another OT repair question: electric car clock..

vintagegamer

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I have a clock for my current project car that apparently is non-working. It's been a while since I've messed with it, but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks for getting these antiquated pieces of equipment running again? It's from 1959.
 
I have rebuilt a few of these older clocks, usually they just need a good cleaning and make sure all of the electrical connections are solid and not cracked. Some people replace the oscillator but I have never bothered.
 
made me think of this, NOT safe for work but its on you tube so not so bad
 
Not sure what type you have there but I have worked on some of the 70's clocks used in Mopar muscle cars. The best bet is to find a quartz movement you can retrofit into the original housing. There are companys out there that sell kits and also places that will do it for you.
 
I have rebuilt a few of these older clocks, usually they just need a good cleaning and make sure all of the electrical connections are solid and not cracked. Some people replace the oscillator but I have never bothered.


Do you just touch them to a car battery to pipe current through them?
 
Not sure what type you have there but I have worked on some of the 70's clocks used in Mopar muscle cars. The best bet is to find a quartz movement you can retrofit into the original housing. There are companys out there that sell kits and also places that will do it for you.

I have to dig it out and look at it again, it's been a while since I messed with it.

I've seen the quartz mods too.
 
Do you just touch them to a car battery to pipe current through them?
I've fixed some automotive clocks from the 60's, and they were all wind-up clocks with an electrical winder. The mainspring assembly had an electrical contact connected to it, so when the spring wound down the contact would close and the clock would wind. The most common problem with them was that contact getting pitted or burned, cleaning it up with an old points file would fix 'em right up. So yeah, you just put power and ground to it and it should start. If it's the auto-wind type, you can then remove the power and it'll run for a while powered by the spring.
 
i don't know if they have parts for your car, jim, but you might want to check yearone.com. they have a lot of stufff for older muscle and classics.
 
Do you just touch them to a car battery to pipe current through them?

i would think so. Having worked on some 50's model VW's before, you should be sure that you don't hit it with 12v if its a 6v system (all vw's up until 1966 were 6v, not sure about american cars, or what your working on, but its a big concern with older vws).
 
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