Clock does not work 78
03-29-2010, 08:07 PM
#1
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Clock does not work 78
There is no wire to it. I don't understand how they work. Do we just replace them. I see kits available don't want to try that.
03-29-2010, 08:30 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
dont go the quartz path unless you have to. i bought a quartz last summer and it would stop working on its own. on a hunch, my buddy decided to clean the orig clock. it went back in my car and has been working since. i was charged a 15% re-stocking fee.
03-29-2010, 08:34 PM
#3
Safety Car
rebuild it yourself, its easy, mine worked no problem. Basically you just blow the crud out of it and put some light oil on it, clean the contacts and your good to go!, search on the forum there is a VERY handy guide.
03-29-2010, 10:12 PM
#6
Team Owner
Well...it's supposed to, anyway...
03-30-2010, 02:20 AM
#7
Melting Slicks
03-30-2010, 09:25 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
I disagree with the post of not going with the quartz conversion if you rebuild yours. I put a quartz conversion on mine a little over a year ago, and mine hasn't missed a beat since then, and has kept perfect time ever since.
03-31-2010, 04:52 PM
#13
Team Owner
03-31-2010, 08:30 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
I installed the quartz conversion in mine shortly after I got my '79 in 1993. Its been keeping perfect time ever since. Watch - now that I've said that it wont be working next time I use the car 
03-31-2010, 09:02 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
maybe it was my car that wasn't happy with the quartz not being NCRS. after I returned it, the vendor bench tested it and it was perfect. But the week it was on my car...it was a piece of junk. Surprised me, considering how much it cost.
04-20-2013, 10:19 PM
#18
Advanced
I would agree with those on the quartz conversion side. I have had a 68 Camaro with Mechanical clock, - fried the electrics and not worth rebuilding at the time. Put an Autometer clock in the same place and it works fine, good timekeeping, low power drain, no hassle.
I bought a 70 Mustang. The mechanical clock I was able to get working with a clean and oil, and the electrics worked, but it kept bad time.
All mechanical clocks need some care and calibration to keep them timing right, and in old cars they get very dirty and prone to failure. You can fix anything, of course.
I just changed the movement out in my 78 Corvette last week, from mechanical to quartz. it is working fine now. Looks original. No maintenance. Easy problem fixed. If you follow the instructions that come in the box it is a snap.
You could spend dollars on a rebuild for your mechanical and it may not keep time, and the electrics can fry or stop.
There has to be a reason that nearly EVERY C3 clock is not working, right? Maybe it was bad quality contacts or weak motor, or bad movements, but they all seem to be bad. I would not bother with fixing something that is most likely to fail again.
I bought a 70 Mustang. The mechanical clock I was able to get working with a clean and oil, and the electrics worked, but it kept bad time.
All mechanical clocks need some care and calibration to keep them timing right, and in old cars they get very dirty and prone to failure. You can fix anything, of course.
I just changed the movement out in my 78 Corvette last week, from mechanical to quartz. it is working fine now. Looks original. No maintenance. Easy problem fixed. If you follow the instructions that come in the box it is a snap.
You could spend dollars on a rebuild for your mechanical and it may not keep time, and the electrics can fry or stop.
There has to be a reason that nearly EVERY C3 clock is not working, right? Maybe it was bad quality contacts or weak motor, or bad movements, but they all seem to be bad. I would not bother with fixing something that is most likely to fail again.
04-20-2013, 11:03 PM
#19
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Not sure if its the same clock as the one on my 77, if it is, fix it yourself. There is a great post here on this form - here is the link:
http://pcfred.com/Vettetip/FixC3Clock.htm
If its anything like the 77, the mechanism is very rudimentary and quite honestly a ****** design, but nothing beats fixing it.
Basically, when the contacts meet, it creates a spark that throw the contact arm out, which in turn winds the spring. The arm slowly moves back until it the circuit closes again and repeats, that's why you hear a click every 30 seconds or so.
I cleaned the contacts with sand paper, sprayed the hell out of the inside with QD Electronic cleaner, oiled the movement with WD40. There is also a coil on the inside, mine was completely shot. Went down to radio shack, brought the same coil wire, rewound the coil and soldered the end back to the body. The clock has been working ever since, does not keep great time however
, but hell, its original.
Good luck!
http://pcfred.com/Vettetip/FixC3Clock.htm
If its anything like the 77, the mechanism is very rudimentary and quite honestly a ****** design, but nothing beats fixing it.
Basically, when the contacts meet, it creates a spark that throw the contact arm out, which in turn winds the spring. The arm slowly moves back until it the circuit closes again and repeats, that's why you hear a click every 30 seconds or so.
I cleaned the contacts with sand paper, sprayed the hell out of the inside with QD Electronic cleaner, oiled the movement with WD40. There is also a coil on the inside, mine was completely shot. Went down to radio shack, brought the same coil wire, rewound the coil and soldered the end back to the body. The clock has been working ever since, does not keep great time however
, but hell, its original.Good luck!
