way, one at a time. Movement will attached to the front of the clock case with a board between the front of the movement and the clock dial.
Back Mount Method
It will mount to the back of the clock case or spacer board. The goal is to support the movement and at the same time not get into the way of the pendulum assembly from moving. The movement may come with posts already installed on the back side of the clock movement, that are around 2 inches long. The posts have threaded ends that will go through holes drilled into the back wood of the clock case.
Adjusting the bell hammers
The hammers for the two bells will need some final adjusting before mounting the movement. Shipping could have the hammers misaligned for a crisp musical bell tone. The hammer heads need to be away from the bell at rest, about 1/8 inch away. This is adjusted with fingers to bend the hammer head wire. Bend up / down / side / side to get the hammer heads into position at that 1/8 inch away measurement. This will produce a nice bell sound with out thudding, double hitting, or missing the bells completely.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
8-Day Mechanical Wall Clock Kit
This is a 8-Day Mechanical Wall Clock Kit, German made, gong strike, spring driven movement. It has the popular 131-041 25cm Hermle clock movement with the hammer on the back that strikes a gong (included). The kit comes with the movement, gong with mount, the pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case.
Case Requirements
The best thing to do is to get the movement first and then build the case afterward. The movements hand shaft, (shaft that the hands go on) is 27.2mm from the front plate and all the way out. This measurement is included within the diagram's depth measurement indicated. The pendulum length on this unit is measured from the top of the clock movements suspension post and all the way down. This measurement is 25cm and includes the pendulum tip to tip. So this means it includes the suspension spring, leader, and the complete pendulum.
Mounting Options
The Hermle 131 movement series are usually able to mount from the front or the back. However this one is a gong strike therefore the front mount is preferred. If creative it can be a back strike however the gong could get in the way since it is a rear hammer unit.
Front Mount Method
A front mounting method would use the enclosed dog ear looking brackets. These are installed on the front plates pillar posts, under the hex nut that is holding the front on. Of course only one at a time as to not let the movement come apart. The movement is installed to the front of the clock case with a board between the front of the movement and the clock dial.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
German Mechanical Mantle Clock Kit
A quality 8 day, German made, spring driven unit in this German Mechanical Mantle Clock-Kit. It has a 130-678 German made Hermle clock movement with the two hammers on the back that strike bells (included). The kit comes with the movement, bells, hands, dial and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case. The clock case would usually be mantle clock and this is to be built on the customers end.
Hammer Adjustment
The mounted two bell strike system will need some final adjusting before mounting the movement. This is because during shipping the hammers may not be aligned for a crisp musical bell tone. The hammer heads need to be away from the bell at rest, about 1/8 inch away. This is adjusted with your fingers just bend the hammer head wire up / down / side / side to get the hammer heads into position at that 1/8 inch away measurement. This will produce a nice bell sound with out thudding, double hitting, or missing the bells completely.
Mounting Method
Front mount method would use the included four brackets. Remove one hex nut, put the bracket on, and then put the hex nut back on. Then do the rest the same way, one at a time. The movement will get attached to the front of the clock case with a board between the front of the movement and the clock dial. Rear mount is possible also with the same brackets. The dial has no feet that lock into the movement, rather gets attached to the same board between the movement and the dial.
Can be used as an Antique Replacement
The clock movement is also the ideal replacement for an antique unit that has worn past the point of repair. The rear winding arbors means the clock is wound from the back instead of the front. This means there is no need to match the winding arbor holes in the current dial as they will not be used. In this way, with some possible modifications to the inside of the clock case, this can replace an antique mantle movement. Since it includes the two pre mounted bells, there is no hassle with the chime block or gong from the old unit. This is the easiest and best quality solution for replacing a antique time strike unit that is lived its life.
Mechanical Clock Kits offered on this page are for the clock case maker or to set up all new insides to a currently existing clock.
Mechanical Clock KitsTypes of clock kitsBuy prior to case creationGong kit InstructionsWestminster Instructions
Please view these information tabs for Building German Wall-Mantle Clock-Kit Instructions.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles Available include wall clocks, mantle (shelf) clocks, and floor clocks. Floor models includes the granddaughter, grandmother, and grandfather series. Mechanical Clock Kit Styles are in the list below.
Mantle clocks
Mantle clock kits are always spring driven and wound with a clock key. Moreover, it can come in a variety of chime types. Triple chime, Westminster only, bell strike, bim bam or gong strike. If the clock has three places to wind with the key it is a quarterly chime unit. This means it is either Triple chime or Westminster only. In other words every 15 minutes it will progressively play part of the song. At the top of the hour it will play the complete song then strike out the hours.
