A Seth Thomas mantel clock not only adds a touch of elegance to any room but helps you to keep track of time. The ticking sound of its pendulum alerts you to the fact that all is well within its inner workings. When the pendulum in your clock stops swinging or if your clock refuses to keep correct time the services of a professional clock repair technician often is not necessary. It’s very possible to get your clock up and running again using a few tools you may have around the house.
Place a level on the top of the clock’s case and check to see that it is resting evenly on each of its four legs. The most common problem with a Seth Thomas mantel clock occurs when it is not level. If your clock has a leveling wheel on each foot, turn it clockwise to lower the level or counterclockwise to raise the height; otherwise, use small wooden shims to make adjustments to the level.
Check your clock’s pendulum bob. That’s the metal weight that hangs at the lower end of the pendulum rod; it’s held in place with a nut underneath the bob. Turn the nut a ¼ turn to the right to make the clock run faster; to slow the speed of the clock, turn the nut a ¼ turn to the left.
Open the door, in the back of the clock, to expose its gears. Point the nozzle of canned air toward the mechanism and fire off a short puff of compressed air. This should remove dust or dirt particles from the inner gears and keep your clock functioning properly.
Check the hour and minute hands on the face of the clock. Make sure they turn freely. Sometimes the minute hand will “snag” the hour hand and cause the clock to stop keeping time. Apply light pressure with your thumb and index finger on a “stuck” minute hand. Bend it down, slightly, to allow it to work freely.