Q&A for How to Wind a Grandfather Clock

The heaviest weight is on the right. Light weights are in the center and left. On the right side, as you are facing the clock, the right weight usually runs the quarter hour chimes. The other two are for hourly chimes and clock movement.

Is your clock even? If the clock is not on even ground, it throws off the pendulum.

If it is only the number of strikes that is wrong, simply move the hour hand to match the number of strikes. It is only held in place by friction, unlike the minute hand which has a hard connection.

If there are no holes, it's chain driven from your weights inside. You will have to pull the chains to raise the weights.

Heaviest weight on the right as you are facing the clock. Light weights center and left. The right weight usually runs the quarter-hour chimes. The other two are for hourly chimes and clock movement.

On the bottom of the pendulum, there is a nut. Loosen the nut a little bit to speed it up.

It sounds like a broken or unhooked mainspring. Call a clock repair shop, as your clock requires service.

You can wind your clock when the pendulum is moving. It doesn't matter either way.

There should be a trip lever. When it's pulled, the clock will chime the next hour and half hour. Pull it until you reach your desired hour.

It depends what type of clock you have. Almost all use a hook and eye system, however. Hold the pendulum and gently hook it into place. Make sure it's not loose by gently pulling down on it. Let go of the pendulum and start the clock.

It's probably not wound too tight, but just requires service. Call a repair shop.

It is impossible to wind a clock too tightly. If your clock will not run after fully winding, call a clock repair shop. It requires either lubrication and servicing, or a more serious mechanical repair.

If it plays Westminster chimes, it should be an 8-day clock, which means you should wind it once per week.

Sitting idly won't hurt the clock, but if you decide that you want to start using it again, it's a good idea to have a clockmaker lubricate and service the clock before doing so. A clock sitting unused for an extended period of time typically causes the oil to dry out.

Typically the left runs the hour strike, center runs the pendulum for time-keeping, and the right runs the quarter-hour chimes.

Give the pendulum a gentle push to give it just enough swing that you start hearing the tick-tock sound. If you do so and do not hear a tick-tock sound at all, call a clock repair shop, as your clock needs adjustment.

If your clock has 3 weights or 3 springs and plays quarter hour chimes, there should be a switch somewhere on the clock for silent or chime. If there is no switch, or if you cannot find one, call a clock repair shop.

Mechanical grandfather clocks use rubber or leather-tipped hammers on spring-loaded rods to hit chime rods. They need to be properly adjusted to hit the chime rod perfectly so they don't bounce, don't thud, or don't miss the rod completely. There is no way to change the volume short of physically bending the hammer rods so they hammer do not properly hit the chime rods.

Turn the nut on the pendulum to adjust the bob. Moving the bob up speeds up the pendulum, and down slows it.

No, it's not. You can safely wind the clock while the pendulum is swinging without risking damage to the clock.

There is no such thing as an overwound clock; if the springs are fully wound and the clock won't run, that means it's in need of lubrication/servicing or more extensive repair. Call a clock repair shop.

Either something is mechanically wrong with your clock movement, or they are fake weights that are only there for decoration.

Call a clock repair shop. More than likely something was knocked out of adjustment during the winding process.

Give it a gentle push just enough to start hearing the tick-tock sound. Many modern clocks 30 years old or less have "automatic beat," which requires a very large swing for the clock to adjust itself automatically. If you're unsure of what type your clock is, call a clock repair shop.

Something else is causing the chimes to not work. You did not overwind the clock. Call a clock repair shop. When clocks start to wear, normal practices like winding can cause them to stop functioning.

The hour hand (short and fat) is typically a friction-fit on a tapered shaft. It slips easily if you move it. You should never intentionally move the hour hand unless your clock is ringing a different number of hours than it is showing. If it is doing this, that means someone else moved the hour hand. Move it to the correct number and then never touch it again.

You may need to have your clock cleaned and oiled, but do not use WD-40, it will eventually gum up the works.

If you don't already know how, then I would call a clock repair shop so you don't risk damaging the clock. Trying to rehang the chain yourself could result in a bigger problem.

If the left and right weights stay up while the center comes down, that means your clock is not chiming on the quarters nor striking the hour. Check the chime silencer switch. If it is on silent, that's your problem. If not on silent, call a clock repair shop, as your clock will require service.

You could try oiling it. If that doesn't help, try cleaning it or having a professional clean it, or take it to a clock repair shop.