Wakmann 8 Day aircraft clock

[Subsonic]

My 1956 Wakmann 8 day clock stopped running.  I wound it too much, thinking it had run down.  Runs intermittently now.  I can put slight pressure on the hand setting winder and it will start up.  Setting it on top of a toaster oven at about 150 deg. F gets it running pretty well and only stops occasionally.  Trying to get it to run long enough to get to the middle part of the mainspring wind/unwind cycle and see if it becomes reliable.  I was wondering if there's lubrication required, and how to do it.  The front glass/crystal is held in by a wire circlip, and I don't know how to remove that either.  I think that's the way to get into the movement.  Putting it in the freezer for a half hour completely stops it.

[HectorLooi]

It's a common misconception that a clock/watch can be over wound. I think it is sometimes perpetuated by clockmakers/watchmakers who are too busy to answer a customer's question of what went wrong with their timepiece. 

I think the lubricants in your clock has dried up and gummed up. Heat can temporarily lower the viscosity of the oil until the movement is able to run. But your clock would need a full service.

If you want to attempt servicing it yourself, there are plenty of competent clockmakers here to help you with the task. 

It would help if you posted some photos of your clock.

[Michael1962]

Welcome to the forum.

[Chiplight]

Is there a way to adjust the speed on my wakmamn 8 day clock it picks up about 5 min a day 

[HectorLooi]

If you look at the balance assembly, is there any adjustable lever on it to regulate the rate?

Have you done a complete clean and oil on this clock. Sometimes clocks run fast when the movement is dirty and the amplitude is very low.

[GPS]

Hi Everybody,

I have a Wakmann 8 day clock with all the same symptoms. 

- Wound up tight,

- runs when heated,

- runs for a while at room temperature.

I'm guessing Hector is correct.  It does need a clean and lubrication.

My questions;

- How much cleaning is required,

- what oil do I use,

- where do I start - I have the clock in pieces and ready to go to work.

Your assistance would be appreciated.

John

New Zealand

[AndyGSi]

  On 2/26/2025 at 10:08 PM, GPS said:

Hi Everybody,

I have a Wakmann 8 day clock with all the same symptoms. 

- Wound up tight,

- runs when heated,

- runs for a while at room temperature.

I'm guessing Hector is correct.  It does need a clean and lubrication.

My questions;

- How much cleaning is required,

- what oil do I use,

- where do I start - I have the clock in pieces and ready to go to work.

Your assistance would be appreciated.

John

New Zealand

Expand  

Welcome to the forum.

It needs to be completely disassembled, cleaned and all pivots and teeth checked.

What tools and experience have you got?

Before you do anything else with the movement you need to make sure the mainspring has been let down safely.

[RichardHarris123]

Hello and welcome from Leeds, England.  @AndyGSi has already given you great advice. 

[oldhippy]

gps, your movement needs to go in a watch cleaning machine. 

[JohnR725]

  On 2/26/2025 at 10:08 PM, GPS said:

I have the clock in pieces and ready to go to work

Expand  

Technically you have your clock disassembled from its case. Now the movement has to be entirely disassembled the mainspring has to be removed. The whole thing has to go through an appropriate watchmakers cleaning machine then everything gets reassembled providing the mainspring is still in proper condition otherwise that may get replaced.

Out of curiosity do you have any watch repair experience? The reason I ask is this really isn't the best first-time project to learn watch repair on.

Oh and here's an interesting link not sure of the same model as yours but there is a nice picture of all the parts. So in other words this will give you a clue of what it means to be disassembled for cleaning although in the particular picture the mainspring still hasn't come out yet and that's not your typical watchmakers mainspring anyway

http://cockpitclock.com/WAKMANN.html

Oh and When I was looking at the pictures at the link above I noticed something. Your picture isn't quite as clear but notice how the particular screw that I've circled has lines engraved on either side of the screw head slot? This is a warning that this is a left-handed screw which is really nice when the companies do it.

[JoshuaEaster]

  On 2/26/2025 at 10:08 PM, GPS said:

Hi Everybody,

I have a Wakmann 8 day clock with all the same symptoms. 

- Wound up tight,

- runs when heated,

- runs for a while at room temperature.

I'm guessing Hector is correct.  It does need a clean and lubrication.

My questions;

- How much cleaning is required,

- what oil do I use,

- where do I start - I have the clock in pieces and ready to go to work.

Your assistance would be appreciated.

John

New Zealand

Expand  

I just did a service on one that I purchased. Good movement. I have a couple donor movements that I can make a full working one if I can find a hairspring  

 

good luck to you!

[Bill241]

I also have one of these clocks, but signed Nero Lemania. They were used on the flight engineer’s instrument panel in RAF VC10s, which were all decommissioned by 2013. 

My clock exhibited the same symptoms- I found the grease on the intermediate wheel had gummed up and was stopping it. The clock was fully wound- be careful when letting down the mainspring on these, as it’s quite powerful. I found the only safe way was to remove the pallet cock and let the train run down very slowly- quite a laborious process!