Clocks for 1973
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 844
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From: Central KY
Clocks for 1973
I want to get my clock working again. It worked briefly when I first bought the car two years ago - no more! Should I just take it out and see if I can spray it clean with degreaser, lubricate it and then hook it up? Any tips appreciated!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Re: Clocks for 1973 (Fevre)
The original clocks used a set of points to close a circuit. This activates an electromagnet that snaps the points open, winding a spring. The spring winds down, the points close and snap the points spring open again.
If you remove the clock, you can open it and snap the points open manually. If the clock works, the points are the problem. I used a small points file to clean the points and mine worked great for years.
The problem with these is that if you let the battery run down, the points close and the last of the battery voltage will sometimes weld them closed. I've opened the points on a clock that hadn't worked for 6 years, cleaned them with the trusty file and the clock worked great.
Having said all that the quartz works great and lasts a long time. But... you might miss the tic, tic, tic...:)
GUSTO
If you remove the clock, you can open it and snap the points open manually. If the clock works, the points are the problem. I used a small points file to clean the points and mine worked great for years.
The problem with these is that if you let the battery run down, the points close and the last of the battery voltage will sometimes weld them closed. I've opened the points on a clock that hadn't worked for 6 years, cleaned them with the trusty file and the clock worked great.
Having said all that the quartz works great and lasts a long time. But... you might miss the tic, tic, tic...:)
GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Re: Clocks for 1973 (djcwardog)
When I got my 73 three years ago the clock did not work.
Removed it and sprayed it down with a film free degreaser, smoothed the points and powered it right back up. After a day to verify it would still work I oiled the shaft areas only with a hobby type pen oiler. Three years later it still works. It does lose time when I don't drive the car for three or four weeks, but when driven at least once week no problems.
Roger
Removed it and sprayed it down with a film free degreaser, smoothed the points and powered it right back up. After a day to verify it would still work I oiled the shaft areas only with a hobby type pen oiler. Three years later it still works. It does lose time when I don't drive the car for three or four weeks, but when driven at least once week no problems.
Roger
