Clock Repair

Kyle Wolfe · Post by **Kyle Wolfe** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:23 pm

The clock in my 53B is stuck. (I remember the clock in my father's 48C170 also being stuck. Must be a typical problem which I'm guessing is probably caused by overwinding - or maybe just old age.)

I've got the usual timers for my lapboard and a wristwatch on my wrist, but I kinda like the original clock and want to keep the hole filled. Anyone had any luck pulling the clock out and taking it to an old fashioned jewlery/watch repair store? Or should I just buy a new one and replace the original?

Looks like my panel is a shock mounted panel. Will pulling the United Carr fasteners cause the faceplate to easily be removed?

Anyone know if the fasteners are still made? I'm short 2 fasteners?

Kyle
N1932C

AR Dave · Post by **AR Dave** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:55 am

Hey Kyle,

Guess my clock is original. To me it has always been for looks, but I'd like to have it operational too. Post back if you find a fix.

Dave

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 5:33 pm

Same here. My clock only works when the second hand is running downhill - i.e. from 12 to 6 on the dial. Once it passes 6 you have to fiddle with the knob as though you are setting the time to get it back up to 12. Aside from that it works great - for 30 second increments

Anyone know where these can be serviced?

jcraver · Post by **jcraver** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 6:14 pm

I know people that have taken them to a watch repair shop with good results. They probably just need cleaining and oil. The cost was about $75.00.

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:13 am

I wonder if a guy might have good results if he just opened the case up & sluiced her out with WD-40? Works for everything else.....
A lot cheaper than the watch repair shop too....

Eric

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:47 am

Removing the clock and taking it to a small-town type watch repairman is the best solution. The majority of these old clocks are Hamilton's, Elgins, or Waltham's and hail from military contracts and many of the old clockmakers/repairmen were also military trained. I've had several repaired for $35-$100 (depending on what was wrong) and the repairman wasted lots of time just telling me stories about repairing them during WW-2 for Uncle Sam or some similar anecdote. Vibration and lack of proper cleaning/servicing schedules usually kill them.
Now be ready, because these same clocks, presented to an aviation instrument shop will bring a repair quote of $200-$500

I purchased a near-exact replacement (except with stop-watch timer-function)from a dependable surplus dealer, a 21-jewel Waltham with a U. S. Navy overhaul tag for $200. It was actually NOS, but had been re-cycled thru depot overhaul due to shelf-life expiration by the Navy. The documentation alone was a work of art. Anyway, the identical clock, (Same NSN and contract number) purchased direct from an aviation clock supplier had it priced at $600.
It's an 8-day clock and keeps perfect time. Even Joe Harris bought one, but his apparently must run slow.

N1478D · Post by **N1478D** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:59 am

Yep, bought one, and still appreciative of the heads up George, however many years ago that was. The clock performed great for years, and the tag, etc are all nice to have. Mine stopped a couple of months ago. Looking for a small town watch person too. Here's where we got them:

Jennings, Al
awjenni@mindspring.com

That was a while back, but maybe he still has some.

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 4:14 am

Oh, No! I'm sorry to hear that Joe, as those Walthams are really the highest quality aviation clocks commonly available.
If anyone wishes to have a pretty close-to-original type clock, Aircraft Spruce also sells their genuine aircraft clock pn 10-22812 for $79. It has adjustable red elapsed-time hands and is original equipt. in late model Cessnas. It is a 14 volt quartz-electric (but looks like a wind-up) and comes complete with electrical harness and hardware. You should connect it directly to the hot-battery buss side of your master solenoid on the battery box via a 1 amp in-line fuse.

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 12:05 pm

Those with the stopwatch features are really nice. The first one I had was in my first airplane, a 65hp Aeronca Chief, in 1975.

Eric, if you're going to do it yourself maybe silicone spray would be better.

N1277D · Post by **N1277D** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 3:29 pm

I had a similiar problem with the wind up orginal clock in my 170A. I took it apart and oiled it, which was a huge mistake. The oil is to viscous and prevents it from working.

The best bet is just to clean the dust out of it it and not oil it.

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Jan 22, 2004 6:01 pm

Clocks/watches don't work well with common/ordinary lubricants. They especially foul up if treated "generally" with the stuff. (Nowadays they use synthetics but in the old days they used sperm oil for watches/clocks. That's the reason it's expensive to have clocks repaired....do you realize how many it takes to get enough oil to fix one watch? Not to mention the shy look on the clockmaker's face when you bring it in!)

Take it to a clock/watch repairman and let him clean it and service it, if you really want to save it.

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 1:17 am

All this talk about 170 vlocks reminds me of when I was shopping for one back in 1997. I noticed that the clock was inop in every 170 for sale that I looked at. Thought that was a strange coincidence. Found out later when I bought mine that the clocks are wind-ups.........

Eric

Kyle Wolfe · Post by **Kyle Wolfe** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:08 am

Just got my clock back from an older gentleman who runs a watch repair business. When I took it to him he immediately knew what it was and what it was from. Said that these are just like a big pocket watch, except that the faceplate can be tricky to get off.

The good news was that he said it only really needed a cleaning. I'm tickled to death to get it running. The price was less than buying a new one and more importantly, I've still got a 50's era wind up Waltham 8-day clock!

His comment was to make sure the clock gets used on a regular basis. That's the hardest thing on these clocks.

Will leave it on my desk for a week or so as I've got an annual coming up.

Sometimes it's the little things that make your day!

Kyle
1932C