Frankenmuth Clock Company Black Forest Clocks

No. 7 "How do I set the moon dial on my Grandfather Clock?"

If your clock has a moving moon dial feature, follow these instructions. To set the moon dial, apply slight pressure with your fingers to the front of the moon dial. Rotate the moon dial clockwise until the moon is directly below #15.

Fig.1

Using an almanac or calendar, determine the date of the last full moon. Count the number of days past the last full moon. Turn the moon dial clockwise one click for every day past the full moon. The moon dial is now set and will indicate the proper moon phases as long as the clock operates continuously. If the clock stops for more thatn 24 hours, the moon dial will also stop, and must be reset when the clock is started again.

If the moon dial will not rotate: As you face the clock, remove the top side panel, open the side door, or remove the back access panel. Look at the back side of the dial and locate the click spring.
Put your finger at the tip of the click spring. Pull the click spring approximately 1/2" back away from the saw tooth moon dial and then release. The click spring and dial should snap into proper alignment. If the click spring is in its proper location and you still feel resistance when trying to advance the moon dial DO NOT FORCE IT.

Fig.2

If the moon dial still cannot be easily advanced, this indicates that the gears that automatically advance the moon dial are engaged. To correct this, rotate the minute hand backwards three hours.


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Frequently Asked Clock Questions
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No. 1 "My 5 Year old clock has stopped chiming or is not chiming correctly - how come??" Probably because of lack of maintenance. Most manufacturers of clocks recommend 'oiling' a clock every year. Though this is a very good practice, usually if done correctly, a clock can go 2-3 years between 'oiling'. After 1980, when whale oil used for clocks was banned, a petroleum oil was developed. This excellent oil works very well but unlike whale oil evaporates. After 3 years, residue from the oil and trapped airborne dust is left behind. This trapped debris will wear the clock's pivots and its bearing surfaces. The clock often stops because of lack of lubrication or from the worn parts.

NO.2
Order an clock oiling kit
No. 3 "My clock reads 6 o'clock but strikes 8 o'clock-how do I fix it??" Sometimes when setting the proper time and moving the minute hand you may have accidentally caught the shorter hour hand and moved it to a different hour. The hour hand is only pressed on and can be moved. To repair - move the minute hand up to the hour and count the number of times the clock strikes and then simply move the shorter hour hand to that number. If the hour hand become loose push it towards the dial to retighten it up. Finally reset the clock to the proper time with the minute hand (the longer of the two hands).
No. 4 "My pendulum clock keeps gaining time-how do I regulate it??" Clocks can be regulated by moving the pendulum bob up or down on the pendulum rod, clocks with metal pendulum have a nut located on the bottom.. Gently turn the nut to the RIGHT to speed up the clock and to the LEFT to slow down the clock. A very slight amount of a turn will affect the time keeping one way or the other. On grandfather clocks one complete turn of the nut amounts to 30 seconds per day one way or the other.
No. 5 "How do I adjust the time (speed) on my mantle clock?"
No. 6 "My Grandfather Clock weights are dropping at different rates-why??" If only the CENTER weight is dropping it is because: 1.) The chimes are turned OFF with the lever probably at the 3 position. 2.) The clock is not chiming all of the time and you do not notice it (this would require servicing the clock to correct). If the LEFT weight is not dropping it is because the striking of the hour is not operating and would require servicing to correct. Clocks which have the added feature of AUTOMATIC NIGHTTIME SHUTOFF will normally experience the center weight dropping faster than the left and right weights and is normal when this feature is used.
No. 7 "How do I set the moon dial on my Grandfather Clock?" If your clock has a moving moon dial feature, follow these instructions. To set the moon dial, apply slight pressure with your fingers to the front of the moon dial. Rotate the moon dial clockwise until the moon is directly below #15. Fig.1 Using an almanac or calendar, determine the date of the last full moon. Count the number of days past the last full moon. Turn the moon dial clockwise one click for every day past the full moon. The moon dial is now set and will indicate the proper moon phases as long as the clock operates continuously. If the clock stops for more thatn 24 hours, the moon dial will also stop, and must be reset when the clock is started again. If the moon dial will not rotate: As you face the clock, remove the top side panel, open the side door, or remove the back access panel. Look at the back side of the dial and locate the click spring. Put your finger at the tip of the click spring. Pull the click spring approximately 1/2" back away from the saw tooth moon dial and then release. The click spring and dial should snap into proper alignment. If the click spring is in its proper location and you still feel resistance when trying to advance the moon dial DO NOT FORCE IT. Fig.2 If the moon dial still cannot be easily advanced, this indicates that the gears that automatically advance the moon dial are engaged. To correct this, rotate the minute hand backwards three hours.
Fig.1	Fig.2
No. 8 "Can I move my Grandfather Clock to paint behind it or put in new carpeting??" Yes, 1. Remove the weights, look at the bottom of the weights for right, center, and left markings as they are different weights-reinstall them in the same order. This is done as you are facing the clock. 2. Unhook the pendulum being careful not to damage the suspension spring at the top. 3. Move the clock 4. When you replace the clock make sure that the clock is NOT leaning forward-usually there are leg levelers on the bottom of the clock-it is important to reinstall the clock to the manufacturers instructions that came with the clock. 5. Re-hang the pendulum and weights. 6. Once in place, move the pendulum close to the side of the clock and release-when the pendulum slows down to its normal swing it should be running evenly with an even tic-toc. Most Grandfather Clocks manufactured after 1983 have a self adjusting feature that allows you to move the clock and restart it and have it run evenly.

No. 9 "My pendulum clock stops after I put the pendulum on"
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Frequently Asked Clock Questions