40 years ago I made a grandfather clock from a kit from emperor clock. I had few tools and no way to cut miter angles. I got it together and it has worked fine for nearly 40 years. I ordered a new mechanism to replace the old one. Today I installed, or I should say we did. I have large clumsy bent hands/fingers and she has tiny hands/fingers. All went exceptionally well and I told her she was no longer needed. Then the center chain came off its sprocket just as I put it in place. If you know much about these clocks,  the hardest thing to do is get into a tiny area and remove a jammed chain. After removing the movement and struggling 15/20 minutes We got it back and I installed the movement. It needs a lot of adjustment, but it is working. I stopped the pendulum and am going to delay adjusting. My hands were shaking and my patience had worn awfully thin.

 

It is hard to believe, but the new movement was slightly cheaper than the on I got 40 years ago.

Before I put the new one in, I used synthetic oil to lube it. I was told by a clock repair expert the this oil can last up to 8 year in a clean air atmosphere. 

 

I’m still struggling with mine. I’ve noticed more erratic behavior so I’m not sure if it is dirt or something else 

Ron I fixed a clock for a friend not long ago and after I found the chain had come off the sprocket I used a stiff wire to reach in there and lifted the chain back where it belonged.  I told the lady she must have gotten rough with the clock for I never seen one come off before. I though maybe they had laid the clock over then rolled it over while being flat but she said no. So what were you doing to make the chain come off?

Someone could have done that without her knowledge. Where I goofed was to take the tape off of each individual chain before I inserted the movement..........that was the "keeper" tape.

You know how it goes..........live.....learn......forget

Ron, I feel your pain. When I get stretched out of shape about something I am doing I just quit and start back at it the next day with a fresh mind. 

 Yep Hawkeye, I did that this morning. I tuned the hammers and could NOT get the tiny knurled nut on that holds the hands in place. I dropped it several times and quit. Later my wife and her tiny fingers put it on the first try.