This one has me stumped!

[MikeTangas]

Came back from weeklong travel. Car had been sitting outside all week. All interior and trunk lights came on bright and the car started up immediately. Now for what stumped me.

It dawned on me that when I first got in and closed the door I did not hear that familiar tick of the clock, nor did I hear the points click for the winding mechanism.

As I drove home, looking at my now non-working clock and hoping it was only the fuse, all of a sudden the winding points clicked and the clock started working. Been holding time now for 24 hours.

Any idea what happened?

[Rackne]

How old are your points? I had a 63 Cadillac with a clock that didn't work, when I opened it up the points were fused together by corrosion from sometime in the late sixties. I cleaned the points and they worked for about six more months, long enough to impress my friends who had never seen a car clock from the sixties operate.
Still it might just be a connection.

Maybe the car was just waiting for you to return. Holding its breathe.

[MikeTangas]

I suppose the points might have fused and the road vibrations un-stuck them. But that has never happened before, even when left sitting for 1- 1.5 months.

I like the suggestion that the car was simply awaiting my return .

Mike,

Sometimes a simple cleaning with WD-40 will take care of it. The clock on my '63 Galaxie (I owned a few yrs ago) didn't work. When I disconnected one of the wires then re-connected it again, it would run for a few mins. It seems the jolt of electricity got it going for while. I pulled it out and cleaned/lubed it up. My brother now own the beast and clock still runs. A quartz conversion would have solved the problem as well, but a more expensive fix. Just a thought...

[pkzip]

With all due respect, I would not lube any clock with WD-40. Other than as an academic exercise, I wouldn't do anything about the clock either so long as it keeps good time.

If it fails, I would have the clock cleaned and overhauled at Palo Alto Speedometer - or DIY. I did a DIY on the clock in my '70 280SE using an article which appeared in The Star back in '91. Pretty straight forward -remove clock, remove plastic warranty "nut" on back with neednose pliers; remove remaining nuts, dip in a dishwashing soap and water solution (I could not bring myself to do that part of the cleaning) ; blow dry with a hair dryer set at air temperature and use clock oil in the appropriate spots (i.e., not the gears but the gear hubs as I recall).

You need to clean the contact points with contact cleaner and a light "sanding" with a contact file. Mine keeps perfect (?) time now - though it is still out of the car but kept on a 12 volt power supply. Alternatively, you can get a new "quartz" movement - but (like you apparently) I am fond of the sound the contacts make before I start the car.

Peter Kaufman

Thanks for pointing that out. I did a little more research and discovered that clock shops DON'T recommend this, my bad . They typically use a special cleaning solution. The old Ford clocks are not what you would consider extremely intricate, nor valauble. A quartz conversion is the way to go, esp. for a Benz.

My clock never ran until I cleaned the alternator and connections due to starting problems. Seems my battery was not being fully charged especially at night. I now have 13.9v alternator output, full battery and no start probs. and my clock is keeping accurate time. As quartz clocks are an analog electronic device they may require a minimum voltage to operate.

Also, how old is the battery? I have found a 36 month battery to last (perform well) 36 months. Its some kind of conspiricy!

[MikeTangas]

Clock is still keeping good time. No problems other than perhaps it missed me. As for the battery, well it's a little over 6 years old (Interstate), still spins the starter like new and looks good for it's age. I don't think that had anything to do with it - yet.

I just remembered another symptom. The fuel guage will oscillate below 1/2 tank.

The clock in my old 250C didn't work for the first 2 years I owned the car. Planned to get to it eventually. I was too busy trying to keep the wheels from falling off. Then suddenly one day, I heard an odd sound! The clock had magically sprung to life on it's own! Kept perfect time like an USN atomic clock for the next four years right up to the day I sold it.

It's just magic. Try eye of newt, a Ouiji board and some fairy dust. Maybe that "Crossing Over" TV psychic guy can communicate with your clock next time it dies. I’m sending him 50 bucks to do a Vulcan mind meld with the fuel injectors on my 4.5 to find out with one is leaking down after shut off.

STS

Assuming this setup is identical to early-Sixties American car clocks, the contact points usually fuse if voltage is too low during a winding session. Your battery may be heading South after all ( I know, I did read your post about bright lights, etc) .