An Alarm Clock Repair, Part 1: Winding the Mainsprings
In part 1 of this video, I lubricate and clamp the mainsprings of a cheap, key-wind, bedside alarm clock made in 2013.
The index:
0:00 Introduction.
0:55 A DIY let-down key; a purchased alarm chuck for a mainspring winder.
2:58 The trouble with plastic ratchets.
3:44 Lubricating and clamping the mainsprings.
I first fully disassembled the clock and cleaned the parts, both by hand and in an ultrasonic cleaner. I didn't record that process because disassembly involved a lot of trial and error.
I bought my alarm chuck and mainspring winder from Timesavers:
https://timesavers.com/i-8948359-alar...
https://timesavers.com/i-8944167-olli...
I bought this Advance brand bedside alarm clock from Goodwill for $1.99 USD, to learn how to repair a clock that has a balance wheel and hairspring instead of a pendulum. It is very cheaply made, with plastic gears pressed onto steel arbors, but it is similar to older, brass alarm clock movements you might see.