How to repair a 1967 corvette in dash clock.

[@RossBrowne-u2m]

2024- great teacher. Learned a lot about the clock and how it works and what to look for when trying to fix it.

[@daveknowshow]

@@RossBrowne-u2m thanks it’s nice to hear folks appreciate the effort in these videos

[@wyattoneable]

You sure don't see mechanical automotive clocks any more. From operating a tractor I never would have guessed you are into this too. That's cool, and you did a good job explaining everything.

[@daveknowshow]

+wyattoneable when your poor you have to learn a lot of different skill sets.

[@wyattoneable]

+daveknowshow That's how I was raised too. My Dad did everything around the house and took in several of the neighbors cars to work on for extra money. I learned a lot from him, mainly how to work and appreciate the value of money.

[@daveknowshow]

yup I was blessed with mad skills thanks to my Dad who could fix just about anything. he was an agent with the federal government. got his start working in small arms missile controls at the naval weapons station here in VA. he got that job because he was also a clock maker and gemologist. he was truly a smart man with many talents. I miss him daily. may he RIP!

[@wyattoneable]

+daveknowshow May he Rest in peace.

[@ds6846]

This was AWESOME. I have a 66 vette and the clock was dead. I pulled it out, removed the back cover, sanded the points a little, oiled the works with a little WD40, and it's back up and running. After I let it run a couple days I am going to see how it does keeping time. Right now its slow. The more tension on the spring, the faster it will run, so my gut says that if you bend the arm from the solenoid towards the other contact, the mechanism will cycle more often and the spring will on average have a higher tension, and thus run faster. We'll see how my theory holds up... What a beautiful, clever mechanical device....

[@derekr7814]

NEVER USE WD40!!!!!!!

[@derekr7814]

Also you are incorrect in your assumption. If a clock is not running right then the bushings are worn. These are precision pieces and need proper repair.

[@daveknowshow]

a little air bowing to remove dust and some light oil like 3n1 used very sparingly can help. the spring really has little to do with speed of the clock keeping time all it does is generate the power to run the clock via each stroke. its rare these old clocks keep real accurate time because honestly they seldom did even when new they barely helped accurate time after a few years in a hot dusty car. still better than a sundial. lol

[@rv8-m948]

Thanks. Getting ready to tear in to one for my brother who is restoring a 67 corvette and knowing what I am up against helps.

[@daveknowshow]

You can do it!

[@rv8-m948]

Update - My Corvette clock ('67) has pristine contacts but a burned out solenoid. Looks like it burned up pretty soon after the car was purchased new.

[@daveknowshow]

@@rv8-m948 hmm well rewind that thing! just order some magnetic wire the same size and give it a go. hecks its already broken so you cant really hurt it trying.

[@giuseppeverdi1253]

Outstanding video! Thank you so much for sharing...I learned a lot. I had no idea those mechanical clocks have points contacts. I'm glad I did not convert my mechanical clock on my '77 Trans Am to a Quartz movement.

[@daveknowshow]

awesome glad it helped ya out!

[@steelcantuna]

There is a "hidden" little lever on side of these old Borg Warren clocks to adjust the speed both fast & slow. Just keep bench testing the clock day after day & make tiny adjustments, either up or down, to get the time speed to be more accurate. These clocks remind me of a $10.00 pocket watch I bought in the late sixties. Of course it was windup instead of battery & points. But it ticked just as loud as an old car clock.🙂

[@daveknowshow]

for sure the ticking is something I really enjoyed hearing in this old clock. my Dad was a clock and watch maker for years so ticking clocks and chiming clocks are something that brings back memories for me.

[@cramsey548]

Where does this clock need to be oiled? I had mine refurbished back in the 90s they drilled 2 holes in the back, cover them with tape and told me those were the oil access holes. Mine loses about 2 hrs a day now. Afraid to just drop some oil in there without being able to see how much and where its going.

[@daveknowshow]

really need to be careful with oil. to much does nothing but attract dirt. also needs to be correct oil weight. I'm not sure on these questions. best of luck.

[@CaptTonyNEO]

What a great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@daveknowshow]

glad it was useful to you. hope you find more useful videos here on the channel.

[@elvis34ford]

Can you fix points on my 1964 Buick riviera clock?

[@daveknowshow]

personally I'm not doing much clock work these days. my eyes are bad. my Dad was the real clock master he has passed on and I merely do what I can with his tooling.

[@gearhead0800]

I have reserved an important place in my trash can for my clock and replaced it with a good quality vacuum gauge. In these days who needs a clock. A vacuum gauge is essential for these cars.

[@daveknowshow]

not a bad idea but the " purist " out here want to keep it original.

[@Garth2011]

Interesting repair. It appears the thickness of the newly made brass contact would also have much to do with the amount of time taken to reset the winder. Thicker would speed up the winder while a thin contact would require more time before "contact" is made to reset.

[@daveknowshow]

this is true but it does NOT affect the clock's time it simply rewinds the spring that runs the clock's timing mechanism. the actual time the clock keeps is powered by that spring.

