Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

[Mathew S.]

The clock in my car has failed, and need to get it redone. I can get the movement done as original but there is virtually no warranty, while quartz seems to last longer. What is the judging deduct for quartz movement (guessing operations is pass, while interior would get a deduct.). Looking for insight before I have either done.

[Joe L.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

The clock in my car has failed, and need to get it redone. I can get the movement done as original but there is virtually no warranty, while quartz seems to last longer. What is the judging deduct for quartz movement (guessing operations is pass, while interior would get a deduct.). Looking for insight before I have either done.

Mathew------

I can't answer your points deduction question but I can tell you this: if you have an original movement repaired you'll be doing it again very soon. These old "tic-toc" movements just don't hold up very well, at all. I recall very well the old days when lots of cars had these clocks and you'd rarely see one actually working even in cars that were practically new.

[Don H.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

The deduction is all of it.. in OPS.. Full deduction for Clock with quartz movement that is detectible.. If you buy the quartz that does the tic toc (some do), the judges might miss it. Any quartz stops immediately when power off. while the mechanical continues to run for 1/2 minute or so..

[Gary B.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

Don,

When you say a quarts clock stops immediately with “power off”, you mean disconnecting the battery, not turning the ignition to OFf. Yes? Would Ops judging ever really involve watching the clock as the battery was disconnected?

Gary

Gary------


Yes, it means interrupting battery power by disconnecting the battery and not simply turning off the ignition switch.

[Pat M.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

Back in 2005 I used Instrument Services, Inc. to repair the clock on my 70 with original movement and it still works. I guess it's a combination of a great repair job and a little luck.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

I just cleaned the points on my clock with an emery board and it started running again. Has been running for 3 years now. Not continuously, since the battery is disconnected most of the time.

[Mark E.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

If I had a car for judging (I don't) I would still go quartz to reduce the number of times needed to tear into the dash. That's hard on a car and owner.

[Dave H.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

I'm not an EE, but could you put a capacitor in line to provide power to a quartz after battery disconnect?

[Bill B.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

Dave,

While the answer is yes, as a retired EE, the concern is that the capacitor discharges slowly, and the slow lingering low voltage may damage the circuits of some quartz circuitry. This similar slow battery discharge over time (vehicles with no battery disconnect) is one of the main reasons the clock coil overheats and suffers damage on the original "tick-tock" clock movements. The low battery voltage is not enough for the clock's coil to pull in, wind the spring, and open the contact points, thus the points stay closed, heating up the clock coil until it opens from overheating. (personal experience a number of times - while I should have known better).

[Dave H.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

Thanks Bill. Makes sense. This is the kind of real world know-how that we need to keep our antiques going as parts and experience disappear

[Bob R.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

When I bought my 63 about 25 years ago the clock worked with a mechanical movement in it. I have no idea when it had previously been repaired but it worked. I left the car at a transmission shop to be repaired and when I picked it up the clock was broken. The shop left the ignition switch in the on position and it fried the contact. I had the clock repaired and it has been working for about 10 years now. I make sure I turn the power off at the battery every time I put the car away. If the battery runs dead it will cook the points.

[Gary J.]

Re: Clock, original movement vs quartz. Point deduct?

One thing to consider if a PV is going to be in your future then no to a quartz clock. Automatic failure.