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So... you bought a ready-made clock which uses the Hechinger movement and, unfortunately, the hands have never pointed to exactly the right place. Well, these instructions may help you re-align the hands and correct the problem.
First, you should confirm that the hands are consistenly pointing to the wrong place. If you haven't done so already, take out the battery. Put the battery in "backwards" for a second or two, then remove the battery and put it in correctly. After the clock ticks for a couple of seconds, push the manual "setting button" (just below the rotary, zone selection switch as seen on the left).
The clock hands should begin moving at about 20 times normal speed. Then, when they reach the "top of the hour" position, the hands will stop for about 15 seconds. The minute hand and second hand should both be pointed directly at the 12. If not, this would indicate a hand alignment problem. If you allow the clock to set itself normally at this point, it should be set itself to the wrong time. And it should be off by exactly as many minutes and second that it was off when it stopped at the "top of the hour."
Okay... so let's say that the hands are off when the clock stops at the "top of the hour" and you've determined that this behavior is consistent. Then your movement appears to be okay and you simply need to re-align those hands. The process isn't too complicated... but I accept no responsibility if my instructions don't work for you. Don't try to blame me if you mess up your own clock. (I hate to say that, but I guess I need a legal disclaimer of some kind. What do you want from me for free anyway?) So... here's what you do.
1. Take out the battery.
2. Remove the screws from the back of the clock case so that you can remove the front glass from the clock.
3. Install a battery with the polarity reversed. Wait about 3 seconds and then remove the battery (This completely "resets" the brains of the mechanism).
4. Install the battery the correct way.
5. Push and hold the tab on the back of the clock until the hands begin to move quickly.
OR
Just let the clock run for a few minutes until is starts running quickly on its own.
6. Watch the clock and be ready when it reaches the "top of the hour position" and stops. It will stop for about 15 seconds.
7. As soon as it stops at the top-of-the-hour position, take out the battery. Be sure to remove the battery before it starts moving again.
8. Locate a small hole above the battery on the back of the clock mechanism. This hole is directly opposite the shaft on the front of the clock which holds the clock hands. (In the picture to the left, you can see the head of a "locking pin" already in that hole.)
9. With the mechanism stopped at the top-of-the-hour position and the battery removed, push a small pin into that small hole. The pin only needs to go in about 3/8 of an inch. The pin acts as a "locking pin" to keep the mechanism in a locked position while you adjust the hands.
10. Gently pull the second hand straight off the shaft. Try not to spin the second hand while removing it.
11. If the minute hand is not pointed at the 12 o'clock mark, you may gently push the minute hand to the left or right and correct its position. (I will assume that the hour hand's position doesn't need adjustment but, if it does, you may push it to the right place too.) Make sure the hour and minute hands are aligned so that they won't touch each other while the clock is running.
12. Gently push the second hand back onto the shaft, making sure it's pointing directly at the 12 o'clock mark. Try not to twist the second hand as you push it in place.
13. Remove the locking pin and then install the battery. DO NOT install a battery if the locking pin is still in place!
Now sit back and watch the clock run. If should go to the next "top of the hour" position with the minute hand and second hand pointed directly at the 12 o'clock mark. And then it should continue to set itself until it reaches the correct time. If the hands are still not pointed exactly as you desire, repeat the above steps. If all goes well, then remove the battery and then re-install the front glass. I recommend you do not try to install the front glass while the clock is running. I also recommend that you don't move the clock around a lot while its running. For example, don't take the clock anywhere in your car while it's running... but if you just want to move it from one wall of your room to another, it's okay to let it run while you're gently moving it a short distance.
Good luck!
Return to the "Hechinger Movement" on my Analog Product Reviews page.
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