[@BradKwfc]

Thanks for the great video! I have a 66 that I think has the same problem. Lucky for me I have a mini lathe:)

[@daveknowshow]

you should be all set with the mini lathe. same clock set up was used in most all GM cars and a few others as well so you likely have the same problem which is a very common problem. this clock I repaired is still working flawlessly to this day. thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.

[@matthewschug939]

The electric contact is jut a way to wind the clock and is not important to the timing. Sometimes the is another adjustment to set the timing to keep good time.

[@daveknowshow]

yes this is true, I have very little knowledge of time pieces but likely more than the average person. my Dad was a gemologist and watch maker for years before he went to work for the Feds. even while working for the feds he also worked as a watch maker. I picked up a few things but I was really not that interested in it. in the video I'm working at one of my Dads old watch benches. I have all his tooling here just a little of his knowledge. best part is this clock is installed in the vet and keep perfect time! thanks for the comment.

[@matthewschug939]

I dabble in clocks a little. I am working on a 1963 Vet that needs the clock fixed. I'll let you know what I find. Your video was informative. Thanks

[@daveknowshow]

this clock came out a 1967 but they are mostly all the same in the old GM automobiles.

[@derekr7814]

Most often these need new bushings. Car guys dont take note of this. They can be replaced by a proper clock professional such as myself.

[@larrysanders758]

Couldn't you use a brass screw, small brass screw as a contact?

[@daveknowshow]

yes you could

[@wesdoyle209]

excellent video.. Thank You! I learned alot!

[@daveknowshow]

so glad it helped you thats what my channel is all about.

[@davidflaugher6750]

For the contacts, I purchased these: www.ebay.com/itm/Tattoo-machine-sterling-silver-contact-points-10-For-use-on-existing-springs/332323734678?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 or here: www.studioonetattoosupplies.com/Tattoo_Machine_Parts.html or Google "Tattoo machine sterling silver contact points". Then I used a air powered high speed dentist drill with a 1/32" carbide burr to gently machine away the remnants of the existing points, leaving the original holes in the arms. A Dremel tool will also do this as well. Then, I used some MG Chemicals silver epoxy PN 8331-14g so I didn't have to heat the arms. If you are comfortable heating and soldering the arms, do it that way. Finally I added a 2 amp fuse on the positive side to safeguard the solenoid windings. You can also add a diode in parallel to the positive-negative connections to reduce the arcing and save the points.

[@daveknowshow]

thanks for the information.

[@ds6846]

I want to correct my earlier comment... The arm from the solenoid is NOT the way to tweak the timing. There is an adjustment wheel, close to the back side of the clock face. If I can post a little pic I will, but it doesn't look promising... It has one nub on it and is otherwise smooth. Everything else you see are gears, so that should help. After running for 3 days, my clock is pretty accurate, so I'm not going to tinker with that adjustment, but that's where it is... I think it's behind 9 o'clock more or less...

[@daveknowshow]

yes this is what I was saying in my last response to your original comment. glad you found that adjustment. I doubt you will need it. keep in mind these clocks do put a slight drain on the battery if the car sits for a very long time with out charging.

[@ds6846]

Thanks for that. I didn't see your earlier comment because I'm not very good at navigating KZbin :-) But the bottom line is I can scratch one more thing off the very long list of stuff to fix on my new project. Thanks again.

[@daveknowshow]

@@ds6846 no problem my neighbor has three vets he is working on and an old pick up truck. this is the only reason I ended up working on this repair. he typically calls me when no one else can fix it I take a whack at it. lol

[@derekr7814]

@@daveknowshow you shouldn't have used brass. The points are typically steel if I'm not mistaken

[@daveknowshow]

@@derekr7814 brass is a great conductor of electricity even when it tarnishes. however steel will rust with the least amount of moisture and then no longer carry enough power to run the clock. so far this clock is still running flawlessly and maintains near perfect time. fun fact or little back ground on me I worked as an electrician most of my life and my Dad worked for many years as a watch maker, gemologist so I been around this stuff since I was a kid. with that said I wish I had paid closer attention and learned a few more things about clocks watches and rocks " gem stones and diamonds ". my dad was a smart man may he rest in peace.

[@ThePanasoffkee]

I would have just dropped a ball of solder on the worn contact. Easy !

[@daveknowshow]

it would have not lasted very long, whereas this repair will likely never have to be fixed again.

[@derekr7814]

Not going to work. Solder is too soft. Would wear out super quick

[@BisonWorkshop]

that poor family, lol. removing her bush and cleaning his clock. they didnt know what hit them.lmao

[@daveknowshow]

+Bison Workshop lol that's pretty funny right there!

[@BisonWorkshop]

+daveknowshow i was saying to the old lady right befor you said it . whats he doing bow? cleaning his clock? and ill be damned if you didnt say that very thing and we both started laughing.lol

[@daveknowshow]

Bison Workshop great minds think a like !! lol

[@BisonWorkshop]

thats what i was thinking. did you see my latest videos

[@daveknowshow]

I don't think so I just got logged on cause my internet went done while I was uploading this video and I had to upload it twice. took 6 hours to upload. then found out it was because my internet was not working. needless to say I'm just now getting back to checking all the vids that posted the last few days. I'll get to it today since its snowing I'm not going out anytime soon.