How to Fix Clock that Doesn't Chime on the Correct Minute

Don't forget to subscribe for more! Here's what to do if your grandfather, wall or similar mechanical clock doesn't chime on the dot or when the clock chimes on the wrong minute.

[@michaelfish2074]

Thank you so much! My grandfathers, grandfather clock hasn't worked properly in 40 years and now I've, with great sorrow, inherited it and its finally working properly again! I remember it driving him up the wall trying to fix it when I was a kid. long before the days of KZbin

[@mr.pancakesgaming7748]

5 years later and your video is still helping people! Solved my issue with my Howard Miller Barrister clock that was chiming 10 minutes too early! Thanks!!!!

[@kelseyford7170]

I also just fixed a clock that I inherited from my grandpa. It rang 4 minutes late, and did so my entire life. hah. I have literally had this thing in pieces over the years racing down rabbit holes trying to correct it. Thank you so much for this video. This is a big deal to me.

[@NCDowns]

Just got a Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clock and have been working on it for a few days. You covered my last steps I truly appreciate your help thank you for posting this video!

[@WGYork-dk9cn]

Just done my clock! It was chiming 7 minutes past the hour.Worked a treat!. Thank you 😊

[@PendulumStation]

Glad it helped!

[@johnjohnlizard]

Fixed my grandpas wall clock! Thank you! Didn’t want to break it and you explained it perfectly!

[@PendulumStation]

Glad I could help!

[@terrywoodward4076]

So glad I found this video. Very well put together and helped me to fix my Hermle mantle clock to strike right on the dot ! Many Thanks, Terry, Melbourne, Australia.

[@lauriefarnam5530]

I can't thank you enough! My Howard Miller Presidential mantle clock was chiming a full 10 minutes off on each quarter hour! Drove me nuts... it took me all of about 3 minutes to test and try using your method of adjusting with the needle nose pliar to achieve a correct strike!!

[@remickn]

Awesome! 10 min and my father clock that drove me crazy in the last couple of days chiming 5 min later, fixed. Thank you so much for saving my time and money! It hates me going on vacation!😂

[@bernardmethot2782]

Mine chimes the time 2 hrs late...will adjust... Thank you Bernard 😅

[@mcchuggernaut9378]

Thanks! I just found a really amazing 1879 wall clock made by Southern Clock Co. that also tracks the date of the month. It was in rough shape, but I got it all cleaned and working perfectly, except it was chiming a minute late and driving me up the wall trying to fix it. It doesn't have an adjustable hand, but it DOES have a little brass disk and a pin that holds the hand on, so a little light sanding on the inside of the square hand hole and a bit of bending on the hand, with the pin and disc providing the pressure to hold it in position, and it is now chiming when it should. :)

[@midastouch9217]

Thank you so much I have a large 1981 Seth Thomas 3 chime grandfather that has been chiming at 8 minutes instead of the 3-6-9-12. I have been beating my brains out trying to get this thing to work correctly, i tried your needle nose trick & got it dead center on the 3 on the first attempt. Cool beans.

[@ritapage2792]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! After 10+ years, my Linden triple chime clock chimes on the hour and quarter hour just like it did in the past.

[@VintageCollections]

This fixed my grandpa’s mantle clock that chimed 1 minute late. Thanks for the great video!

[@sand0077]

Wonderful information. If it wasn't for KZbin and sites like yours, I wouldn't be able to accomplish half the things I set out to do. Thank you for your video! :)

[@kurtrogers8423]

Thank you for this video. My clock had been chiming a good 3 minutes off for so long I had set it to silent! Now it is perfect.

[@PendulumStation]

Glad it helped!

[@stevesumner3517]

Thanks for the demonstration on tuning the clock minute hand. That solved my problem, as my clock was striking 5 minutes too soon.

[@bigagassi]

I just fixed my Bulova mantel Westminster Chime at 4 minutes late. Thank you so much.

[@billleskeep2033]

Successful video. This enabled me to get my grandfather clock back on track quickly. Thanks.

[@bettymelton1847]

How. Did. U. Fix. Ur. Clock. I. Have. Tryed. So. Hard. But. It. Want. Work. For. Me

[@alphonsespencer3453]

My problem is different. I want my clock to strike the number of times that match the actual hour. Eg. Strike 6 when it is 6 o'clock

[@900stx7]

I have the same problem. As much as i try to adjust it, it's either strikingly the wrong hour, or its the wrong quarter hour. Unfortunately this video doesn't address this problem. I'll keep looking !

