Grandfather Clock Chime is off by a Quarter Hour
Posted on December 2, 2014 | By clockde | 33 responses
If your clock is new or has been recently setup:
Most Quarter hour chime clocks have a self-correcting feature. You should wait until a couple of hours go by after hearing this happen with the chimes playing to see if it will automatically correct itself.
If you are turning the chime on / off and listening…it will probably continue to chime the incorrect quarter hour and other strange things until the clock has run at least over an hour.
Again..every time the chime is turned off..then back on, it will probably not play the correct quarter hour chimes until after at least an hour of chimes have played continually. It will correct itself automatically.
If you have had the chimes turned on continuously for over 90 minutes and the quarter hour is still wrong, there is an easy solution.
In a nutshell, what we are going to do is to remove and replace the minute hand where the chimes said it should be, then re-set to the correct time.
1) Wait for the clock to strike the next hour and count the hour. (no matter where the hands are located)
2) Stop your pendulum at this time. (Keep in mind, the clock is right, the hands are wrong)
3) Remove the hand nut in front of the minute hand by turning the nut about a 1/4 turn with a pair of needle nose pliers counterclockwise just enough to loosen, then remove by turning it by hand.
4) Remove the minute hand by pulling it straight out with no left to right movement to the hand.
5) Place the minute hand back pointing to the 12:00 hour that just struck on the chimes.
6) Re-install the nut by hand, hand tighten while holding the end of the minute hand keeping it from moving.
7) Firming hold the minute hand and tighten with pliers an additional 1/8 – 1/4 turn beyond hand tight.
8) Re-set the time and you are done.
**the time on most clocks may be changed by moving the minute hand backward (counter-clockwise) until reaching the correct time. *This again will probably cause the quarter hours not to play properly until at least an hour has passed with the chimes playing.
*Continuing to turn the chime lever to on / off will also cause the quarter hours not to play properly until at least an hour has passed with the chimes playing.
Best practice is to either keep your chimes on all the time or keep them off.
Why might this happen?
1) Clock weights go all the way to the bottom and clock stops. (it may not re-sync properly)
2) Moving the chime lever frequently ( short term chime issue until it re-syncs after an hour)
3) Changing the time by moving the Minute hand. ( short term chime issue until it re-syncs after an hour)
4) Winding the clock while chimes are playing. (it may not re-sync properly)
5) Changing the time while chimes are playing. ( short term chime issue until it re-syncs after an hour)
The following video will help to see how to take off the minute hand and set it closer to the actual quarter hour needed.
How to correct 1/4 hour chimes if they are off by 2-4 minutes? Minutes have passed before chimes are struck. Minute hand has a square hole.
Hi Jim,
We have added an additional page that will explain how to set your clock to chime exactly on the hour. It may be seen at:
How to set your clock to chime closer to the hour
We have a video there as well on how to do it. This will take a few times to get it right, but it will work.
Thanks!
Robert Pearson
My ridgeway grandfather clock rings for the hour at the half hour. How do I reset it?
Hi..The minute hand is on the shaft in the wrong position. You will need to follow these instructions and it will correct it:
1) Wait for the clock to strike the next hour and count the hour. (no matter where the hands are located)
2) Stop your pendulum at this time. (Keep in mind, the clock is right, the hand is wrong)
3) Remove the hand nut in front of the minute hand by turning the nut about a 1/4 turn with a pair of needle nose pliers counterclockwise just enough to loosen, then remove by turning it by hand.
4) Remove the minute hand by pulling it straight out with no left to right movement to the hand.
5) Place the minute hand back pointing to the hour that just struck on the chimes.
6) Re-install the nut by hand, hand tighten while holding the end of the minute hand keeping it from moving.
7) Firming hold the minute hand and tighten with pliers an additional 1/8 – 1/4 turn beyond hand tight.
8) Re-set the time and you are done.
This will correct it so it will strike the hour on the hour.
Hey, i don’t understand step 5. My clock sings and dings at 1/4 past the hr. So if i dings 3 times, you’re saying to remove the minute hand and point it towards 3? Thanks for your help!!
