clocks for radios

[John Bauer]

Hi Dan,

I have had many similar problems with these clocks over the years. Most the 
time, the problem is in the motor transmission, that little sealed unit with a 
single gear mointed on it, but occasionally, the problem is with the numeral 
wheels.

The first thing to do is determine if the motor is running or not. If not, 
first listen to it to be sure that the problem is not an open coil. If it hums, 
the coil is OK but the transmission has locked up. To be sure of this, remove 
the motor and be sure that all the numerals spin freely on the shaft and that 
there are no broken advance tabs on the wheels. Lubrication on the wheel shaft 
it rarely the problem.

Once you are sure that the problem is in the transmission, drill a very small 
hole at the top of the hiusing, preferably in the middle. Do this slowly to 
ensure that as few chips as possible fall into the transmission housing. Next, 
introduce a few squirts of WD-40 or 555 lubricant through the hole. Depending 
on how badly things are hung up inside, it will take anuthing from 5 seconds 
to 24 hours for the lube to do it's job. Reassemble the motor and plug it in 
while you are waiting. It will free itself up is it is not beyond recovery. If 
this doesn't work, Try the squirt regimen again in a horizontal plane.  I have 
only had one motor that was not salvagable with this trick.

Take care not to get the spray on the numerals, or even touch them. The same 
goes for any plastic parts and especially the viewing window. Often times they 
will flake off easily. Should this happens, someone out there is making 
stick-on repro labels for most of the clock configurations.

73 and good luck,

John, W4AWM


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