Can a Grandfather Clock or Other Mechanical Clock Run Faster After Cleaning?

Yes, a grandfather clock or other mechanical clock can run faster after it has been cleaned. Cleaning a clock involves removing dirt, dust, and old lubricants, which can cause friction and hinder the movement of the clock's gears.

Reduced Friction

Cleaning can reduce friction in the movement, allowing the gears to turn more freely and potentially increasing the speed of the clock. This is one of the primary reasons for the improved performance after cleaning. However, precise timing may still be a challenge if the clock is in poor condition.

Proper Lubrication

After cleaning, if new lubricant is applied correctly, it can enhance the movement's efficiency. Correct lubrication is essential for maintaining the clock's accuracy. However, if too much lubricant is applied, it can also cause the clock to run inaccurately, disrupting its timing.

Adjustment Issues

Sometimes during the cleaning process, adjustments to the escapement mechanism might inadvertently be made. This adjustment can affect the clock's timing. Careful calibration is necessary to ensure the clock keeps accurate time after any adjustments.

Wear and Tear

If a clock is in poor condition, cleaning might reveal or exacerbate issues like worn gears, which could impact its accuracy. Proper maintenance and cleaning are crucial to prolonging the clock's life and maintaining its precision.

If a clock is running faster after cleaning, it may require recalibration or further adjustment to ensure it keeps accurate time. Regular maintenance is key to ensuring the clock operates smoothly and stays in top condition.

That is a question for any horologists out there...

But I would like to share the extent of my own experience, specifically in regard to the question of ‘Grandfather’ type clock mechanisms, which share fundamental characteristics in common with numerous smaller 'Mantle Style' clocks.

One such experience involved a clock that my parents brought with us when we emigrated to Canada from Britain aboard the CP Steamship 'Empress of Britain' in November of 1956. This mantle clock stopped working and lay motionless for several years before my mother decided to have it repaired and took it to a jeweler/horologist in the little town of Courtenay BC, close by our rural farm.

It stayed there for a couple of months before - coincident with one of my visits home to the family farm, at the time me being 17 and having recently spread my wings and flown the coop - received a call to inform us that our mantle clock had been successfully repaired and was ready for pickup. So, always receptive to the diversion of any road trip, no matter how short, I volunteered to go and fetch it and bring it home, which offer was gratefully accepted.

Of course, moving one of these things is always a delicate process. So the nearest available parking spot that would accommodate my truck was about 3 blocks up the main street of town from the repair shop. I had to take pains to carry the clock in a level orientation and avoid subjecting it to any sort of motion that could in any way be qualified as 'jostling'. While the clock wasn’t particularly heavy, it was both bulky and delicate, so my efforts to be careful were plainly obvious to everyone. Yet, it was obvious that my efforts did the trick, as when I arrived, the clock started running faster than it had in years.

And imagine my reaction when this little tyke, the spitting image of O Henry's Red Chief with a shock of unruly red hair and a crop of freckles so prominent as to appear as if painted on that very morning, appeared out of the crowd in a loud voice, shouting:

"Hey MISTER!"

Then he held up his left arm for all to see and said:

"Why don't you just wear a watch like the rest of us?"