Fixed my clock
 

Since tonight is probably the last night I'll have for a while to hang out in the shop, the wife was good enough to let me go and putter.

Being that sometimes I'm pretty cheap, I just couldn't pay the $75-$80 (or however much it is) for the conversion to a quartz movement to fix my clock. So I took one of the old factory dash clocks I had laying around and took the back off of it.

To make a long story short, I ended up cleaning it with brake cleaner (the movement) and then lubricating it with Tri-Flow, a teflon tri-lubricant in a spray can (kind of like WD40, but better). Hooked it to the battery I have in the shop and POOF! it worked. Leaving nothing to chance... I did the same thing to 6 other clocks I had in the shop (yes, I have a spare parts collection :o). I fixed all 6 of them. They're in the shop right now, hooked up to the battery,ticking away.

So, before you spend good money for something you can fix for pennies.... what have you got to lose? If your factory dash clock is not working, give it a shot.

-r-

I had one in my 1963 GP, sprayed it with WD-40 to clean the gunk out. After that it ran very fast, like 1 hour every 10 minutes or so.

I use to fix the the real cheap way, pull the bulb out and spray WD-40 in it!

Sometimes you do have to remove the clock and file the points.

Like Ron said, most clocks will run if you clean them.

i just wanted to know if all of this was done while listineng to "Dark Side of the Moon"

Another thing that happens to them is the contact where it reloads the spring burns through & gets a little hole in it. Looks to me like you could put a bead of solder there & fix it if that happens.

I bet you don't need one of those mouse repelling clickers with all those clocks clicking every few minutes.

Got to keep the Loonies on the path!

Putting a new movement in an old clock and removing the click is like using a Dodge cat whine hi torque starter.. I removes the personality from the car....
One of the first thing I use to do with all my Pontiac's was clean the clocks out to get them working...

I have a working clock but the minute hand is broken.
Any ideas for a fix / replacement ?? They are made of very delicate brass....:(

Texas Prix, interesting choice of user name.

That's what my White 65 was until I liberated it!

Welcome to the forums.

Mike

Texasprix,

What year? I have a few extra if the hand is the correct style.

BTW, the clock gained about 10 minutes in the past 4 days, but I don't really care. I have to agree with Jeff, I like the personality....

-r-

FWIW in regards tio the clock's gaining time. They're supposed to self regulate when they're adjusted to the proper time.

I've done several over the years and they've all done this.

File the points, lube them up sparingly and they'll work for years.

Wow, what a great advice!
After having my 65 Cat now for almost 6 years without a running clock, always thinking i would have to go for a change to quarz or costly rebuilt, i remembered this thread today...less than 1 hour work - cleaning clockwork, sanding the points carefully and lubricating everything with WD40 - the clock ticks away like it has never done anything else...QED again: what a great forum!

Helge

dont forget there is a specific adjustment process for those to get them in sync
I dont have my manual with me right now, its simple but not what you would expect
the adjustment is in MOTORS manual as well.

I would caution that filing or sanding the points may be a temporary fix - they were originally plated, and if you remove that plating it may cause them to arc and ultimately stick, which can burn out the movement.

I should have clarified in the above post re filing the points ONLY do that if needed. If they're not burnt leave them alone.

Mike

clock question
 

Hey '64catdroptop,
How do you remove the clock in a '64 to clean it up? from behind the dash? A friend has a '64 Caddy, the bezel rotates a 1/4 turn, and is removed from the front. it doesn't look as though my '64 Bonneville's clock is removed from the front. Any tips on damage-free removal?
thanks.

Cruz64,

My clock is in the gauge cluster in the dash, but most are held in by a "U" bracket from behind. A 7/16 or 3/8 socket on a 1/4" ratchet will remove the nut and the clock will come out from the front. Then you can remove the lights and power lead.

The easiest way is to remove the dash pad: remove the A pillar covers, remove the 6 chrome screw on the chrome section just behind the pad, pull the pad out and disconnect the speaker wire.

-r-

thanks for the help, I will have to give it a try. didn't think it would be simple!

On my '65 Grand Prix I removed the radio and the glove box (the cardboard interior, not the door) to get enough room to reach behind the dash to get to the clock. The glove box comes out easy with a stubby screwdriver, then the radio is fairly easy after that (take off the knobs and unfasten the retaining nuts, then there's a support bracket on the back along with the antenna and speaker wires.) Then as mentioned, remove the U-bracket on the back of the clock. You can probably do it without removing the radio if your hands are skinny. :)

Another clock is working. Thanks Ron. After cleaning a lubing and cleaning and lubing and cleaning and lubing. Well at least an hour of such, mine works. :) It kept getting stuck. Before I retired for the night I checked it one more time and it was spot on.
Yea for the py tech forums. :)

patrick