[@mknit1]

I don’t know how to make my clock chime I can feel a tug or a clock when I put it on the hour or half hour but no sound

[@sherraj3658]

He answered this question right above the original posters question by fooling the clock and moving hour hand to whatever time it’s chiming. Then move to next hour. He said keep doing that until the proper chime is reached and to never move the hands backwards unless you’re familiar with your particular clock

[@lindachristian6981]

@@900stx7 1q

[@geraldposanka480]

@@sherraj3658 o

[@tysonp5866]

thank you.I have a very old banjo clock and it worked perfect.Just a tip always look to the side of the arm that is shaped like a hex nut to put the tip of the needle nose pliars on.Mine wasn't gold it was the same black color as the whole hand.

[@PendulumStation]

Great point, thanks!

[@beedslolkuntus2070]

So many beautiful memories with these westminister clocks, from 2011. Wow, I miss those days

[@PendulumStation]

They're great! In my opinion, the sound never gets old

[@beedslolkuntus2070]

Chrisorah's Clock Channel Yep :-( and then sit and cry today that we miss our old times!

[@TheUnsureFox]

You helped me restore the proper minute on my New England Mantle Clock. Thank you! Somehow, whilst oiling the clock this go around, the minute hand got knocked off about 5 whole minutes. This video was just what I needed to get it back on track. Again, thank you!

[@PendulumStation]

My pleasure, glad to help!

[@kennyhewitt3125]

Thank you for your very useful tip. I will do this to my Regulator wall clock now. 👍

[@hurricanicclocks]

Yeah, I have a Seth Thomas Plymouth mantle clock that had this same issue for two years and I was able to fix it because of this video.

[@helicopterjohns]

Thanks for the information. Somehow mine got out of wack and your suggestion fixed the problem. John

[@brianspencer8737]

You explained this fix perfectly! Thank you so much for your contribution

[@Mach-ow7dx]

Thanks for the great video. I can now fix my clock.

[@gs4daylite]

I have a Sessions mantle clock with this same problem. The minute hand fits on a slot and doesn't have the ring on the backside to adjust. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated ! Your videos are great ! thanks in advance

[@usborn1]

The easiest way I found to do this is with with the tool that come with a screw driver kit. In a lot of these kits now they have a few bits that are square and I found that one of them fit the second hand perfectly. This way you don't take a chance scratching up the hand.

[@PendulumStation]

A great recommendation! I will keep this in mind the next time I make a repair like this.

[@jeremiah2829]

I know you said for example, "The clock should chime exactly when the hand hits 30, but as you can see it doesn't, it's actually closer to when it hits about 31, that's not too bad." Well, on the 30, it didn't chime on the 31 mark, it chimed in between the 30 and 31, because I saw it, so what you said seemed to be wrong.

[@ShredderX]

This really helped me with my wall clock. Thank you!

[@jlk63]

Thank my mantle clock is now chiming right on time, Great info.

[@leonardst.pierre786]

Love it. Just did what you said to do and of worked. Thanks for the tip.

[@ronrichmond4694]

Very good easy to follow instructions. Thank you.

[@Russell1971]

Will this trick also work for a Kassel 31-day wall clock, or not? That's what I've got now at home. My clock suffers the same exact problem, and my local clock mechanic admits that he doesn't know how to resolve it himself. And so, I'd love to do this repair task on my own clock by myself without spending extra money - if I can. Thanks.

[@jeremiah2829]

What do you mean by "Make sure you don't snap your hand off when you're using those pliers"?

[@stewartrood3633]

Minute hand is good on the hours but misaligned on the quarters and half hours. However very informative cheers.

[@sprungtols]

Great lesson ! Thank you, this fixes my clock issue too ! Thumbs up, sir !

[@sprungtols]

Use a thin minus tip screwdriver for testing electricity presence to help holding it while you adjust it to get to the right position. I don't recommend using plier as it will mar the brass.

[@jrgnc1]

How do I correct the strike count of the hour on a vienna regulator weight driven clock?

[@jayhuntley9812]

Thanks. That's helpful. I have that very same Howard Miller wall clock. I would like for it to strike on the hour and half-hour but I don't want it to play the chimes. Any ideas?

[@vincecampo6960]

Thank you for your video my minute hands not working. It seems very loose. I believe the center sleeve might’ve snapped the our hand chimes, but the minute hand doesn’t shine the hour if that makes sense.

[@vincecampo6960]

I did order new hands for my grandfather clock. Thank you again for your video. It was very helpful.

[@alvenhchanne]

I have a clock that strikes about 2 minutes off. Even though it has a spring wound mechanical movement regulated by a pendulum, the hands are same as those use for quartz clocks which means your trick won't work. So I'll have to find a way to move one of the gears inside without having to take the movement apart.

