Author Topic: My clock works! (Read 4653 times)

fb_rider · « **on:** August 22, 2006, 09:38:03 PM »

Somewhere I saw somebody mention that if you ever have your gauges out you should try to put a few drops of oil on your clock to see if you can get it working. We'll, I had my guages out and decided to see if I could get the clock working. I sprayed some Radio Shack TV tuner cleaner/lubricant into the clock through the hole in the front, then I turned the knob that sets the clock, and after a few minutes it started working! So far it's kept pretty good time. I'm pretty proud that I have one of the few 2nd generation TA's with a working clock (at least I think it's pretty unusual).

ta78w72 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2006, 09:46:41 PM »

You should use clock oil because that spray stuff can dry out and you'll be stuck again. I oiled my clock and it's been working for about a year now. I do have another clock that is beyond repair so I think I'll buy a kit to convert it to quartz. The little contact points wear out and the clocks can't be fixed at that point. Come to think of it.....I must have ten or twelve T/A clocks. Don't ask me why!!!!

kyledyr · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2006, 10:42:14 PM »

Mine works and it's never had any problems (except for when the battery was disconnected, then I was too lazy to set the clock back to the right time....oh well). Is Quartz the new style or something? My gauge says Quartz right above the clock.

ta78w72 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2006, 09:38:01 AM »

They changed the clock to quartz in 1979. But they also changed the Tach that year and the clocks and Tach are not independenlty interchangeable with previous years. You can switch the clock/tach assembly from a 1979 to a 1978 though.

By the way, nice looking '81.

And, nice looking '77 too.

Wallington · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2006, 09:12:31 AM »

An auto instrument guy recently rewired my tacho and while at it he cleaned the contacts for my clock. It has been running since although it appears to lose about 1 minute per day. I can live with adjusting the clock about 5 minutes every weekend when previously it didnt even work. It's an original early 78 model, not quartz.

784mula · « **Reply #5 on:** September 01, 2006, 10:23:43 PM »

My 78' works when ever I take her out for a ride, but the minute I turn around & start heading back home she has a mind if her own & stops, very un-reliable!!

Hitman · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2006, 10:44:59 PM »

Maybe she is trying to tell you she doesn't want to go home......

HughJass · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2006, 11:38:15 AM »

That was one of the things I liked about my recent project, the working clock, I remember back when I had my first one nobody had a clock that worked, it was just a given, kinda like the leaning driver seat, since I came here I found Brett's fix for that, I never knew that was an issue, they all just looked like that!

fb_rider · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2006, 04:47:38 PM »

Where do I get clock oil?

ta78w72 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2006, 07:13:58 PM »

Try a store that sells clocks. Or, buy some fine oil and use that. Calculator oil is good too. Just a light oil.

Is your clock still working?

fb_rider · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2006, 08:24:59 PM »

I had my battery disconnected for a couple of weeks while I was doing some engine work, and when I reconnected it I had to reset the clock 2 or 3 times. Now, it's been running for about a week and doing good.

By the way, I was originally going to replace the water pump, and while I had it off I decided to replace the front seal. I noticed the harmonic balancer was grooved somewhat where the seal rides on it, so I replaced that. Since I had it that far apart I replaced the timing chain and gears! So a 1 day job became about a 2 week project!

ta78w72 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2006, 09:37:59 PM »

I hope you replaced that plate that faces the water pump.

Those clocks can have a mind of their own. Really poor quality. I'll probably swap out my tach and clock for a digital clock. I got a few of those lying around.

fb_rider · « **Reply #12 on:** September 22, 2006, 06:29:21 AM »

Oh yea - I did that too.