How do I straighten a bent Pendulum ?

macabethiel · 01-05-2016, 18:34

Don't ask how but when moving our Grandfather Clock I managed to bend the Pendulum shaft.

I straightened it out a bit as best I could but it is bent and the Clock will not run as it has upset the dynamics.

The pendulum shaft is made of steel with brass bits at each end. I will take it to a clock maker when I can find a reliable one locally but not sure where to go as the last one I used in Derby has closed.

Anyone got ant tips as to how I could do it myself or know any goof repairers of old clocks within 20 miles of Derby ?

jims-terrano · 01-05-2016, 19:28

Daft as it sounds have you tried looking on YouTube?

Monaro Pete · 01-05-2016, 20:56

How bent is it?

Have you a vice & some flat pieces of wood. If it's quite bent, straighten it as best you can with the vice & wood. Then place it between the wood on a flat solid surface & gently tap along its length with a hammer.

Without actually seeing it, it's difficult.

solarman216 · 01-05-2016, 21:05

As with any bent metal, place it on some thing hard for the whole length of the straight part, bent bit up (so it is sitting on the two ends so to speak) and hit it with a hammer, two or three hits will normally be enough depending how large the item is, now with something like a pendulum I would sit it on a piece of hard wood and on the now upstanding bend place another bit of wood and hit that with the hammer this way it will not mark the shaft, size of hammer and wood of course to suite the job in hand, Rick

Banshee · 01-05-2016, 21:10

Ahhh clock talk!!! Just managed to get a grandmother I brought recently going today, hasn't missed a minute all day and has a lovely Westminster chime, it's an Enfield and I'd date it around the 1940/1950 era

You wouldn't believe I was 25

Terrano Steve · 02-05-2016, 19:43

I would assume the pendulum is a precision part of the clock and needs to be accurate for the clock to perform correctly.

I bought a clock that was in pretty rough order & it sat on the project shelf in the shed for months, I got asked to do some sandblasting on green oak for a barn conversion & wasn't sure how it would go or even which media to use so I practiced on the clock which I blasted with crushed glass it came out really well.

macabethiel · 03-05-2016, 21:43

A couple of good suggestions so I might try a lump of hardwood and a bit of hammer work or even better if I can find a pulley wheel or a roller if the steel is pliable enough rather than having to hit it and risk flattening the round profile.

In the meantime a local clock restorer who works from home said he will have a look at it when he is our side of town.

01-05-2016, 18:34	#1
macabethiel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Derby Vehicle: Freelander & Jeep GC 3.0 Posts: 4,416	How do I straighten a bent Pendulum ? Don't ask how but when moving our Grandfather Clock I managed to bend the Pendulum shaft. I straightened it out a bit as best I could but it is bent and the Clock will not run as it has upset the dynamics. The pendulum shaft is made of steel with brass bits at each end. I will take it to a clock maker when I can find a reliable one locally but not sure where to go as the last one I used in Derby has closed. Anyone got ant tips as to how I could do it myself or know any goof repairers of old clocks within 20 miles of Derby ?

01-05-2016, 21:05	#4
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,431	As with any bent metal, place it on some thing hard for the whole length of the straight part, bent bit up (so it is sitting on the two ends so to speak) and hit it with a hammer, two or three hits will normally be enough depending how large the item is, now with something like a pendulum I would sit it on a piece of hard wood and on the now upstanding bend place another bit of wood and hit that with the hammer this way it will not mark the shaft, size of hammer and wood of course to suite the job in hand, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

01-05-2016, 21:10	#5
Banshee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: West Midlands Vehicle: 04 2.7 SWB Terrano II Van Posts: 13,526	Ahhh clock talk!!! Just managed to get a grandmother I brought recently going today, hasn't missed a minute all day and has a lovely Westminster chime, it's an Enfield and I'd date it around the 1940/1950 era You wouldn't believe I was 25 __________________ Moderator 04' Terrano II SE 2.7 TDi SWB Commercial in Silver - Project Thread Toyo Open Country M/T 33's on 10J Steels, Super Strong Steering Job Navara D22 Snorkel, Front LOKKA, Maunal Hubs, EGR Blank TunitII ECU Chip, 3" Body Lift, 2" Suss Lift, Heat Exchanger Black Interior, 3.0 Borg&Beck Clutch, Eckes Heated Fuel Filter 99' Y61 Patrol GR SE 2.8 TD6 LWB in Blue/Silver - Project Thread Engine Transplant - In Progress!!! Last edited by Banshee; 21-07-2017 at 09:13.

03-05-2016, 21:43	#7
macabethiel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Derby Vehicle: Freelander & Jeep GC 3.0 Posts: 4,416	Wood and bash it option ?? A couple of good suggestions so I might try a lump of hardwood and a bit of hammer work or even better if I can find a pulley wheel or a roller if the steel is pliable enough rather than having to hit it and risk flattening the round profile. In the meantime a local clock restorer who works from home said he will have a look at it when he is our side of town.

01-05-2016, 19:28	#2
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Daft as it sounds have you tried looking on YouTube?

01-05-2016, 20:56	#3
Monaro Pete Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Nr J28 M1 Vehicle: 03 Terrano 2.7 TDi Posts: 995	How bent is it? Have you a vice & some flat pieces of wood. If it's quite bent, straighten it as best you can with the vice & wood. Then place it between the wood on a flat solid surface & gently tap along its length with a hammer. Without actually seeing it, it's difficult.

02-05-2016, 19:43	#6
Terrano Steve Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: South west Vehicle: Terrano Posts: 522	I would assume the pendulum is a precision part of the clock and needs to be accurate for the clock to perform correctly. I bought a clock that was in pretty rough order & it sat on the project shelf in the shed for months, I got asked to do some sandblasting on green oak for a barn conversion & wasn't sure how it would go or even which media to use so I practiced on the clock which I blasted with crushed glass it came out really well.