Clock Forum

I just learned of the update for this clock and have started to print the gears. My question is ... can I use the SP5 frame, or do I need to do a new one? Love the the design of these clocks! Cheers

Good day! Assembled a SP 14 Moon Phase clock this weekend. The process was lovely and smooth when following the documentation, but I don't see where the documentation mentioned adding spacer 7a to the 3mm shaft that the ratchet rides on. This component doesn't seem to be mentioned when assembling the ratchet. The diagram on page 37 doesn't show the component, either. I did figure it out after working on the clock; wanted to let you know.

I was going to just report about my experience so far with lubrication of the gears on my SP14 Moon Phase clock. But I decided it would be cool to start a Post about the subject in general to see what experience others are having. Maybe we can find an ideal lubricant. Which, I don't know, this one I used may be it. So if you would like to share, please post what lubricant you are using and what experience you have had with it. Here is mine. When I was first starting up and breaking in my clock, I ran it dry (no escapement) to break it in with whatever weight I needed to make it free-run. After brushing some of the Synthetic Gun Oil (shown below) into the pinions using a small brush, while it was free-running, it really took off. And I found I could make it free-run on it's own with significantly less weight. Over the next day, I applied this lubricant, very thin film each time, three more times, mostly to the faster running gears, allowing a few hours in between each application. I honesty think this has helped my SP14 clock run well. Currently ticking along nicely since it was started, and keeping time very accurately. My theory is that the microscopic Teflon particles, and other additives, suspended in the oil get embedded between the layer lines of the working gear surfaces, and over time and a few applications, builds up enough to fill in the voids and provide much smoother, less friction working surfaces. Doing it while the clock is free-running not only helps distribute the film evenly, but also serves to ram the suspended additive particles into the layer voids. My thinking in regards to using a PTFE based technology, compared to something like a grease, is that it is less "sticky" than a grease product. Anyways, not sure if this is real or not, just a theory. But my clock does run with very little friction, at least for now. Only time will tell how this behaves in the long run. Here is a link that has a description of the product. Show us your lubricant. M-Pro 7 LPX Gun Oil