Setting a Clock In Beat
How to hear an even tick and correct a limping pendulum.
What 'in beat' means
A healthy pendulum clock produces an even tick-tock, like a metronome. Uneven spacing means the escapement receives more impulse on one side than the other.
The listening test
Stand quietly in front of the clock and close your eyes. If you hear tick...tock.tick...tock, it is out of beat and will likely stop within a day.
Level first
Many clocks correct themselves once the case is truly level. Use a small spirit level on the seatboard, not the top of the case.
Self-adjusting clocks
Most modern chiming movements have a friction-fit crutch. Gently swing the pendulum fully to one side until you hear a soft click, then release.
Older movements
Antique clocks often require bending the crutch wire a fraction of a millimetre. This is easy to overdo and can damage the suspension spring - it is worth a service call.
Still limping?
An out-of-beat clock that will not correct usually has a worn escapement or a bent suspension. Bring it in.
Not sure what you are looking at? Send a photo or call and describe the sound. Most diagnoses start with a five-minute conversation.
Jordantero Co., Lakewood COMore guides
- Why Your Clock Stopped Running
- How to Wind a Clock Correctly
- A Realistic Clock Maintenance Schedule
- Moving a Grandfather Clock Safely
- Chime and Strike Troubleshooting
- Understanding Clock Movement Types
- What Makes an Antique Clock Valuable
- Clocks and Colorado's Dry Climate
- How to Choose a Clock Repair Shop