Wall clocks
Wall clock kits may be spring driven or weight driven. There are more spring driven wall clocks in the world than weight driven. The weights are not light and it is a lot for a wall to hold. So fastening it well is very important. The movement can have a pendulum or no pendulum but of course the pendulum is most popular. When a mechanical clock does not have a pendulum it has a balance wheel instead. This is a floating and rocking wheel on the top of the movement and operates more like a watch balance.
Mechanical Clock Kit Styles - Granddaughter or Grandmother clocks
Typically, granddaughters are spring driven with no weights. The grandmothers are usually chain driven. The chiming units have three weights. Any other strike style has two weights. It is a shorter clock overall than a grandfather clock.
Grandfather clock kits
Typically cable driven with three weights and triple chimes. This means the weights will hang on cables instead of chains, and plays choice of three songs. However it is not always triple chime because some are Westminster only. This is the largest and tallest of the floor clocks.
Chime types
All of the above mechanical clock kit styles, in the past, have been made with every chime type. In other words there are all these various ways to make the clock play a song or make a noise. There is the quarterly sounds that play a tune ever quarter hour, the most common of the songs is Westminster, Or there is the triple chime that includes Westminster, St. Michaels, or Whittington. As for the other noise makers, we call them strike clocks because they only strike out the hours and usually bong once on the half hour. These include Gong strike (coil gong on the back or below the movement), Bell strike, or Bim Bam (sounds like its name, on two or three strike rods).
It is important to order the clock kit before building the clock case. If the case is built before getting the mechanical clock kit it is possible the kit will not fit. This sounds crazy but it is more common than anyone may think. So before spending a lot of time and hard work on building a luxury case, take the advice of getting the clock kit first. It will save lots of frustration and money in the long run.
Why order a clock kit before building
To find or adapt a clock kit to the case is very difficult. The ideal dial or other parts may not exist in the size that the case requires. Measurements need to be correct for the clock kit to fit into the case. Always order the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the case. Having the clock kit set up on a stand while working on the case is ideal. This way it will be easy to measure the various parts of the clock kit such as the pendulum swing and dial. Having the luxury of the components suspended before you to measure at will, is a wise decision.
Not all clocks can be replicated
The size of many antique clocks dials just are not made anymore. Grandfather clocks back in the day had large Clock dials with ships on them. They most certainly are gorgeous but try to find another one like it. These are no longer available. This is the case with many others as well. This is yet another reason to buy the clock kit before building the case. If the dial is found, we need to drill winding holes. This way it will have a hole to put the key or crank into. Chain driven clocks are the only style that does not need winding holes in the dial.
Alternate kit component availability
Clockworks offers a large variety of clock movements. However, when it comes to some components resources can get slim. This is why it is important to buy the clock kit before building the case. Clock dials are the hardest because there are so many shapes, sizes, and options available. Examples include round dials, square, hump top with no moon, and moon dials.
Summary
To sum up this topic on clock kits. It is wise to get the Mechanical Clock Kit before building the clock case. The best thing to do is set up the movement kit in the workshop. This way is easy access to visualize the size prior to installation. Nothing is worse than making a beautiful case only to realize there are no components that will fit it. By purchasing all of the components before building, there is less chance for error when making the case. They will be at the disposal to measure at any time during the building process.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions begins with the gong installation. The coil gong mounts in the back of the clock case first before the movement. The strike hammer is on the back of the movement. It adjusts with the wire that the hammer head is on. The hammer on the movement gets its final adjustment by bending the wire the hammer is on. The destination where the hammer should strike is in the center of the round gong, on the flat portion. This is where it should make contact. When the hammer is at rest, it should be about 1/8 inch away from the gong wire. There needs to be a space between the hammer and the gong wire so the hammer will make a crisp gong sound without double hitting, thudding, or missing the gong completely.