[@valodin1790]

I took a French 4 glass panel mantel clock my Mother gave me and submerged the all brass movement in boiling water for a couple of seconds to clean it. As soon as I pulled it up out of the water it started ticking and kept perfect time for the next 17 years until a winding spring broke. I, of course oiled the clock after the hot water bath. Richard Tieken

[@jimc823]

Thanks for posting this video! Made all the difference!

[@nancyl7345]

Great video, We have a Grandfathers 2 way clock that is supposed to chime on the Hour and 1/2 hour. It is now only chiming on the hour and NOT the 1/2. Any fixes for this you can recommend?

[@charleenhall2695]

Great video! How do you adjust a clock that the hammer for the hour rises but the flywheel hesitates and stops? I can manually gently touch the wheel and it starts again. Any suggestions? Thanks

[@PendulumStation]

Sorry for the delay! This is a bit trickier, there are many many reasons that could cause this problem. I would first check to ensure the hammers aren't hitting each other or getting caught on one another. If they are simply bend the hammer one way or another. If the hammers look clear, take a look at the movement for any debris that might be easy to pull out/clean. If that still doesn't do it, because I can't really see the clock, it may need to be taken in.

[@많이웃자-y6c]

Thank you! I solved the problem with my wall clock!

[@nigelnightmare4160]

As you say "It's a dying trade". Luckily there are some younger people getting interested in learning clock repair, either for business or as a hobby. Finding good teachers is the hard part as most of the "old" generation have retired or died without passing on their skills/knowledge.

[@CAScorpio]

This so very helpful.. Thank you..

[@boguslawsawicki1129]

Thank you for very helpful film.

[@SojournFive]

Great, makes it easy when you know. Thanks.

[@veronicagoode1317]

If your Grandfather has the seconds hand also, would it be more difficult to remove the hands?

[@poppydc43ify]

That was great. Worked and fixed my problem. Thank you.

[@dkintana]

Good Job Fixing the clock if it doesn't chime on the dot. How can a wall clock minute hand chime one or two minutes ahead?

[@louiseartman5504]

I have a German Regulator antique clock that was striking fine until suddenly it began striking as many as 32 times! What is the issue?

[@kathypawlowski]

My minute hand doesn't have the screw on back. Any suggestions?

[@jamesforte-mason8849]

Our wall clock chimes on the hour and each half hour but one day it made a big click sound from inside while the minute hand was climbing the hour and the chime went on for over a minute before the spring had run down. Then the pendulum stopped, like a piece from a scary film. I manually swung the pendulum but it would not stay swinging. I checked and slowly rewound the clock and the pendulum would stay swinging. No idea what happened however since then our clock chimes fine except that the 6 oclock chime always happens at 14 minutes past the hojr, all the other are fine. Have we lost a tooth somewhere??

[@winterwolf2012]

My old German weight-driven clock strikes about 10 min. before the hour. Is there an easy fix? Tried your system, but the hand won't line up with the 12.

[@kevinrogers5706]

I recently acquired a grandfather clock the weights are a b and c can you tell me if you're looking at the clock which side a goes on and what side B goes on

[@paulvollmer1547]

Well done video!

[@theeyum]

Another way to fix a off chiming clock is to move the hand by how ever many minutes it's off, then wait for the same amount of minutes the clock is off, then move the hand back to the original point. I wouldn't recommend doing this but, if you cant get the hands off, then this trick might just help!

[@juanitacranfill6218]

What happens if you adjust the minute hand but it won’t strike every 15 minutes as you wind it?

[@tracy361361]

How do you fix a kitchen clock that is striking on the 3 and 9. Instead of striking on the 12 and 6

[@shihanthetrainspotter]

That is great can you do a video of it chiming quarter to 4pm please

[@richardmcnair5243]

My GFC is two hours fast also at six o'clock it stricks once and at the half hour it stricks six times. What to do. Do you have a video I can watch and correct. Thanks, Richard

[@jland823]

thank you it helped me.

[@AdrienBCaldwell]

I just bought a secondhand Sligh pendulum wall clock that is key wound. I can't seem to take the minute hand off to do what you did in your video. Also the hourly chime is about a half hour too early. Any way I can fix this? I've been trying to do searches online but can't seem to find much. Sligh is no longer in business so I can't call them up for help.