Hi Anthony…If your clock strikes 3 times and the hour hand is pointing to the 3:00 position and the minute hand is at 1/4 after…..(stop your pendulum) Remove the minute hand and replace it pointing straight up to the 12:00 position. Reinstall the nut in front of the minute hand and start your pendulum. This should correct it.
Good Luck!….Robert
How often should a grandfather clock chime at a) 15 past the hour; b) 30 past the hour and c) 45 mins. Past the hour?
Hi Sandy,
If your clock is a traditional Westminster chime grandfather clock, your chime melody will be made up of 16 notes.
1) On the first quarter hour the clock will play the first four notes (a quarter) of the melody.
2) On the half hour the clock will play the first eight notes (half) of the melody.
3) On the three quarter hour the clock will play the first twelve notes (three quarters) of the melody.
4) Then on the hour it should chime all 16 notes followed by a hour count to count the current hour.
This sequence makes it easy to tell what time it is as you hear the clock without having to always keep looking at the dial.
Robert
OMG somehow I messed up my grandmother clock. I don’t know if I accidentally did something, maybe hit the minute hand while I was turning off the chime, which I do each night before I go to sleep. Suddenly the clock was chiming 5 minutes after each quarter hour. I called the local jeweler, who recently got my clock up and running after 10 years of silence, but it’s been 2 weeks and they haven’t even called me back. I finally got the idea to check online for some instructions, and I came across your website. After a lot of fine tuning and tweaking, per your instructions,
I finally got it working 100% properly!
Thank you SO much.
I have an issue I have not seen addressed anywhere. My Ridgeway grandfather’s clock runs fine, keeps good time and chimes the quarter hours and hours correctly…with one exception. The quarter hour chimes play the correct NUMBER of tones, but in every case, it plays the last two notes from the previous quarter hour “tune” and ends before the correct last two notes of the current quarter hour “tune.” The clock was serviced and cleaned last year and was working fine until it was silenced and then turned back “on”. It has been operating in this manner for weeks–more than enough time for the chimes to correct themselves. This is noticeable on the Westminster setting as that tune is simple and distinctive; the other two (Winchester and Whittier) are harder to pin down. Any thoughts on what might be causing this?
Hi Lisa,
Next time it chimes, look into the right window or access panel and you should see a cylinder that is turning much like a music box. This is the music wheel or roll. It is in a position that is slightly back from where it should be located. It is stopping “early” There is a release somewhere in the clock to allow one to free move the wheel to the correct position. If all else is good, it will then chime correctly.
Good Luck,
Robert
Grandmother clock beats 2 chimes ahead on the top of the hour. 1/4 chimes are perfect. How do I fix?
Hi Jerrie…We have another page that will help you.
http://www.theclockdepot.com/clocks-blog/grandfather-clock-chimes-the-wrong-hour/
This is how you correct the hour count at the top of the hour to actually count the correct number of times.
After not using my clock for several years, I now started it up. It keeps very good time but the
chimes are off by 1/4 h, hour. (i.e., at 7:15, it chimes for the top of the hour, at 7:30, it chimes for
7:15, etc.). I’ve tried following all of the directions for moving the hands, but nothing seems to work.
Hi James…you need to look at the instructions at:
https://www.theclockdepot.com/clocks-blog/grandfather-clock-does-not-chime-at-proper-time/
If Your Clock Is Chiming Exactly 15 or 30 Minutes Off
1) Wait for the clock to strike the hour and count the hour regardless of what the hands indicate.
2) Stop the pendulum.
3) Carefully remove the small nut, a remove the minute hand.
4) Reattach the hand so it points straight up.
5) Attach the hand nut finger tight, then an additional 1/8 turn.
My clock is striking the hour on the quarter hour. I have reset by stopping and winding back. It may then be fine for a few days to a couple of weeks then it plays up again. It was serviced last year for the same problem but has been moved since then. It did run without a problem for several months after moving. Does it need the Dr again?
Hi Ken, If you have set the minute hand to the instructions below and the grandfather clock still jumps back to chiming on a quarter hour, you will need a technician to fix it:
If Your Grandfather Clock Is Chiming Exactly 15 or 30 Minutes Off
1) Wait for the clock to strike the hour and count the hour regardless of what the hands indicate.