The gong comes with a small metal mounting base. After the base installation, the gong wire is next. The base has a mounting screw that is already in the base's center. Take the screw off the base, put the gong wire on it, then screw it back together. Before tightening it up too much, position the gong wire to its approximate position and then tighten it. Approximate position because as previously mentioned, the hammer wire on the movement is what will be the final adjustment.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Mounting the Dial
The dial on this kit is a simple white round dial with gold trim and Arabic numerals. We drill the dial for the winding arbor configuration of the movement. This is done so the clock can be wound up with the key. Attach the dial to a thin board by drilling holes and using some brass finishing nails, or screws, to adhere it to the board. Alternately, epoxy will also work to attach it to the board. Position the dial so the hand shaft itself and the winding posts align with the dial holes.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Installing the Hands
After mounting the dial, it is time to put the hands on the clock. First, install the hour hand. It is a friction fit, twist and push down toward the dial at the same time. The more down the hour hand the tighter the fit will be because the post is tapered. Fairly snug but not touching the dial or the minute hand. The hour hand, the dial, and the minute hand should all be parallel with each other. They cannot hit each other during any part of their rotation.
Hands for modern German units have a center mount in the minute hand that rotates. If the clock does not strike exactly on the hour or the quarters like it should, follow the following steps. To correct this issue, take the minute hand off of the clock and turn it over. With a pair of needle nose pliers, rotate the center mounting bushing a little bit. Hold the minute hand in one hand, the needle nose pliers in the other while grabbing and spinning this center hand bushing.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Hanging the Pendulum
The three components are the suspension spring at the very top, the leader it hangs on, and then the pendulum length all the way down to the very bottom of the pendulum rating nut threads.
The movement will arrive with the the suspension spring already in place. However, the leader that hangs on it may not be. Put on as follows: Take the set screw out of the suspension post to release the suspension spring and then lower it some. When lowering the spring, hook on the leader. At the same time, the leader should engage with the crutch that swings back and forth on the back of the movement. Goal is to have the leader in the center of the crutch that swings it, hooking up the top to the suspension.
Once the leader is attached to the suspension, bring the two part assembly back up to where it should be. Reinstall the thumb screw that holds the suspension spring, and now also the leader. Hang the pendulum onto the bottom of the leader and put it in beat. It will not run if it is not put into beat, this is easy to do.
Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions - Why put a clock in beat
Every pendulum clock needs to be put into beat to operate. If the clock is not put into beat it will run for 5 minutes to 12 hours and then stop every time. A common issue with mechanical clocks is that it stops working after moving it. This is usually from someone moving the clock without taking the pendulum off and this puts the clock out of beat. Out of beat is a term in the clock repair world that basically means the clock is going tock-tick, tock-tick instead of tick - tock - tick - tock. The easy fix is by tilting the clock and putting a shim under one side. This can temporarily correct the problem and the clock runs fine. This method, however, is not as good as correcting the beat and having the clock run when it is truly straight and level.
Adjust the beat by pushing the top of the pendulum left or right as it hangs in its clock case. Hold a lower portion of the pendulum with the left hand as pushing the top of the pendulum left or right with the right hand. Feel the freedom in the pendulum to move left or right. With some resistance at the sides at the end of the left or right travel. The is changing the beat of the clock when going beyond this resistance and therefore changing the place of the freedom area. Do not worry about breaking the clock there is nothing to break when going left or right.
Timing
The pendulum is responsible for all the timekeeping of the movement. There is a rating nut on the bottom of the pendulum that turns to get the time perfect. Timing a clock takes some time and patience to get perfect and adjust it a few times to get it right. When turning this nut, it is either raising or lowering the round bob at the bottom of the pendulum. This positioning is what speeds or slows time. Turning the nut to the right to raise the bob, time will go faster. Turn it the opposite way to slow it down.
This concludes the Gong-Strike Wall Clock Kit Instructions.
These are the installation instructions for a Westminster spring-driven clock-kit from Clockworks.com. Please be sure to hold off on building the clock case until the movement arrives and is set up in a test environment. This way measuring things can be done in the real world and everything will fit perfectly. The following is the mounting method for each component for the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit. Please complete them in the order that they are in the list. In other words, the following is the sequential order in which to install these parts.
Mounting the Chime Block
First, the chime block will mount to the bottom of the clock case. Of course, the hardware for this comes with the chime block. It has 5 chime rods that are mounted, tuned with an overall length of about 7 1/2 inches through the block. Next, drill two holes in the bottom of the clock case to mount it in the Westminster spring-driven clock-kit.
Use a flat screwdriver for the bolts and washers to mount the block from underneath the clock case. Moreover, the washers keep the bolts from going through the wood and they thread right into the chime block. To help position the height, mount a spacer block on the inside of the clock case where the chime block will mount. This is optional but can help. Nevertheless, keep in mind that the chime block positioning only has to be approximate. Obviously, the hammers on the movement are meant to be bent into the final position.
