How to Wind a Clock Correctly
Key-wound and chain-driven clocks, and the winding mistakes that cause damage.
Wind on a schedule
Eight-day clocks should be wound the same day each week; 30-hour clocks daily. Letting a clock run down completely is not harmful, but irregular winding makes timekeeping erratic.
Support the key
Hold the clock case steady with one hand and turn smoothly. Never force the key past resistance - when the spring is fully wound, it stops, and pushing harder can break the click or the spring.
Chain-driven clocks
Pull the chain, never the weight. Pulling a weight can lift a chain off its sprocket and drop it inside the case.
Cable-driven grandfather clocks
Wind each of the three weights until it is a few inches from the seatboard. Watch the cable spool evenly - overlapping cable is a common cause of failure.
Do not overwind - it is a myth
A clock that will not run after winding is not overwound. It is dirty, worn, or has a broken spring.
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Jordantero Co., Lakewood COMore guides
- Why Your Clock Stopped Running
- A Realistic Clock Maintenance Schedule
- Setting a Clock In Beat
- 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