FAQs

Q: What if my mechanical clock will not operate?

Trouble shooting is detailed in the clock instructions that you should have received with your clock. If you still have issues please contact us

Q: What If My Mechanical Clock Does Not Strike The Correct Hour?

If the clock is new, allow it to operate for several hours before making any adjustments. If the strike is off, grasp the HOUR HAND ONLY and rotate it forward or backward to line up with the correct hour on the dial indicated by the number of times the hour strikes. Rotating this hand independently will not harm the movement. Then adjust the hands to the correct time by rotating the minute hand counter-clockwise as explained in the instructions. DO NOT MOVE THE HANDS WHILE THE CLOCK IS CHIMING OR STRIKING. After a few hours, the movement's self-adjusting feature will synchronize the hands with the correct chime and strike.

Q: What If My Mechanical Clock Will Not Chime Or Strike?

Make sure that the strike on/off lever in not in the strike off position or halfway between positions. Make sure that the movement is not in the a night "off" position. Make sure that all the packing material is removed from the movement area. You should be able to carefully pull each hammer back away from the rod approximately one inch. Check the hammer adjustment to be sure that the hammers are properly aligned with the gong rods. For weight driven clocks, make certain that the weights are in their proper location. The proper position of the weights as you are facing your clock is labeled on the bottom of each weight. If your clock is a cable driven clock and was previously run, it is possible that the cables were not wound up with the weights left on the pulley. When this happens, the cables overlap on the drum. Check the cables on the drums to see if they are overlapped. If so, contact McGuire's Clocks at (512) 452-4558. Correcting this problem is not covered under warranty.

Q: What If My Mechanical Weight Driven Chimes / Hour Strikes Seem Exceptionally Very Fast Or Slow?

Be certain that the weights are in their proper location. The proper position of the weights as you are facing your clock is labeled on the bottom of each weight.

Q: What If My Mechanical Clock Is In The Night "Off" Position And It Is Silent During The Day Instead Of The Night?

Rotate the minute hand counterclockwise twelve hours. . DO NOT MOVE THE HANDS WHILE THE CLOCK IS CHIMING OR STRIKING.

Q: What If My Clock Chimes Have The Incorrect Tone?

DO NOT ADJUST THE CHIME HAMMER, unless the chime tone is incorrect. The chime tone may be affected by the hammer resting on the chime rod (coil) or striking the rod (coil) off center. Although the hammers were set at the factory, it is possible for the hammers to get out of adjustment. Chime hammer arms are made of brass and can be bent safely. This is accomplished by bending the hammer arms slightly in the middle so that the hammers rest approximately 1/8 inch from the chime rod. DO NOT bend the chime rod. Strike volume cannot be adjusted.

Q: Can I Increase Or Decrease The Chime Volume In My Mechanical Clock?

No, volume is not adjustable.

Q: What If A Chime Rod Is Broken?

Contact us for a replacement rod

Q: What If My Mechanical Clock Operated Fine For Several Years But Now Is Slow Or Stopping?

It is likely that your clock movement needs maintenance.

Q: What If My Pendulum Hangs Crooked?

Pendulums can get twisted in shipping or handling. Please use cotton gloves or a soft non-abrasive cloth when handling the pendulum. To straighten the pendulum, first remove it from the clock. With one hand, hold the pendulum below the top strap. With the other hand, grasp the pendulum bob. Gently twist the pendulum in the direction necessary to eliminate the twist.

Q: What If My Pendulum Hits The Weights?

The clock may not be level. 

Q: What If The Hands Are Bent?

The clock hands are easily bent. Carefully bend them back to the correct position.

Q: How Do I Reset The Time For Daylight Savings?

When setting the clock back one hour, rotate the minute hand counterclockwise one-hour. When setting the clock ahead one hour, rotate the minute hand clockwise one-hour. When moving the hands forward, it is important to allow the clock to chime every quarter hour (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1) before advancing the hands to the next quarter hour position. . DO NOT MOVE THE HANDS WHILE THE CLOCK IS CHIMING OR STRIKING.

Q: How Do I Wind My Clock?

Floor Clocks Cables with Pulleys Weights that are suspended by cables with pulleys should be raised by using the crank provided. DO NOT lift the weights by hand while cranking. Insert the crank into the holes located in the dial face. It does not matter in what order the clock weights wound. All weights need to be wound to the up position.

Floor Clocks Chains Pull straight down on the chains. DO NOT lift up on the weights as this could cause the weight to come unhooked from the chain. Pull down on the loose end of the chain until the weight is approximately 2 inches from the bottom of the wood movement mounting board. It does not matter in what order the clock weights wound. All weights need to be wound to the up position.

Wall and Mantel Clocks Insert the winding key into the holes located in the dial face. Depending upon the model of your clock, there can be 1, 2, or 3 winding keyholes. Turn the key clockwise until the spring becomes tight and will not turn further. For clocks with hanging weights, raise the weights using the crank. DO NOT lift the weights by hand while cranking. Wind your clock once a week. It does not matter in what order the clock weights wound. All springs must be fully wound.

Q: What If The Weights Do Not Drop At The Same Rate?

When the automatic nighttime shut-off feature is selected, and on some models when "silent" is selected, the center weight will drop at a faster rate than the other weights.

Q: What If The Top Of My Dial Is Tilted Back And The Hammers Are Not Properly Aligned With The Chime Rods?

This is often an indication that the clock has been dropped on its back during freight from the factory to you. Often, this type of concealed damage is not visible from the outside of the carton. Inspect for other possible damage. Notify the freight carrier and McGuire's Clocks in writing immediately and request a carrier inspection and damage report. Failure to notify the freight carrier within 14 days of product receipt by the original consignee may waive your rights to a damage claim. It is possible that significant damage did not occur and components only shifted as a result of being dropped. In most cases, this problem can be easily corrected by a service technician.

