The Devil clock
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
The Devil clock
Okay most of you know I removed the dash and replaced guages fixed this or that and afterwards the clock stopped then started for no reason. Well today I put in 2 new chrome ventilation ***** and for safety sake with wires about I disconnected the battery and guess what.............the clock kept ticking for about a minute! Battery was disconnected, I mean the positive battery clamp was no where near the positive post and it kept going. Either I have residual power somewhere or the car's got a UPS.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 1
From: "Too Low, Too Fast, Too Loud" TX
Isn't the clock an electromagnetic quartz set up..pulls juice to charge the movement..then keeps time..will pull juice when it needs it again??? Thought this was what the slow drain on the batteries was all about? Just a thought..thanks! Joe!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Does your clock's second hand "tick"? What I mean by that is does it stop between seconds? If it doesn’t then it is probably been rebuilt with a quartz kit at some point. I think all your seeing is a capacitor discharging. I don't believe you would see that with the original mechanical setup.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 2
From: Round Rock, Texas, USA Texas
I put a new quartz clock in not long ago --- while reasearching redoing my original I learned it is set up in a fashion that the power actually "winds" the clock and then when it winds down a contactor comes in contact and "re-winds" it again --- if you search under topics posted by me you will see all the info others posted. Sound like you just saw your winding down.
Good luck --- if all else fails gets a cross and maybe even a wooden stake and wear some garlic around your neck --- that sould keep you safe
Good luck --- if all else fails gets a cross and maybe even a wooden stake and wear some garlic around your neck --- that sould keep you safe
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: Maplewood NJ
Originally Posted by rrent
I put a new quartz clock in not long ago --- while reasearching redoing my original I learned it is set up in a fashion that the power actually "winds" the clock and then when it winds down a contactor comes in contact and "re-winds" it again --- if you search under topics posted by me you will see all the info others posted. Sound like you just saw your winding down.
Don't worry, your clock is not possessed. As the clock unwinds it physically brings together two contacts that briefly energize a solenoid, which, when it recoils will rewind the clock. This cycle happens every 1-2 minutes, so if your clock is the old mechanical style expect it to run for 1-2 minutes independent of any power source. 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
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From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by 80Xflags
Don't worry, your clock is not possessed. As the clock unwinds it physically brings together two contacts that briefly energize a solenoid, which, when it recoils will rewind the clock. This cycle happens every 1-2 minutes, so if your clock is the old mechanical style expect it to run for 1-2 minutes independent of any power source. Corvette Stories
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,690
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From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by 80Xflags
Don't worry, your clock is not possessed. As the clock unwinds it physically brings together two contacts that briefly energize a solenoid, which, when it recoils will rewind the clock. This cycle happens every 1-2 minutes, so if your clock is the old mechanical style expect it to run for 1-2 minutes independent of any power source. 
The wooden stake, while possibly effective, will damage the clock.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by CA-Legal-Vette
While I believe this is correct, you might want to sacrifice a chicken over the clock just to be sure. The wooden stake, while possibly effective, will damage the clock.
The wooden stake, while possibly effective, will damage the clock.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Similar experience - My clock hadn't run in 20 years. One day, a few years ago, I was sitting in the car doing nothing and it was real quiet. Suddenly - click! - the clock decided to start running.
[insert Outer limits guitar music...]
[insert Outer limits guitar music...]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Actually the contacts are little more than the equivalent of a set of points. Many times they will weld themselves together as a battery runs down and doesn't have enough power to "snap" the points open. (Actually it's more of a bond and less of a weld.)
The easiest thing to do is check that the points operate, and then use a fine fingernail file to smooth them. I've gotten more than a few older clocks to work this way.
GUSTO
The easiest thing to do is check that the points operate, and then use a fine fingernail file to smooth them. I've gotten more than a few older clocks to work this way.
GUSTO