Like a 6 ft tall grandfather clock? Supposedly only needs maintainence... Could this be tackled by a smarty-pants guy as myself?
I'm going to say no, it is very unlikely you would be able to do a complete professional repair. Depending on which movement your clock has and if a replacement movement is available, it might make better sense to replace rather than repair. And if you don't want to sabotage the clock and render it un-repairable, don't use WD40! However, if it's full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes, I wish you luck! However, if your short term goal is to simply make it run, and if you succeed, well done!
Clocks are almost never DYI because they're almost never maintained properly and the oval holes have to be bushed back to straight. Tom
Been taking weekly lessons for more than a year. For a master it might take 5-6 hours. For me, about 15-20 hours (if it chimes and strikes). - take it apart (Using a phone camera to photo location of each part), label each part (time, strike or chime), clean parts (ultra sonic), partially reassemble checking on pivots, take apart and bush and polish all pivots, check and straighten any arbors that need attention, reassemble completely, lube with clock oil, run on a test stand making any adjustments that are needed (putting into beat) and finally remount. Alternatively spray it with WD40 and have it run for another year or two, and than sell it because WD40 doesn't work any more or pay someone $300-500 to do it properly
No. It's not only beyond the skill level of the typical "smarty-pants guy" like yourself, it can be dangerous... https://omegaforums.net/threads/these-things-scare-me.23641/#post-259054 But let us know how it turns out.
Don't really think you will have to contend with mainsprings on a weight driven clock! Just the same, if you tackle this job, be sure to let us know of the end result, and how much the professional clock guy is going to charge you to salvage what's left after all your screw ups!
I know a guy who does both clock and watch maintenance. He says clocks take more time to disassemble and adjust than watches. Charges twice as much for the clock service than a watch service.
OK, I gather there is consensus for don't do it. Yes I'm easily scared ... Quite squirrelly, actually...