[@deyahel-deen4695]

Hi, thanks for the video, can we disable the 15 mins alarms in these type of clocks and just let the one hour alarms continue, I have the a similar one,

[@PendulumStation]

The answer to this is "sort of." While there is no button or lever for it, there's a work around. Most of these clocks have three winding posts. The left controls the hour strike, the center the time and the right the melody. Keep in mind this can vary. At any rate, stop winding the on the right and the clock will only strike on the hour. The downside to this, is that you won't get the melody on the hour only the strike. There are some modifications you could do potentially, but none that I would recommend. Hopefully that helps!

[@jeremiah2829]

Do you tighten the bushing?

[@jonnyg5902]

Great video thanks

[@billligon4005]

So How do I adjust my quartz clock movement for my Grandfather clock?

[@markmcguffin4756]

I did as instructed and have done this in the past but this time it is not working. I was 2 minutes off and have moved the minute hand backwards twice and it seems to be going off at the same time about 2 minutes slow. In other words it would go off at 8:32 and I would move hand back to what I'm guessing is 8:30 and it still goes off 2 minutes late.

[@sc-to4uf]

*My grandmother clock suddenly stop chiming. I don;t know what to do. The last time I sent to a shop for maintenance, it costs me an arm and a leg. Any suggestions? There is a lever inside the box that has a piece of transparency wrapped over a lever that reads "Ferma Souneria". I raised it up and down but nothing happens. In all other respects, the clock is functioning ok.*

[@cynthia1088]

Hello...I have a German wall mount, 3 key wind...my second hand popped off now it chimes 5 minutes before the chime, hourly and quarterly, any advice....ty

[@Squeakie-Green]

I want my pendulum wall clock to tick but I don't want it to chime! Is there a way to make this happen?!

[@joequillun7790]

Easy fix. Worked on mine. Much appreciated. Thumbs up. five stars. :)

[@haroldfairbairn4838]

I have a Gilbert mantle hat clock. It chimes the hour at 2-3 minutes past the hour and the 1/2 hour 4-5 minutes past the half hour. Any suggestions?

[@error__name7402]

My clocks weird because it’s only about 5 seconds late on 12 but is exact on 6? What should I do

[@1717jbs]

I have a Hallmark Christmas Santa's Clock. It plays music 23 minutes after the hour. How can I fix it it play the music on the hour?

[@JerryBrower-z6u]

But what are you doing at 12 and only strikes three times when it strikes on the hour it's always off too many strikes or not enough

[@mmgraff1]

I have a 1940's shcool house clock, just had it "repaired", came home today ( the glass wasnt set properly and it broke the minute I ifted it to hang. 6 mos ago. It stops all the time but I can live with that I htink I need to level it. OKAY I COME HOME TODAY AND THE BIG HAND IS ON THE FLOOR, was there a cap holding it on or a pin I cant see . help please

[@carolclare1281]

My clock won’t chime do you know how I can get it to chime , it’s a new haven mantal clock

[@evangelinehawley522]

I just got a battery operated daniel dakota grandfather clock & a white wire is off the back & doesnt work. Theres a black & white wires. Seems like they go to battery pack. Any idea how to fix that issue

[@PendulumStation]

Hi there, that's quite an easy fix but would require someone who knows how to solder. Your local computer guy might be able to help, or anyone in the family the works with electronics. Hopefully that helps!

[@TheClockwise770]

You should add firstly that this adjustment cannot be done on most early clocks from 18th. century and earlier. It is only relevant to clocks made in the last 70 years.

[@azarzamani5117]

I have wall clock with batteu and and its fall down and now is working but is 10 minents behind how to fix it ? Could you please show us in youtube

[@BrownDogPromos]

While I like my chimes, I do not like them every 1/4 hour. Is there a way to adjust it to chime just every 1/2 hour (Howard Miller GF clock)

[@phillippasteur3904]

The only way I'm aware of is if you have a selector lever that allows you to silence the strike as well as chimes. As for silencing only on the quarter hours, I've never seen that option on anything other than some very high end quartz battery movements.

[@jacquieharper5449]

My clock is off by 15 minutes, how do I fix this? Mine does have the item on the back to grab with the pliers.

[@stephensmart7388]

My battery Wall Clock Chimes about two minutes before the hour how do adjust it to Chime exactly on the hour your help Would be Much helpful THANK you

[@marialabrada6415]

Thanks very much it works

[@adam4u]

I have a question? I have a triple wind wall chamber clock. The three wind up holes from left is right. Which one winds the clock? Which one os for the chimes? and what is the tired one for?