2) Stop the pendulum.
3) Carefully remove the small nut, a remove the minute hand.
4) Reattach the hand so it points straight up.
5) Attach the hand nut finger tight, then an additional 1/8 turn.
Good Luck…Robert
Mine is a keininger SK movement, has a silent chime selector. It chimes on every hour correctly. It doesn’t chime on the quarter times, and doesn’t chime the hour time indicating the hour.
Hi Joey, The right side of your movement on your grandfather clock is for the quarter hour chimes and the left side produces the hour count. If you clock chimes the hour, but chimes the wrong count, you need to make the adjustment at:
https://www.theclockdepot.com/clocks-blog/grandfather-clock-chimes-the-wrong-hour/
Your quarter hour chimes (the right side) might be jammed or need cleaning and oiling. There also may be enough wear to keep it from working correctly. You will need a technician to repair as it is not an adjustment. You may find a list of technicians in your area at:
https://www.howardmiller.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/howardmiller/service-center-locator
They will be able to fix this for you.
Thank You,
Robert Pearson
I have a Howard Miller wall hung pendulum clock. It always has chimed at the hour and half hour. Somehow in resetting the time I have thrown off the chime. It now chimes the hour at 15 minutes after and the half hour at the 45 minute. Is possible to correct without removing and resetting the minute hand. Please help.
Hi Herb…The minute hand will need to be removed and placed in the correct position on your clock. If your Howard Miller clock has a small nut on the front of the minute hand, simply remove it by turning it counterclockwise and the take off the minute hand. Sometimes the minute hand is a bit frozen and you have to move it back and forth from front to back at the shaft to free it. Most come off easily on most clocks. Place it where it needs to be located according to your chime and re-install the nut hand tight, then an 1/8 turn clockwise with a small pair of pliers to assure you it will not come off the clock on its own. Do not over-tightened the nut. This should correct it for you. Good Luck…Robert
Hi Maria,
It sounds like the grandfather clock chime train is jammed. Try moving the hand counter-clockwise for two hours and if you hear the grandfather clock start to chime stop. If you feel the minute hand doesn’t want to go back, stop.
if the grandfather clock did chime when moving the hand backward, you then need to set the time correctly with the instructions below.
If the chime did not strike, then you may also move the minute hand clockwise, but you probably hear a “single click” sound at each quarter hour point. If you hear the click…stop and let the chime complete it’s sequence before advancing to the next quarter hour. Continue a quarter hour at a time until the proper time has been reached and allowing the chimes to play at each quarter hour.
If you feel the minute hand doesn’t want to go back, stop. If you feel the minute hand doesn’t want to go forward, stop. Do not force it.
If it started chiming, set the time with the instructions below.
If this did not work for you, you best need to call a technician to correct it. It may be really jammed or may also need oiling and cleaning.
Good Luck,
Robert
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Thank you so very much, success!! This worked for me! I was, in the beginning, moving minute hand clockwise and not allowing each quarter hour to chime out. By properly moving hand now it is in sync. You are awesome! This clock is new to me. I lucked up on a great find and purchased my long time dream Grandfather clock for a great price! This was my first time change having to correct backwards. I truly appreciate your help! God bless you always, Maria Gentry
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I am glad this worked for you! Robert
Hi, my clock chime is off by 30 minutes. I followed the instructions above but now when the minutes hand is at 12, the hour hand is halfway between two numbers.
Did I miss something?
Thank you
Hi Frank..The hour hand must have been moved while making the adjustment. The hour hand is simply held on by friction and can be moved to where it needs to be without affecting the clock. Next time it chimes, count your hour and move the hour hand alone to the number of counts that you heard on your grandfather clock. This will correct it for you. Robert
Work this one out! My clock chimes on the hour perfect But it also chimes on the half hour early around 25 past Then it does another half hour chime at 55 minutes too! Then at the strike of twelve it chimes on the hour perfect So folks what is clearly out on my clock? My clock should obviously on chime once on the half hour and not again at 55 mins too…. any ideas?
