What Happened To My Clock?

[Daniel K.]

Took the '63 out for a drive yesterday. About 20 minutes into the drive, the clock went nuts. Remember when playing cards were attached to your bike to make the engine noise? This is exactly what the clock sounded like. Went on for about 10 minutes (on my return to home base) then it stopped only to see the clock face fog up (with smoke?). I'm sure there are many wonderful restoration folks to send the clock to, but I'm more interested in finding out what happened. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays.

Dan K.

[Scott S.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Points inside most likely fused together. YOU SHOULD DISCONNECT the battery cable!
Scott

[Daniel K.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Yes, have battery disconnect.

Thanks.

[Dennis B.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

My "tick-tock" clock failed sometime before I bought my '66 coupe (1972). Last winter I decided to restore my cluster and clock and proceeded to pull both units out of the car. When I got to the clock I found the plug was totally melted. The attached wiring was melted right back into the wiring harness. I peeled the harness back a bit and it got no better. Ordered a new dash harness and while the cluster and clock were out being restored I installed the new harness.

Dennis

[Joe R.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

That machine gun sound was the clock trying to reset itself and the points contacted time after time without moving. Burned the coil out of the clock.
Nothing serious. Any clock rebuilder will fix you right up!
Probably happen again in another 49 years! Hang around and see!

JR

[Joe L.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

All-----


Converting to a quartz movement gets around all these sort of problems. I suppose if one is considering a PV then one has to stay with a "tic-toc" movement but otherwise the quartz is the only way to go. Period.

[Gerald L.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

We each have our own start up traditions, whether they really are beneficial or not. Before I reconnect the battery cutoff switch I tap a small screw driver blade to the terminals and wait a moment and check to see that the 'tic-toc' clock is running. My hope is that the points will last longer than 49 years if the + clock terminal is charged with the points away. Like I said, just a tradition!

[Don H.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Joe, It is not just for a PV when a quartz conversion is a problem. It should be caught doing ops for flight judging. Don H.

[Joe L.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Joe, It is not just for a PV when a quartz conversion is a problem. It should be caught doing ops for flight judging. Don H.

Don-----


Yes, but in that case I don't think it results in automatic failure, just a minor point deduction.

[Don H.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Hi Joe,
total deduct for clock with quartz conversion. Ask me how I know. It's right in the TIM&JG.
Don

[Dick W.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Hi Joe,
total deduct for clock with quartz conversion. Ask me how I know. It's right in the TIM&JG.
Don

And I think you would have trouble fixing it in 15 minutes while on a PV. When I was a team leader, more than one car failed PV because of a quartz clock

[Mike E.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

When I got to the clock I found the plug was totally melted. The attached wiring was melted right back into the wiring harness. I peeled the harness back a bit and it got no better. Ordered a new dash harness and while the cluster and clock were out being restored I installed the new harness.

Dennis

Wow that should have blown the fuse. I would double check all the fuses in the new harness to make sure it's not over fused.

It's not that hard to change a C2 clock. Folks might consider a quartz movement driving and mechanical one for judging.


Mike

[Dennis B.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Wow that should have blown the fuse. I would double check all the fuses in the new harness to make sure it's not over fused.

It's not that hard to change a C2 clock. Folks might consider a quartz movement driving and mechanical one for judging.


Mike

Mike,
I also thought the fuse would have gone before such heat could build up. Nonetheless that's what I found. A new harness and fuse block are in place now with the recommended fuses. My clock was restored as a "tic-toc". I do have a blade type battery disconnect installed and whenever the car is not in use or I'm not around it the electrical system is disabled. That doesn't do much for keeping the correct time on the clock however.

Dennis

[Dick W.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Frequent poster here, Joe Ray, can take care of your clock needs. Does an excellent job of restoration/repair.

[Mike E.]

Re: What Happened To My Clock?

Mike,
I also thought the fuse would have gone before such heat could build up. Nonetheless that's what I found. A new harness and fuse block are in place now with the recommended fuses. My clock was restored as a "tic-toc". I do have a blade type battery disconnect installed and whenever the car is not in use or I'm not around it the electrical system is disabled. That doesn't do much for keeping the correct time on the clock however.

Dennis

That's the ticket!! If my memory serves me correct there was some type of mechancal system on some automotive clocks that would make the clock run faster or slower based on adjusting the time forward or back in an attempt to make the clock more acurate.

I'm not sure that feature was in a C2 clock or perhaps I dreamed the whole thing up.

Mike