Vienna Regulator Hanging & Set Up Suggestions

Disclaimer: This information is provided for general use. The writer takes no responsibility for any damage that may occur from the use of information contained in this document. Use these suggestions at YOUR OWN RISK!

General notes.

These clocks are very delicate. Never force anything.

If a clock has a silvered dial, (or other part), never touch the silvered part. This is a very thin coating, and the perspiration on your hands will discolor it.

It is a general rule to NEVER move the hands backwards when setting the time on a Vienna regulator. There are exceptions to this rule, but usually setting the hands backwards will damage the clock.

When setting the time, stop at every chime spot (hours, ½ hours, sometimes ¼ hours) and allow the clock to fully chime. If you don't, you will probably damage the mechanism.

Sometimes the hands of the clock get out of adjustment, and the minute hand actually hits the hour hand as it sweeps by. This will stop the clock. By very carefully repositioning the minute or hour hand this can be corrected. Bend the hands only if absolutely necessary, as this is how hands get broken off.

Installation and Start-Up:

Locate the hanger on the back of the clock, and verify it is solidly attached to the back of the clock. After determining the hanger position, locate the position of the screw needed in your wall.

If possible, it is best to use a large screw (like a 3" long drywall screw) directly into the wood stud supporting the dry wall. These clocks are quite heavy, and they will pull out a screw that is only screwed into the drywall.

If no stud can be found in the right place to hang your clock, use a steel "Mollie". These can be found in a hardware store. I use the ¼" screw size. Do not try to use the plastic "Mollies". These clocks are heavy, and a fall from the wall is disastrous.

Install the screw, and hang the clock on the wall.

Adjust the wall stabilizers so the clock hangs vertical. The walls in many houses are not straight up and down any more, so a good eye, or a level helps here.

Hang the pendulum if attached directly to the backboard, and by moving the bottom of the case, center the pendulum bottom sideways in the case. Many of these clocks have a beat scale that makes this very easy. If the pendulum hangs from the movement, then the movement must also be installed at this time. Be sure the pendulum does not rub the back of the case. These clocks are precision pieces, so there may not be much clearance here, but if it rubs the clock will not run for very long.

Install the movement. If it is a slide type mount, be sure that it is square in the case, and that the chimes or other parts do not rub the pendulum. Be sure it is inserted in far enough to clear the glass. Be sure to insert the movement "crutch" into the slot in the pendulum bob as applicable while installing the movement, not after the movement has been installed..

If the clock is weight driven, be sure the pulleys are properly inserted and the weight cords are hooked properly into the hooks for the cord end in the movement. Hang the weights on the weight pulleys. Be careful that the cord is not tangled in some other part of the clock, and hangs straight down from the winding barrels.

Now gently start the pendulum to swing back and forth. Listen for the "tick-tock" of the clock. If no "tick-tock" is heard move the bottom of the case slightly until you do hear it, or make an adjustment on the crutch that engages the pendulum. This adjustment is normally called the "beat adjustment", and may be a screw , or it may be a simple "yoke" type of adjustment.

Make adjustments at the crutch as needed until the clock has a very even "tick...tock...tick...tock...tick...tock" type of sound. The clock will not keep running if the sound is "tick..tock......tick..tock.......tick..tock.......etc".

Let the clock run for a while and see how it does. Most of the time, if the clock runs an hour, it will keep running. If it stops, look for a rub, and/or fine-tune the crutch adjustment.

Good Luck!

Dave Blackman

Revised 7/19/02

Link added below 7/02/2014

Click on this link for an interesting video for setting up a Vienna Regulator.  This is not me in the video.