Mxfrank - yes, I figured that all out. Here is what is happening. When the minute hand gets close to twelve and the rack detent at the top of the mechanism lifts, the rack teeth are freed and the spring (finally figured out to reattach the spring) the spring pushes the rack tail against the snail cam hour by hour and it automatically revolves the rack back so that the appropriate tooth gets caught by the rack detent.

However it acts like the spring is not strong enough because it will not push the rack back far enough; I only get to tooth 4 and cam 4. Nothing is binding. Obviously the spring is strong enough because it moved the rack all the way back to twelve every hour before I took it apart. Do not want to fool with the spring.


Therefore I think I need to oil, grease, or WD40 the spindle that I reinstalled the rack and tail mechanism on. I believe the dry spindle is keeping the spring from working properly. That way the rack and tail mechanism could be pulled all the way back by the spring. Unless I am missing something. When reinstalling the rack and tail mechanism on the spindle, I had to push it on quite firmly to make the rack teeth mesh with the rack detent. (Obviously all these technical terms are thanks to your fine exhibits.)

What do you think? Or we could discuss by phone. My cell is 6 seven ate-77seven-3five0nine. Sorry, do not know your name.

Adrain