The Ford Barn

RKS.PA · 07-30-2019, 02:15 PM

The clock on my '47 was wound up tight an has never worked, so I thought let's see what's going on here.

I went to the "Search" function here on the Barn and found some great posts on the Model A (1928-32) site.

Kurt in NJ suggested soaking the "works" in WD-40. I did that, released the spring tension, and Eureka....she started to tick.

Forddan responded to my happy post that the WD will dry out and the clock will stop working again, so I got some fancy clock oil from Amazon and lubed all the shaft points. So far so good! Then with a follow call to Kyle at C&G, I got a new light socket and put everything back together.

From what I can determine, Ford went from wind-up to electric clocks sometime later in the model year, so think my '47 was an early production. Yes, the clock is kind of "cheap" as clocks go with only 24 hours per winding. But it's more important to me that the "original" thing now works!!

Thanks to all here who helped me.

Ruth's Repaired Clock.jpg

51woodie · 07-30-2019, 02:41 PM

RKS That was an interesting post. My '46 Super Deluxe Coupe was built late in the year, and has an electric clock. I wonder if the trim level had a bearing on which type of clock was installed. I sent my clock to Bob's Speedometer in Michigan to get it fixed.

Automotive Stud · 07-30-2019, 03:04 PM

Glad to hear you got it working! I'd just be worried about overwinding that old main spring. My '47 has the electric clock, it was only about $100 for clock works to get it working again and running on 12v.

RKS.PA · 07-30-2019, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51woodie

RKS That was an interesting post. My '46 Super Deluxe Coupe was built late in the year, and has an electric clock. I wonder if the trim level had a bearing on which type of clock was installed. I sent my clock to Bob's Speedometer in Michigan to get it fixed.

51woodie, I think you may have hit on my situation. My trim level is pretty standard...i.e. cloth/vinyl seats door panels etc. Thanks for the info on yours and how you got it fixed.

34pickup · 07-30-2019, 04:45 PM

I read somewhere that the electric clock will work just as well on 12 volts as they do on 6v. Can anyone substantiate that or dismiss it?

tubman · 07-30-2019, 06:32 PM

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Just for information's sake, I will state that I have owned 2 1951 Fords in my lifetime. The first, which I owned in the late fifties in high school, had a wind-up only (no electric) clock. The one I own now has an electric wind clock (the clock mechanism is still mechanical). I would have to believe that 1951 was not the only year when Ford supplied different clocks. Did they vary by model, by plant, or perhaps something else? I don't have that information.

fordwife · 07-31-2019, 04:13 PM

On my "48 I wasn't too worried about orininality so I took the guts out and put in a quartz clock movement. It works well and you can't tell it form the ouside.

Vintage Copper 47 · 08-01-2019, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordwife

On my "48 I wasn't too worried about orininality so I took the guts out and put in a quartz clock movement. It works well and you can't tell it form the ouside.

Was that hard to do?

fordwife · 08-01-2019, 09:01 PM

Not at all. As I recall I had to slightly enlarge the holes in the hands to fit the shafts on the quartz movement.

07-30-2019, 02:15 PM	#1
RKS.PA Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Marana, AZ Posts: 1,194	Clock Repair on the '47 The clock on my '47 was wound up tight an has never worked, so I thought let's see what's going on here. I went to the "Search" function here on the Barn and found some great posts on the Model A (1928-32) site. Kurt in NJ suggested soaking the "works" in WD-40. I did that, released the spring tension, and Eureka....she started to tick. Forddan responded to my happy post that the WD will dry out and the clock will stop working again, so I got some fancy clock oil from Amazon and lubed all the shaft points. So far so good! Then with a follow call to Kyle at C&G, I got a new light socket and put everything back together. From what I can determine, Ford went from wind-up to electric clocks sometime later in the model year, so think my '47 was an early production. Yes, the clock is kind of "cheap" as clocks go with only 24 hours per winding. But it's more important to me that the "original" thing now works!! Thanks to all here who helped me. Ruth's Repaired Clock.jpg

07-30-2019, 02:41 PM	#2
51woodie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Chelmsford, ON Canada Posts: 528	Re: Clock Repair on the '47 RKS That was an interesting post. My '46 Super Deluxe Coupe was built late in the year, and has an electric clock. I wonder if the trim level had a bearing on which type of clock was installed. I sent my clock to Bob's Speedometer in Michigan to get it fixed.

07-30-2019, 03:04 PM	#3
Automotive Stud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 832	Re: Clock Repair on the '47 Glad to hear you got it working! I'd just be worried about overwinding that old main spring. My '47 has the electric clock, it was only about $100 for clock works to get it working again and running on 12v.

07-30-2019, 04:45 PM	#5
34pickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntsville Al Posts: 1,526	Re: Clock Repair on the '47 I read somewhere that the electric clock will work just as well on 12 volts as they do on 6v. Can anyone substantiate that or dismiss it? __________________ Matt 24:36-41

07-30-2019, 06:32 PM	#6
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,303	Re: Clock Repair on the '47 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Just for information's sake, I will state that I have owned 2 1951 Fords in my lifetime. The first, which I owned in the late fifties in high school, had a wind-up only (no electric) clock. The one I own now has an electric wind clock (the clock mechanism is still mechanical). I would have to believe that 1951 was not the only year when Ford supplied different clocks. Did they vary by model, by plant, or perhaps something else? I don't have that information.

07-31-2019, 04:13 PM	#7
fordwife Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 287	Re: Clock Repair on the '47 On my "48 I wasn't too worried about orininality so I took the guts out and put in a quartz clock movement. It works well and you can't tell it form the ouside.

08-01-2019, 09:01 PM	#9
fordwife Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 287	Re: Clock Repair on the '47 Not at all. As I recall I had to slightly enlarge the holes in the hands to fit the shafts on the quartz movement.