Q: How Should I Prepare My Floor Clock To Be Moved?

Care should be taken whenever you move your clock to ensure that all accessory parts such as pendulum, weights, etc. are removed and packed properly to prevent damage. Use cotton gloves or a soft cloth when handling the pendulum or weights.
For clocks with a cable driven movement, wind the weights all the way up. For clocks with chains, use a long wire or string and put it through the chain links just below the chain sprocket. When done properly, the wire or string should go through six chain links. Secure the wire or string to prevent the chains from coming loose from the sprocket.
Carefully stop the pendulum from swinging. Remove the weights. NEVER wind the clock without the weights installed. For clocks with chains, secure the chains so that they do not damage the finish. Remove the pendulum.
For tubular movements, remove the tubes Keep the clock in an upright position while carefully moving it to its new location. Set the clock up per the original set-up instructions. Ensure that the pulleys are properly located on the cables and the chains are properly located on the sprockets.

Q: What Should I Expect When My Floor Clock Is Professionally Set-Up?

When arrangements have been made with a dealer, retailer, or Service Center to professionally set-up your clock, the following should be expected. Professional set-up is an additional expense. The set-up technician is expected to:

• Treat your home the same way they would treat their own.
• Be knowledgeable and courteous.
• Completely set-up the clock following the set-up instructions in the order in which they are detailed in the instructions manual.
• Ensure that the clock is level and stable.
• Ensure that the clock runs continuously for a minimum of 10-minutes.
• Ensure that the clock strikes the correct hour.
• Ensure that the chime is correct and the hammers are properly positioned.
• Ensure that the pendulum swings properly.
• Ensure that the moon dial is properly set.
• Ensure that you have all the parts.
• Review the instruction manual with you.

Q: What If My Quartz Dual Chime Movement Will Not Operate Properly?

First, ensure that you are using brand new alkaline batteries. Batteries made by various manufacturers may present some difficulty in working properly in the movement. A poor electrical connection can cause inferior performance. Ensure that the positive battery contacts are positioned over the nub on the end of the batter.
The problem area is typically the negative end of the battery. Ensure that the negative battery contacts are positioned completely on the metal contact area of the battery. As necessary, bend the battery contacts out to ensure that they are not making contact with the battery casing. If necessary to ensure a proper contact on the negative end of the battery, take a 1 inch by 1 inch piece of aluminum foil and fold it over tightly to the size of 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch and place it between the battery contact and the battery.

Q: How Do Radio Controlled Clocks Work?

Radio controlled clocks receive a signal from the NIST Radio station WWVB located near Fort Collins, Colorado. WWVB continuously broadcasts time and frequency signals at 60 kHz. WWVB provides standard time information, including year; time intervals; Daylight Savings Time, leap second, and leap-year indicators. The transmitted accuracy of WWVB is normally better than 1 part in 100 billion with day-to-day deviations less than 5 parts in 1000 billion.
Due to the effects of the many communication devices used throughout the United States (more so during the day than at night, and more so during the week than the weekend), the WWVB transmission is easier to receive at night and during the weekend.

Q: How Often Should My Mechanical Clock Movement Be Oiled And Cleaned?

It is recommended that your clock movement be oiled every two years from the date of purchase and thoroughly cleaned every five to ten years depending upon climatic conditions. Extremely dry, humid or salty air, hot or cold may necessitate more frequent servicing. Please contact McGuire's Clocks to set up a service call. Cleaning and oiling are not covered under war.

Q: How Do You Recommend That I Clean And Maintain My Clock?

It is recommended that your clock movement be oiled every two years from the date of purchase and thoroughly cleaned every five to ten years depending upon climatic conditions. Extremely dry, humid or salty air, hot or cold may necessitate more frequent servicing.

Q: How Do I Align The Front Door Of My Collectors Cabinet?

Collectors Cabinets with a front door (opens from the front as you view the cabinet) may need some adjustment to properly align the door in relation to the cabinet frame. Use this guide only after you have carefully read and completed the instructions for Collectors Cabinet.

• ADJUST: If the collectors cabinet does not sit firmly upon each leveler, adjust the levelers to stabilize your collectors cabinet.
• LEVEL: It is important that the collectors cabinet be level prior to final adjustment.
• FINAL ADJUSTMENT: Collectors cabinet final adjustment should be expected, but, may not be required for all collectors cabinets. Final adjustment is needed if the door rubs (when opening or closing the door) or appears to not hang properly in relation to the case. The following adjustment procedures assume a single, right hinge door, collectors cabinet. (Right and left are determined as you face the front of the collectors cabinet.) These adjustments should be performed with a minimum of two (2) persons.
• Release the pressure (never tip the collectors cabinet) on the front of the collectors cabinet and screw the right front leveler out (down) approximately 1 full turn do not adjust the left front leveler at this time.
• Allow the collectors cabinet to sit back on the leveler. Continue to adjust the right-front leveler out (down) until such time that the left-front leveler does not fit snugly on the floor. This will likely be no more than a few turns out (down).
• Adjust the two rear levelers and then the left-front out (down) until such that the collectors cabinet is sitting in a stable position. (Do NOT release the pressure on levelers to accomplish this. Let the collectors cabinet sit on the floor while adjusting.)
• Make further adjustments to ensure the collectors cabinet is not leaning forward. Once the proper final adjustment has been established, it will likely require repeating if the collectors cabinet is relocated.

Q: What If The Door On My Collectors Cabinet Rubs At The Bottom?

Since the door has a wood frame with very heavy glass, it is possible that the door may rub although the case may be square as measured using a carpenter level. If the door rubs, it is necessary to adjust the floor levelers at the bottom of the cabinet.