Pinion Replacement:
Quite often it will be necessary to install new pinions in clocks with
lantern gear or roller pinions. In most cases , it will be possible to do with a
minimum of effort. The best wire to use is pivot wire (hard steel). Be sure to smooth
the end where the cut is before you install the new wire. Before you remove the
end of the pinion holder , taper the shaft with emery paper to .0008 in. plus or
minus ,00005 in. to allow the end to slide off easily once it is broken loose. The
mark that the tapering makes will also let you know where to re-position the
end when it is re-installed. Be sure to SLIGHTLY close the hole in the end so
it will be TIGHT when it is driven into place. If the holes in the holder for the
pinions have lost their ability to keep the wires in DO NOT SOLDER THEM.
Simply install a washer over the tip held on by a bushing friction fit on the shaft.When the end is driven back on , it may be difficult to keep the pinions lined up. Use grease to hold them in place after the end is as close as possible
without actually contacting the pinions. After the work is done be absolutely
sure to remove all the grease before the clock is reassembled.
Sometimes it will be almost impossible to extract the end of a broken
pinion, particularly if the pinion gear happens to be part of the centerpost; some
of them are one piece . Use a magnetized screwdriver to remove the end; this
has worked for me several times. If the centerpost gear has a one piece pinion,
and it needs repair, open the holes on the top and remove the bad wires through
the holes then use the washer method to hold the new pinion wires in.
Return Springs:
On w/c clocks with strike shutoffs on the front plate with pin on the
shutoff lever instead of flat side, a return spring will often be essential.