Tid-Bit 13 - Mechanism Assembly Tips
Published in the April 2012 NAWCC Bulletin, starting on page 191.
Not long ago I was reading an excellent article on moving pivots when assembling a mechanism (Some Thoughts on Pivot Locator Hooks, Scotty Dean, 4/2010 NAWCC Bulletin Article, pg 186). Scotty Dean presented a number of examples of hooks and pushers that can be used to move pivots around when trying to get them to slip into their appropriate holes. His article reminded me of several phone calls from novice clock restorers who were working on their first Vienna Regulator mechanism, and having problems getting pivots to cooperate. The one that really stands out was from a gentleman who had replaced the weight line on a years-duration weight-driven Viennese mechanism, and who couldn’t get it to run after he had put it back together. The challenges he faced are the subject of this Tidbit.
It doesn’t take much pressure to inadvertently bend, or even remove a pivot when dealing with the finer pivots in Viennese or French movements. And, while I have seen time and again that an experienced craftsman can do phenomenal work with tools that only serve to expose a mere mortal’s lack of skill, the gentleman mentioned above epitomized the problems inappropriate tools can cause for beginners. While I like to think the tips I offer in this Tidbit for putting together mechanisms can be of value to both novice and experienced clock restorers – my real focus is on those who have not yet mastered the exquisitely fine touch that renders seemingly impossible challenges easy.
Back to my friend with the weight-driven year runner that wouldn’t do its thing. Fortunately he lived fairly close, so the next weekend saw him and his mechanism at one of my benches. Whilst he only bent 2 pivots using a pusher like the top one in Figure 1, well, that is still two too many. We discussed his procedure for assembling the mechanism while straightening the bent pivots – and from this discussion I learned that he had used a pivot locator identical to the top one in Figure 1.
Read MoreNot long ago I was reading an excellent article on moving pivots when assembling a mechanism (Some Thoughts on Pivot Locator Hooks, Scotty Dean, 4/2010 NAWCC Bulletin Article, pg 186). Scotty Dean presented a number of examples of hooks and pushers that can be used to move pivots around when trying to get them to slip into their appropriate holes. His article reminded me of several phone calls from novice clock restorers who were working on their first Vienna Regulator mechanism, and having problems getting pivots to cooperate. The one that really stands out was from a gentleman who had replaced the weight line on a years-duration weight-driven Viennese mechanism, and who couldn’t get it to run after he had put it back together. The challenges he faced are the subject of this Tidbit.
It doesn’t take much pressure to inadvertently bend, or even remove a pivot when dealing with the finer pivots in Viennese or French movements. And, while I have seen time and again that an experienced craftsman can do phenomenal work with tools that only serve to expose a mere mortal’s lack of skill, the gentleman mentioned above epitomized the problems inappropriate tools can cause for beginners. While I like to think the tips I offer in this Tidbit for putting together mechanisms can be of value to both novice and experienced clock restorers – my real focus is on those who have not yet mastered the exquisitely fine touch that renders seemingly impossible challenges easy.
Back to my friend with the weight-driven year runner that wouldn’t do its thing. Fortunately he lived fairly close, so the next weekend saw him and his mechanism at one of my benches. Whilst he only bent 2 pivots using a pusher like the top one in Figure 1, well, that is still two too many. We discussed his procedure for assembling the mechanism while straightening the bent pivots – and from this discussion I learned that he had used a pivot locator identical to the top one in Figure 1.
Figure 8 – Squeezing the top and bottom plates together
Once I have seen which pivot on the left side of the mechanism is touching the underside of the top plate – that is, which pivot needs to be guided in first on the left side of the mechanism, I then gently spread the plates the least little bit so the pivot can be shifted into its hole. Figure 9 below shows how I spread the plates:
George Matto
on September 15, 2011Stephen,
another great article. Thanks.
you may be horrified that on 8-day American T&S, place a weak rubber band around the plates to keep a little pressure on them while I guide the pivots into their respective holes.
Recently, on a 5-tube tall clock, all lined up so well (no rubber band) that it seemed that if placed on a "shake table" the top plate would have found all the pivots and posts on its own.
Thanks for the cautions on the finer Viennese mechanisms although the only ones I may see are the dreaded German variety.
Hope all is well with you and Kelly otherwise.
George