C2 Clock Issue

[Michael A.]

I had my clock rebuilt a couple of years ago by a guy who is no longer in business. I believe he installed a quartz movement in it but am not 100% certain. It’s been on the shelf as I‘ve been slowly completing a body-off restoration.

Today I connected the battery to the harness for the first round of checks. The clock is mounted and started working right away. Both clock lights are also working so that is good. My concern is that there is a very noticeable click noise that occurs precisely every 90 seconds. I placed my hand on the clock body and you can actually feel it as well as hear the loud click. Any ideas as what this could be?

Thanks,

[Edward J.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

Mike the factory movement cycles about that time frame.it will click once. And then repeate.

[Michael A.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

Ed
Would a quartz movement have that same action? I’m pretty certain it’s a quartz. Here’s a link to a short video of the second hand movement. It looks like quartz to me.

[Dave H.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

Mine doesn't work, but that looks like a mechanical action to me. Although it appears "jerky" like a quartz, yours looks like it is making a 2 moves per second.

Mechanical wristwatches do the same thing but they make 6-8 moves per second and it just appears like butter smooth movement. An auto clock would be the same, but cheaper movement with fewer "cycles" per minute than a Rolex does.

[Bob R.]

[Michael A.]

[Stephen L.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

The original C2 clock is an electromechanical device. The clock movement is a series of gears and a clock spring that causes the second hand to move 1 increment per second ( a jerking movement as opposed to a quartz clock that is a smooth continuous movement)
The clock is rewound approximately every 90 seconds +/- by a coil and points that move an arm that winds the spring. The noise you hear is the arm movement as it cycles.
The common fault with these clocks is the failure of the points over time and the rewind action becomes inoperative. If you don't use the car often it is wise to disconnect the battery which stops the rewind cycle and saves the points from destruction. Disconnecting the battery is also a good safety measure against a potential electrical fire due to long term corrosion at some of the electrical connection points in the cars wiring. In my case my clock was repaired about 35 years ago by replacing the points. I seldom drive my car so I use a battery disconnect, which has saved the clock points.

[Bill M.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

Mike you are blessed with great hearing sometimes I am not even sure if the engine is running ⏰🛠

[Michael A.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

Bill -Thanks for the laugh. Btw my wife may not agree with your assessment of my hearing😉

[Richard G.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

"I guess the 90 second click is normal on these units. It is loud enough to be annoying."

No worries, I haven't been in a mid year that one could hear the clock with the motor running.
Will only bother you in the garage. The battery cut off switch works to save the battery and the clock.
If my wife finds out I can hear the clicking of the clock, in the shop, with the car door closed that's another issue.
Rick

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Clock Issue

Clock is Mechanical.

The rest is called "Selective Hearing"!

JR