G'day all,
Does anyone know how long the electric clock in the '70's Cadillacs should run for before the self-winding pulse rewinds the spring?
I am in the middle of rebuilding mine, and I initially had a 10 second run, then after cleaning the points, got it to run for 33 Seconds.
The "pulse" is only throwing the winder back about 3/16 of the available winding rotation, which I believe it should be at least 3/4 or more.
Thanks,
Bruce. >:D
They should run about 3 minutes.
2 companies made the clocks westclox and I can't remember the other right now but one was pretty much garbage.
I have a NOS 'digital' version for a 1971-3
The one in mine, and another one I have from a '71, are made by General Time Corp.
It is the Borg design, but built a bit more ruggedly.
So far, it is running for about 1 minute each "pulse".
I am trying to keep it original, just because it is in such good condition (made one out of two)
Pictured is the fried wiring and destroyed point which resulted in a blown 25 amp fuse. Would have hated to have seen the destruction at the time it happened.
Bruce. >:D
Yes...that's the name I couldn't think of.
Typically what happens with auto clocks is low or partial voltage situation that 'welds' the points together and when voltage is restored it burns the coil up.
One of the reasons for disconnecting the battery when storing any vehicle, as mine never had a flat battery, as it was maintained by a Battery Tender.
When it goes back in, I will be fitting a slow-burn fuse in the positive cable, and position it so I can access it with no problems, unlike the vehicles' fuse panel. One has to get really contorted to get a good look at it.
This fuse will have a limit of anything under 6 volts, and this should assist in allowing the clock to run for another 50 years.
Bruce. >:D