Black Forest long case clock

[LyntonP]

I purchased this clock brand new from the brothers at the cuckoo clock museum around 2002. It keeps good time but the hour strike has become unreliable.
Tried to contact the sellers a few years ago but I think they have retired now.
Any idea where I could find information on how to clean the mechanism?
Regards
LyntonP

[ppppenguin]

Hi Lynton, while we have a clock section here at GVR I feel you'd be better off in a specialist clock forum.

Electric clocks are another matter. These are often unjustly despised by "proper" clock enthusiasts and hence find a natural home here.

[LyntonP]

Hi there
Ok my mistake.

[ppppenguin]

Hi Lynton. No need to apologise. It's not a mistake to post about it here. It's a nice looking clock and we're happy to see it. It's just that you're more likely to find the right expertise elsewhere.

[roadster]

Lynton,
Sorry, I didn't see your post. Long case clock movements are quite agricultural. Sometimes when I get one which has layers of congealed oil and grease, it goes into a big bucket and is degreased using Jizer, before being hosed off! Yours, being quite new should not need such extreme treatment. The big advantage when working on a weight driven clock is that there are no powerful springs waiting to jump out trying to decapitate you. I would recommend reading up on it before dismantling the mechanism; anything written by Donald DeCarle will be good, probably "practical clock repairing". Take plenty of photographs of the mechanism from various angles beforehand. Most importantly, do not over oil when it is reassembled. I use "panel wipe", available from automotive paint suppliers, for cleaning every part of the movement when it has been dismantled. Panel wipe is naptha petroleum spirit.
If you don't feel up to tackling it youself, there are still some clock repairers around, try the BHI for a list.
I hope that this helps.
Rod

[LyntonP]

Hi Rod. Many thanks for the reply. I will certainly follow your advice and do some more investigating. I have looked on the internet but most of what I found was American in origin but I am certain that similar clocks to mine must have found their way across “The Pond”.
Thanks for the suggestions which have given me excellent directions to follow.
Cheers
Lynton.

[AWU449K]

Hi Lynton,

That's quite a new clock and there might be some plastic parts in there (ugh!) No matter; as for the striking problem we need to see the front of of the movement to see what the problem might be.
As roadster says. at some time it will need a proper dismantle and clean but you can probably sort the strike first just to get you on the road.

Cleaning - no WD40, proper clock oil and no oil on wheel teeth.