[@PendulumStation]

It varies from clock to clock. Generally one winds the hourly chime, one the quarter chime and one powers the time if you will. The easiest way to figure out what one controls what, is to allow the clock to unwind itself. Then, wind each drum one at a time. The center hole usually powers the quarter chime. Wind the center drum first, then gently turn the clock dial. If the quarter melody starts but the hour chime fails to strike and the pendulum refuses to continue swinging, you'll know the center drum controls the quarter chime (for example).

[@johnnrhondamozingo9685]

Clock is not chiming on the hour. Chimes every 15 minutes but not the hour. Thank you for your help

[@chrisorah919]

This is likely to be something a bit more difficult to fix. When time permits I'll try and create a video that goes over the most common reasons this may happen. It is however, different with every clock. One thing to note, if it's a spring wound clock, there are usually three slots you must insert the key and wind. This turns the mainspring barrel. It's what powers the chimes. One powers the time, one powers 15 minute cycles and the other the hour strike. One of your mainspring barrels may either not be wound up or is broken (in which case you should change it). You may also want to make sure none of the hammers are obstructed by a silence bar etc. If it's easy to look at the clock movement, take a peak and see if anything looks out of place. Sometimes a little logic and common sense helps solve what sometimes is a really easy fix. If that fails, it could be something a bit more difficult. So long as the clock isn't a family heirloom, I feel like many people make mechanical clocks to be more complicated than they really are. If you have a Hermle movement, take a look online at some break down videos. With a cup of coffee (or beer) and some patience, you can probably fix the unit. One last thing, if it's a weight driven clock (there are three weights hanging) sometimes the chain gets stuck on the gear or slips off. You can usually align it/pop it back on and the clock will strike on the hour. Again, there are quite a few causes, but this might give you a starting point.

[@audreybarnard7623]

Can I remove the weight to stop the chime?

[@iankitson9980]

I dont know if you still read this but my 98 year old friend has a twin weight grandfather clock that only seems to want to run for 10 or 15 minutes oncet he pendulem is started. Any help would be geat.

[@PendulumStation]

That goes beyond this video a bit but often times it's the suspension spring (do a quick google image search). If the weights are staying up after being wound, then that's the next place to look. It could also be that the pallet is sticking or a number of other items (usually the movement need cleaned/oiled). But start with the suspension spring first.Check to ensure it isn't broken. This happens a lot when someone mindlessly reattaches a pendulum. If it is, a new one is cheap. Keep in mind thought, it depends on how old the clock is. It might have a different mechanism. One final thought, if it's an antique, don't mess with it. If it's not, honestly, these clocks are not nearly as scary to work with as people make them out to be. Common sense and a gentle touch will take you far. Watch the gears moving, often times, you'll find something out of place, broken, etc and can then work to fix it :) Best of luck!

[@jeremiah2829]

That's a cool clock

[@terryyouth]

I found with my clock. a grandfather one with pendulum- you move the tall needle back from 12 to 7(35mins) and take it back to 12(the hour)- it should strike perfect.!

[@terryyouth]

@@WYO_Cowboy_Joe read slowly

[@hoozleup]

What about that hour hand that's not lining up too?

[@marthalewis4108]

What should i do if my clock strikes the hour on the half hour

[@herbertcoffey]

Thanks a million for the knowledge

[@Drewsroofingandhomerepair]

Thank you

[@mikeyyyv3640]

Hey, I doubt you would know the solution but my grandfather clock chimes when it should, but the wrong amount of times. For example, when 6 o clock hits it will chime 10 times instead of six. Would you mind helping me out, Thanks.

[@PendulumStation]

Typically, the easiest way to fix this is to simply move the hour hand gently, to the number 10. So, if as you mentioned at 6 o'clock, it chimes 10 times, the clock "thinks" it's 10. Just move the hour hand forward to the number ten, to reflect that. Now, move the hand forward to the next hour (in this case, 11). It should chime, 11 times. From this point forward, you just keep on moving forward through each chime until you are finally at the correct time. Here's a tip to speed up the process, if you get to 11 o'clock (for example) and it's chiming correctly but the current time is say 7, then put the clock on "silent" if you're lucky enough to have a lever for it (some of them are hidden in the back, like the clock shown on the video, usually on the right side). Then move it all the way to the correct time and then disengage the silent button/lever. That saves you having to stop for every chime. If you don't have a silent lever, then go through each hour, letting them clock chime, one hour at a time. It's a bit tedious , but, once it's done, it's done. From then on forward just keep your clock wound :) Quick side note, if you don't know a lot about your clock, don't run it backwards, always forward. This is especially true for Cuckoo Clocks. Thanks!

[@sherraj3658]

Thanks for this question because I was having the same issue. Hopefully it’ll chime the correct number of times…..I was moving my hands backwards til I read his answer.