How to Move a Grandfather Clock Across Town

Because of its large size and delicate components, moving a grandfather clock can be a difficult affair. You must partially disassemble the clock and reassemble it in the correct order to prevent damage to the internal mechanisms or delay to the timekeeping device. Proper packing materials and careful movers go a long way toward getting your grandfather clock to its new destination intact and in good working order.

Disassembly and Packing

• 1

  Remove any easily removable glass from your clock. Wrap it in newspaper and set it aside.

• 2

  Stop the pendulum and carefully remove it from your clock. Wrap it in newspaper and set it aside.

• 3

  Make a 2-inch diameter ball of newspaper and hold it above the cable pulleys for one of the weights as you wind the weight. Repeat this process for each weight. If your clock has chains instead of cables, wind the weights halfway up the clock. Tie all of the chains together with a piece of wire just below the clock's movement. Secure the chains and wrap them in newspaper to prevent them from damaging the inside of the clock.

• 4

  Remove the weights. Label each one with masking tape as you remove it so you know where it belongs. Wrap the weights in newspaper and set them aside.

• 5

  Remove the tubes from your clock if it has a tubular movement. Mark the position of the movement on the interior of the clock with masking tape. Wrap the tubes and set them aside.

• 6

  Verify that the movement is well-secured in the case. If it is not, remove it, wrap it in newspaper and set it aside.

• 7

  Pack the clock for movement. If a crate is available for the clock, that is ideal. Otherwise wrap the clock in a thick blanket and secure the blanket with packing tape. Pack all of the removed parts separately.

• 8

  Move the clock in a vertical position. You can move newer grandfather clocks on their back if the movement is secure enough inside the clock.

Reassembly and Calibration

• 1

  Find a stable, flat location for your clock.

• 2

  Reinstall the components in this order: movement, pendulum, weights, glass. Reinstall everything in the positions you marked. If your clock has chains, remove the wire you used to secure them. If your clock has wires, allow the clock to run for a few days and the newspaper will fall out on its own.

• 3

  Swing your pendulum and listen for an irregularity in the sound. Use shims or adjust the clock's feet to lift the left or right side as necessary to ensure a regular ticking sound.

• 4

  Reset the clock to the correct time.