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The clock in my ‘62 has never worked. I am not positive it is getting power. Does the fact that it illuminates with all the other accessories (gauge lights), mean that it is receiving power?
Thank you for your expertise.
PS: Now that I think about it, I would venture to say that the bulb and clock are probably on different circuits. Otherwise, the clock would only get power when the dash lights are on, if they (clock and light), shared a power source.
Your venture is correct, the light bulb is powered by the light switch and connected to the other dash lights, while the clock itself is powered all the time.
There is an electrical contact that connects to an electromagnet inside the clock, that causes it's spring to be rewound suddenly about every minute. This is one source of trouble. The other source of trouble is that the clock mechanism is built so that it will work for a year or two, then wear out....it's not a fine jeweled movement, it's a rather cheap mechanical clock.
You can check for power with a test light, don't be surprised if it is getting power, but not working.
Your venture is correct, the light bulb is powered by the light switch and connected to the other dash lights, while the clock itself is powered all the time.
There is an electrical contact that connects to an electromagnet inside the clock, that causes it's spring to be rewound suddenly about every minute. This is one source of trouble. The other source of trouble is that the clock mechanism is built so that it will work for a year or two, then wear out....it's not a fine jeweled movement, it's a rather cheap mechanical clock.
You can check for power with a test light, don't be surprised if it is getting power, but not working.
I've had various vintage GMs...so far, a 66, 69, 70, 71, 73, 78...of them all only my '66 and my '73 actually had a clock, and in my Sting Ray the hands even go around. Of course, it bears no relation to the actual time of day, but it's an amusing novelty.
IIRC they are built by Borg (I could be wrong here), the same company that used to make aviation clocks that I used to enjoy restoring. The big issue is long term storage or any time the battery runs down. When this happens and the points in the clock close there can reach a point where there is not enough voltage for the magnet to "pop" (reset) the spring/winding mechanism. The points remain closed and the remaining voltage fries the magnetic coil. Aircraft usually have a low amp slow blow fuse to protect against this (don't think cars do). Smaller, easy fix issue is that the clock points just become burned or dirty.
I think there were different suppliers of clocks. Mine was made by wesclox.
The Corvette clock was the same as the 55-56 full size car clock, mostly...I think the clock delete cup from one of those cars will fit, I'd like to find a nice one and put it in.
Took out the original clock out of my 59 C1 and installed the quartz repro.. Very happy with the change. Looks the same, uses less juice and keeps perfect time. However I may not be the one to offer advice, my vette has disk brakes also.
I think there were different suppliers of clocks. Mine was made by wesclox.
The Corvette clock was the same as the 55-56 full size car clock, mostly...I think the clock delete cup from one of those cars will fit, I'd like to find a nice one and put it in.
That's right. To remove, you only have to push the clock inwards about 1/2" or so and rotate counterclockwise as I recall. Much simpler than the two clips on the '63-'67 models!
The magnetic coil & points are still fine on my '66, but one of the primary shafts on the gears uses only a hole drilled into the backplate as support, and given a few years the hole becomes elongated enough to cause misalignment problems. That's why sometimes when removing and testing the clock it works fine lying on the table, but when reinstalled into vertical position it won't run, the wheel drops down in the worn elongated slot. Absolutely needs a jewel at that point if designed for longer term service . . . which they weren't . . . . .
I got the quartz replacement for my 62. (Kept the original) The old clocks were just not a practical design thats why they dont work. Get the quartz and forget about it.
1962 clock doesn’t work
That's right. To remove, you only have to push the clock inwards about 1/2" or so and rotate counterclockwise as I recall. Much simpler than the two clips on the '63-'67 models!
