Clock Troubleshooting

Below are some questions to help solve any issues you may have with the movements and hands that came with your Rusty Star Clock.  If you need further assistance, please send us an email, including an explanation as to what is happening to rustystardesigns@gmail.com

CLOCK MOVEMENT IS NOT RUNNING:

  1. Make sure you have a new alkaline battery and that the battery is installed correctly.
  2. Make sure that the metal tabs are making good contact with the battery.
  3. Check the hands to make sure they are not touching each other or touching the dial.

HOUR HAND DROPS TO THE SIX O'CLOCK POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE UP - OR IT SLIPS:

  1. The hour hand shaft on the movement is tapered (smaller at the top and bigger at the bottom). The more you push the hour hand down on the shaft, the tighter on the shaft the hand should get. Gently push the hand down on the shaft. If your hand has a brass bushing, it may be slipping.
  2. Gears could be stripped in the movement. To check this, make a mark on the shaft with a marker and turn the wheel on the back of the movement. Check to see if the mark moves. If so, it is probably NOT a stripped gear.

MINUTE HAND WILL NOT GO ON MOVEMENT SHAFT:

  1. Make sure that the minute hand is lined up with the oblong shaft of the movement, you will know when it is as it will drop on the shaft to allow the cap nut to be installed.

THE MINUTE HAND IS FLOPPING AROUND:

  1. The cap nut is not tight, cross-threaded, or stripped. Look at the cap nut to see if it is on the minute hand shaft straight. If not, remove the cap nut and replace it correctly on the shaft. It should go on smoothly and be square to the shaft, not angled up or down. Hold the minute hand in place with one hand and tighten the nut with your other hand until it makes good flat contact and is reasonably tight to keep the minute hand from flopping. DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN as you can strip the brass nut or shaft.

HANDS TOUCH EACH OTHER OR TOUCH THE DIAL:

  1. First, make sure the base of the hand, where the hole is, is parallel with the dial, not tilted up or down. This can make the hand be low on one side of the dial and high on the other. In most cases, that will solve the problem. If not, then carefully bend the hand(s) so they will clear.

MY CLOCK IS RUNNING SLOW:

  1. Insert a new battery taking care to insert negative and positive ends correctly.

MY CLOCK IS RUNNING FAST:

  1. Movements may gain or lose a few minutes a year - this is not a defect.
  2. Defective movement.