My Grandfather Clock is Losing/Gaining Time
You set your clock only to discover that a short time later the time is reading incorrectly. There may be a very simple solution- adjusting the length of your pendulum.
Your pendulum swings from side to side. This tells the clock movement how quickly to sweep the hands around the clock face. The longer the pendulum- the bigger the arc of the swing- the slower the hands will travel. Oppositely, the shorter the length of the pendulum- the smaller the swing- the faster the hands will move.
common regulator nut
Adjusting the length of your pendulum is, in many cases, very easily accomplished without the assistance of a professional. However, this will depend upon the pendulum in question. If the pendulum in question is equipped with a regulator nut (small nut found at the bottom most part of the pendulum) you will be able to modify your pendulum's length. To make your clock run more quickly turn the nut to the right. This will shorten your pendulum. To make your clock run more slowly turn the nut to the left. This will lengthen your pendulum.
Each clock is different henceforth there is no standard number of turns-to-minutes ratio. As a rule of thumb, the larger the margin of error for the time- the more you will turn the regulator nut. Try starting with one single turn. Then set the correct time on the clock face. Give the clock movement some time (at least 24 hours) to adjust to the new pendulum length. Compare how accurately your clock is reading now versus before you adjusted the regulator nut. You may find you still need to modify the length of your pendulum to some degree. Keeping in mind your previous adjustment for reference, fine tune your timing by continuing to turn the nut towards the proper length. Remember, give your clock a chance to catch on to the new timing. Repeat this process as needed.
If this does not solve your problem you might be experiencing more serious mechanical issues with your Grandfather Clock and it may be time to contact a professional.
