Clock Winding Rota

We have eight people on the clock winding team, which means every person will now wind on the same Sunday every other month (ie 8 week rota).

If it's the third Sunday of an odd month, it's Katherine's turn. Fourth Sunday of an even month? Steve's turn. If you regularly can't make your nth Sunday, please arrange a swap and update the rota.

You can wind the clock morning or evening as you prefer - Mike Ogden and David Ford have the keys to the bell tower. If they're not around there's a spare key in the Church Centre Office, see Sue or Keith.

If anyone cannot do a particular Sunday please swap amongst yourselves. Ta.

--John Kershaw

Winding Instructions

(Based on the note next to the trap-door in the clock room)

Tower stair - light switch at foot (and top). Switch off as you go out.

Danger: do not touch bell ropes

Danger: check the bells as you go up - if any have been left with mouth UP don't go up - go back down again and wait until bells replacd.

Light switch is near trapdoor above ringing room.

Danger: hold clock room trapdoor and ensure it does not fall on you as you go up or down.

Close trapdoor from above, as soon as you are up in the clock room.

Do not wind clock between 45 minutes past any hour, and next hour (when it strikes)

Time Wind

The "Time Wind" is the middle spindle, item 'B' on the photo

1. Place handle on square spindle
2. Wind until left weight is visible ^[1]

Striking Wind

The "Striking Wind" is the left spindle, item 'A' on the photo

1. Lift clock lever
2. Push in squared spindle and engage fully in gears
3. Lower lock lever fully
4. Place handle on square spindle
5. Wind as per above, right hand weights (note: opposite way round to 'Time Wind')
6. after winding 'Strike', lift lock lever, pull out spindle fully, lower lock lever fully again

[1] While winding, watch weights. Stop winding when weight pulley is about 1 foot from top (too close will damage the clock).

Setting the time

Check clock for correct time before you enter the tower (you cannot see what hour it is showing from inside).

To change minute hand (note that hours are changed by multiple revolutions of the minute hand - also note that time indicator is anticlockwise):

1. Slacken 2 wing nuts on gear in clock behind time indicator ('E' on photo)
2. Turn gear on vertical shaft to correct minute hand
3. Tighten wing nuts again finger-tight

If you have gone over an hour boundary, you may also have to adjust the chimes:

1. Remove the cotter pin from the centre of wheel 'A'
2. Carefully lift the wheel of its spindle
3. Rotate the wheel and put it back on its spindle
4. Replace the cotter pin

The arm at the top of the wheel dictates how many chimes will be struck. At striking time the arm is lifted and the wheel begins to rotate. Chiming continues until the arm drops back into a slot. Hence the longest section between slots represents the 12 o'clock chimes.

The 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock slots are one and the same, as the arm lifts for one strike then falls immediately.

If the clock has stopped, adjust the time, then begin to swing the pendulum VERY GENTLY. It needs only the slightest push to get it going. Any more will damage the mechanism.

(In case you're curious, wheel 'F' strikes the quarters and halves, but currently does not work.)

When you are finished, turn off all lights and close the trapdoors behind you as you go down and remember to lock the tower door on leaving.

Anything else ask Dave Wardle (Tel:Wardle), the clock guru.

Church Rotas, Photos:BellTower

Web page: http://www.stmatthias.co.uk/ClockWindingRota