Clock Works...sometimes

[Wes Price]

Again, just bought my 1966 Roadster and the clock will stop working sometime after the car is shut off, works just fine as long as it is running and for sometime after the ignition is shut off, any suggestions?

Wes

[Craig S.]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Wes - these clocks work marginally at best, and you need a rebuild. There is an superb instrument repair outfit in Florida, I believe it is called Clockworks, but you can search the archives, many folks have posted with excellent results. Craig

[Jim T.]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

My original owner 68's clock does this also, think it only needs a good cleaning.

[Randy Swartout]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Wes,
Clocks are elecro mechanical devices. 12v charges a spring and the clock runs in mechanical spring mode until the spring winds down, points close, and recharges the spring again. You might get away with a routing cleaning and file the points clean. Original electro mechanical clocks have a ticking second hand. Many convert to quartz movement which produces a sweeping second hand. Purists prefer the original electro mechanical. Complete rebuilds are available from a number of specialists. Welcome to the hobby

[Joe C.]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Wes:

True that the old clocks are delicate and unreliable. There is a set of points inside that "make" when the mainspring tensioner fully uncoils. When the points "make", this momentarily energizes a solenoid, which kicks the tensioner to the fully wound position, and at the same time reopens (resets) the contact points (thus, the "clunk" you hear emanating from the clock from time to time). It is these points (and to a slightly lesser extent, the solenoid windings)that are the weak link. They must go through many hundreds of thousands of cycles during their service life, as each rewind cycle lasts less than a minute.

All that being said, you say your clock works fine as long as the ignition switch is in the "run" position. It is possible that it is wired into the wrong circuit. It should be receiving 12v. all the time.

Joe

[Greg Vaka]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Sounds like your clock may be wired to the wrong side of the ignition switch post. It should be on the feed side not the side that is on when the ignition is on.

[William C.]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Likely you are in the early stages of detioriated contact points. When the car is running, the electrical system actually sees the alternator voltage, about 14 volts, rather than battery voltage at about 12.8. the difference is enough to cause the clock to not rewind at the lower voltage, the "fix" is to have a competent shop clean/replace the points on the rewind system.

[Michael H.]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Hey Wes -

I converted my 1963 clock to a quartz movement four years ago and haven't had to touch it since. I recommend purchasing the installation video because the directions and diagrams can be confusing - there are just too many small parts that are difficult to illustrate properly.

[Kent K.]

Re: Clock Works...sometimes

Wes,
Sounds like Greg's post may have your answer. While restoring my '67, it's clock was doing much the same as you described except that it would just sometimes run whether the ignition was on or off. I sent it along with the instrument cluster to Roger at "Corvette Instrument Service" (www.corvetteinstruments.com). He simply cleaned and lubricated the clock which was out of the instrument panel for the first time. It still works great! BTW - he did the work in late 1993.
Good luck with your car.
Kent #6201