What this means is it does not have to be dead on. Pretty close to where the hammers on the movement will be is good enough. Position it so the tops of the hammer heads are about 1/8 inch down from the block that the chime rods come out of. The final adjustment will come later when bending the hammer wires as to make the head about 1/8 away from the chime rod. This spacing between the head and the rod is so it will not thud or double hit. Bend each hammer so it sounds good down the line, and a nice song will play when done.
Movement Installation
Altogether, it plays 4/4 Westminster chimes that sounds each quarter hour and strikes the full hour. The movement comes from the factory with oil and ready for installation. Moreover, it includes the leader, the suspension spring, and the hand nut. Subsequently, it has two square outer plates made of brass with the puzzle of gearing between them, and then it has the 5 hammers on the bottom for the westminster chime. This is an 8 day key wound movement with 100 mm plate width and height. The Hand shaft is 33.2 mm from the front plate all the way out.
This is a front mount movement, however this can change very easily if a custom design is in need. The mounts can go on the back of the movement instead, if the set up allows for the pendulum to still swing. The mounts are a dog ear shape with holes in them. Use some small wood screws to secure the movement. Generally speaking, this movement is sold as a front mount intention. Drill 4 or 5 inch holes in the wood on the front of the case. Of course, the movement screws to the back side of the board with the hole in it, and the dial mounts on the front.
The Clock Dial
If your clock dial has no 'feet' for mounting
The dial is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. Mount this by drilling small holes in the dial trim and using small nails or wood screws to secure it. Then, align the winding arbors and the hand shaft with the holes in the clock face.
If your clock dial has 'feet' for mounting
This is a light weight metal dial with gold trim. The width of the dial is 6 inches and has a 5 inch time track. The time track is the ring just outside the numerals. This is mounts by using the dial blind plate. This is the backing of the dial with the four feet. The feet of the blind plate will lock into the front plate of the clock movement itself. This way the dial has the appearance of hanging in the air instead of a board mount. Secure the feet of the blind plate to the front plate of the movement by using taper pines to lock the feet in.
Clock Hand Mounting
Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kits have an hour hand that has a round hole and is only a friction fit onto the post. It moves forward or backward to adjust the time. The minute hand secures with the minute hand nut. If the clock ends up chiming at other times than the quarters, do the following. Take the minute hand off of the clock. This is the longer of the two hands. With this minute hand off of the clock, turn it upside down. Notice it has a square hole where it attaches to the clock. Well this square hole is in a bushing that will rotate WITHIN the minute hand itself. So just use needle nose pliers to turn this bushing so the square in the bushing rotates. Then put the hand back on the clock and see if it points to where it chimed. Then set to time by turning the hands backward or forward.
Pendulum Installation
Grid R and A style pendulum with a hook top. At the bottom of the pendulum is the rating assembly. A rating assembly is the nut and threads that hold the pendulum bob on. As the name rating nut and threads indicates, its function is to adjust the time keeping of the clock. If you turn the nut at the bottom as to raise the pendulum bob a little, this will speed up time. Do the reverse for slowing of time.
Do not touch the pendulum with your bare hands as you can discolor it. It is best to use gloves or a rag to handle it. After the movement is in, it's only a matter of hanging the pendulum on the leader. The leader is the hanger on the back of the movement that swings the pendulum back and forth.
This concludes the Westminster Spring-Driven Clock-Kit Installation Instructions
Mechanical Pendulum Shelf Clock-Kit
This is a quality 8 day, German made, bell strike, spring driven unit. It has the popular 131-081 18cm Hermle clock movement with the two hammers on the back that strike bells (included). This is a nice compact quality made round unit that runs for 8 days on a wind.
Interesting Measurements
The hand shaft, (shaft that the hands go on) is 27.2mm from the front plate and all the way out. This hand shaft measurement is included in the overall depth indicated in the picture. The pendulum length on this unit is measured from the top of the clock movements suspension post and all the way down. This measurement is 18cm and includes the pendulum tip to tip, the leader it hangs on, and the suspension that the leader hangs on.
What the Kit Includes
The kit comes with the movement, bells, the pendulum, hands and a key. This is a complete clock with out the wood case or clock dial, you would use your old dial if you can or get a new dial and drill it out to wind the clock. The clock case would be typically a shelf style and this is to be built on the customers end.
Mounting
Mounting the movement is usually done in the front with the front movement mounts (included).
