Q&A for How to Reset the Time and Resynchronize the Chimes on an Antique Mantel Clock

On two keyhole clocks, one is for winding the timekeeping/chime mainspring, and the other is for winding the strike/chime spring. Do not force; just wind both to firm resistance, then reset the clock through the "chime" sequence until it catches up to the correct hour/strike number.

Black Forest mantel clocks need to be wound backward. To stop chiming at night, pull off the minute hand and flip the switch.

Because the arms are not properly aligned with the internal mechanism. Try rotating the arm to the chiming. For example, if the clock chimes at 1 o'clock but the time reads 1:43, move the minute hand to where it reads 1 o'clock.

Absolutely.

If you need to rewind the clock, there is often either a "key" which you insert and turn or weights that you need to draw up. After you have done so, you can then lightly push the hands of the clock to show the current time. The clock will run from the time you move the hands if it is wound. Also, some clocks have a separate wind up place for the chimes. This isn't the case in most grandfather clocks, however, some Regulators have that feature.

The third smaller hole is not an actual winding hole; it's to make the clock run faster or slower. You can turn it to the right or left to adjust the speed.

Antique clocks were not calibrated to be that exact. The chimes indicate it is approximately that hour.

This depends how handy you are and on whether or not loosening the hands on your clock is difficult. Simply count the chimes at a convenient time , say 10 then stop the clock immediately. Then in your own time, loosen the hands and move them to the 10 o'clock position, now re-tighten them. Take your hands right off so there is no chance of moving the shaft. Set an alarm to 5 to the selected hour that night or the next day when that time comes to the second, start the clock again .Your clock will go out of sync if the chime spring unwinds before the time spring!

If your Junghans has not got the speed adjuster on the face, you have to move the weight up or down on the pendulum. Move it up for faster, only try 1 mm increments to start with. Some pendulums have a geared weight with an adjustment wheel which should be marked S&F.

No electric clocks are a totally different animal - they are not run by springs but by electrical impulse. To synchronise an electric clock with a Westminster "chime" you will need to follow the manufacturer's instructions in the booklet that came with the clock. If you do not have the instructions, you can often find instructions on the manufacturer's web site, failing that, their are often 'enthusiast sites' that will have the information. When you find the instructions, print them off and save them to avoid a similar situation in the future.

There may be two interconnected problems here! Winding the clock "too tight" shouldn't in itself cause a problem unless in so doing you have broken the mainspring which you would know (due to the loud noise it would make) or It may be that old lubricant within the spring has stuck the coils together due to the extreme tightness of the overwind. Perhaps in moving the hands backwards you have managed to jam the mechanism and that is why the clock is not running. Try moving the hands forward again to where they had been and see if the clock will run. Beyond that, you need to read some books/web pages on basic clock repair to understand the subject before possibly doing any further damage.