Hi Simon, If your clock chimes the hour erratically or the same every time, it is an indication of improper oiling / cleaning or a bent lever inside. Your clock chiming on the half-hour early around 25 past Then it does another half-hour chime at 55 minutes too is clearly erratic. These are not user corrections as the hands, dial and other parts have to be removed to reach that area.
You will need a technician to repair as it is not a user adjustment. You may find a list of technicians in your area at:
https://www.howardmiller.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/howardmiller/service-center-locator
They will be able to fix this for you.
Thank You,
Robert Pearson
My Ridgeway Grandfather clock that I bought 23 years ago hasn’t had the right hourly chime or the right minute hand chime for the last 3 years.
Thanks to your website and after a full day of trying to get everything straightened back out my Grandfather Clock finally is back on track!!
Thank you so much, I’m so happy because I will be giving this clock to my children soon.
Thank you Clock Depot!!
Hi Dennis,
I am glad this worked for you. Be sure to not let the weights go all the way down and allow the clock to stop. That can cause the issue you have just corrected. I am glad your grandfather clock is back working as it should.
Thanks…Robert
Hi. I have an unusual problem in that our grandfather clock will play through all 16 notes of the chimes and “bongs” the correct number of time for the hour. Here is where it gets tricky for me.
Nothing happens on the quarter hour or half hour or 45 minute points and then it gets to the next hour – it plays the first four notes of the chimes and that is all. Next hour, plays the first
eight notes of the chimes and that is all. Next hour, it plays 12 notes of the chimes. Finally, it
gets to the next hour and plays the full notes of the chimes along with the “bongs”. The bongs at that point are three hours off. I am currently running it in silent mode, keeps excellent time but the chimes and bongs are weird. Do you have any suggestions besides a hard to find repair shop that does good work.
Hi David,
If your grandfather clock chimes the hour erratically or the same every time, it is an indication of improper oiling / cleaning or a bent lever inside. It may also be common wear in these areas. These are not user corrections as the hands, dial and other parts have to be removed to reach that area. The left side (hour count side) sounds like it is OK, but the Right side powered by your right weight is probably where the issue exists.
You will need a technician to repair as it is not an adjustment. You may find a list of grandfather clock technicians in your area at:
https://www.howardmiller.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/howardmiller/service-center-locator
They will be able to fix this for you.
Good Luck!
Robert Pearson
After removing the movement and re-installing on my grandfather clock, it now has a problem. It plays the music for the Westminster chimes correctly, but it bongs the number of hours after the 3/4 hour music. For example, at 4:45 it plays the correct 4:45 music, but then bongs 5 times. At 5:00, it plays the correct music but does not bong the hour. then at 5:45 it plays the correct music and bongs 6 times, and at 6:00 it plays the correct music but does not chime the hour.
I have one for you that our Clocksmith here in this town is trumped to solve.
Our Grandfather Clock, after REPEATEDLY following all the suggestions here, runs FINE for three hours…chiming and striking precisely and correctly. At the end of that period, however, it begins chiming the top of the hour Westminster melody and striking the correct hour stokes…sadly at does that at exactly 15 minutes PAST the hour! Over the next three hours, it corrects itself, but by the fourth hour…it is rinse and repeat…it starts chiming and striking the hour 15 minutes off!
Help!!
BTW…I have adjusted the bushing on the minute hand, reset the hand and restarted the pendulum more times than I care to count now and am about to sceam!
Help!!
Hi,
I have a brand new Howard Miller Diana clock. It’s absolutely beautiful and chimes perfectly with one exception (and I cannot for the life of me figure out how it can possibly do this). The 15 minute chime chimes perfectly on the hour and at the 15-minute mark but at the 30-minute mark it chimes 6 seconds late and the 45 minute mark it chimes 6 seconds late. How in the world is that possible?
Obviously I can’t adjust the pendulum to make all four of them chime at the correct time; all I can do is split the difference and have the hour and 15 minute chime 3 seconds early and the 30 minute and 45 minute chime 3 seconds late.
Again this is brand new could the gearing be off? It’s not a big deal, but enough to drive me crazy not being able to figure it out.