Dash Clock Rebuild?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Dash Clock Rebuild?
Good morning all and preemptive happy 4th of July,
My C3 has a dash clock that doesn't work. I also have a '79 C20 squarebody pickup truck with a clock that works, but sticks. If the C3 clock is anything like the C20 clock (I haven't had the C3 clock out of the dash) its a fully mechanical movement that's driven by an electric motor.
Now I've seen a lot of things as a mechanic, but I know enough to know not to mess with mechanical clocks.
Is there a guy / company that will service these things? I have a feeling if I went to a wristwatch shop (usually jewelry stores) that I'd get laughed out of the room.
Thanks,
My C3 has a dash clock that doesn't work. I also have a '79 C20 squarebody pickup truck with a clock that works, but sticks. If the C3 clock is anything like the C20 clock (I haven't had the C3 clock out of the dash) its a fully mechanical movement that's driven by an electric motor.
Now I've seen a lot of things as a mechanic, but I know enough to know not to mess with mechanical clocks.
Is there a guy / company that will service these things? I have a feeling if I went to a wristwatch shop (usually jewelry stores) that I'd get laughed out of the room.
Thanks,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,645
Likes: 2,464
From: Indiana
Diy link here 
2 years still working
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ck-repair.html
here is 2 minutes of meditation… after banging around pulling in garage and engine off silenced ..it sure brings back memories hearing tictoc, and then the click of it resetting spring
2 years still workinghttps://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ck-repair.html
here is 2 minutes of meditation… after banging around pulling in garage and engine off silenced ..it sure brings back memories hearing tictoc, and then the click of it resetting spring
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 81
Likes: 55
I've been successful in fixing two 1972 mechanical clocks, the first was on my Challenger and the second was on my C3. In both cases, the clocks sitting for an extended time without running caused them to freeze. Both took nothing more than cleaning (alcohol, cotton swab, cloth, toothpick, etc.), a tiny bit of oil, and then gently rocking the gears to free them. I kept them out of the car for a few days, left hooked up to a 12v power supply to ensure they kept working. Afterwards put them back and haven't had an issue since.
Main thing for me was just to be gentle, don't force anything, and take my time.
Main thing for me was just to be gentle, don't force anything, and take my time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 82
I just took my 71 clock apart, cleaned and oiled it. I also cleaned the contact points, works now! I haven’t check accuracy, probably best to use a lighter watch oil and use sparingly. I used 3 in 1 oil, are a lot of different watch oils.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks for the feedback everybody - every comment was helpful. I visited that other thread and downloaded the "Mechanical Clock Repair" by Jay Ney.
Not sure why that didn't show up as the first result in a forum search... oh well. Going to try it on my C20 clock first since its out of the truck, then we'll see how that goes before I start on the C3.
Thanks everybody
Not sure why that didn't show up as the first result in a forum search... oh well. Going to try it on my C20 clock first since its out of the truck, then we'll see how that goes before I start on the C3.
Thanks everybody
