I fixed the clock, holy crap!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 668
Likes: 3
From: Platteville WI
I fixed the clock, holy crap!
Oh my God! I was fiddling with the clock, took it apart, lubed it here and there, and whalaa, it works. I wonder what the percentage is of working clocks in these old vettes? 10%? Funny, that now when you sit the car, you here tick-tock tick-tock. You just don't here that in newer cars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 294
From: ESCONDIDO CA
2025 C2 of the Year ('63 and '67) Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Yup, fixed mine too. A little compressed air, some WD40 and it started running in my hand. Been 5 years now and still going strong.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 668
Likes: 3
From: Platteville WI
Yeah, like you said, it started running in my hand - freaked me out! No power to it. It ran for a bit this way, then, after hooking it up in the car, it's been going for three days now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
The old analog clocks have a set of points that, when making contact they "spring apart" creating the rewind. The tick you hear every two minutes or so is the points making contact and then springing apart again.
In addition to lubing with a light oil, it's important to use some very fine emery to clean the point contacts just as you would with your distributor points. The points fail because electrolysis transfers metal from one side to the other until it can no long function.
In addition to lubing with a light oil, it's important to use some very fine emery to clean the point contacts just as you would with your distributor points. The points fail because electrolysis transfers metal from one side to the other until it can no long function.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 5
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
My clock has always worked and mine is in storage for 6 months of the year with NO battery. In the Spring when I get it out of storage; just install the battery, adjust the clock and it's good to go. 
Mike
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
That "springing apart" is the rewind solenoid doing its job. Every two minutes [or so] those contacts come together. That connects the solenoid into the circuit. The solenoid then actuates which causes the spring to wind. As the spring unwinds, the contacts get closer and closer to touching. When they do, REWIND! Neat mechanism...when it works. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
My 1980 clock works. I love hearing the sound of the clock when I am in the car. But I love grandfather clocks; which make those kinds of sounds all the time. So I am biased.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
I used a writeup I found on here to resurrect mine from the dead. I used CRC CO Contact cleaner to clean the mechanism, some tissue paper to clean the points, and some WD40 to lube it up. Goes like a champion! Only problem is the adjuster gear has come away from the adjuster shaft. I have to sort the oil pressure gauge, so it's on the ever growing to-do list!
Last edited by mrmagrath; Nov 28, 2011 at 09:11 PM. Reason: Spelling
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 2
From: Livermore California
mines been dead ....
my '80 clock had worked for a little over a year, the contacts burnt and the spring stretched itself out to the point where it won't pull the contacts back together. took it apart and cleaned it up and it worked for two months after that. i've worn a watch for the last 29 years and it doesn't bother me at all.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
The old analog clocks have a set of points that, when making contact they "spring apart" creating the rewind. The tick you hear every two minutes or so is the points making contact and then springing apart again.
In addition to lubing with a light oil, it's important to use some very fine emery to clean the point contacts just as you would with your distributor points. The points fail because electrolysis transfers metal from one side to the other until it can no long function.
In addition to lubing with a light oil, it's important to use some very fine emery to clean the point contacts just as you would with your distributor points. The points fail because electrolysis transfers metal from one side to the other until it can no long function.
Muddy
