If your grandfather clock is a treasured family heirloom, you may not want to trust its regular maintenance to just anyone. While a clock repair professional will certainly be able to clean and oil your grandfather clock, it just wouldn’t be with the same care and devotion that you would demonstrate. Before you open the clock up, it is important that you learn how to oil your grandfather clock in the right way – to ensure that it remains a fully functional family heirloom for generations to come.

The Right Tools For The Job


It is important that you use the correct tools to oil your grandfather clock; clock repair and maintenance kits are available for purchase from any professional clock shop, or via one of many online retailers. A clock oiler kit will contain the following:

  • - A clock oiler with an extra long needle
  • - An extension tube for hard to reach spots
  • - Lint free cloths, as well as soft lint free gloves

It is also vital that you have the correct oil for oiling your grandfather clock, using the wrong oil can severely damage the mechanisms of the clock.

Step-by-step

  • - Using the soft gloves and the lint-free clothes, carefully remove the brass weights; make a note of where each piece fits.
  • - Carefully remove the pendulum. Ensure that the dial is secure and then move the hands of the clock; remove the screws and bolts that hold the clock’s frame in place. Remove the frame and the mechanism of the clock.
  • - Oil all of the clock parts that are not free moving clock parts by putting small amounts of clock oil into the small indentations on each part. Using lint-free cloths you should be certain to wipe up any oil that spills over.
  • - You should be sure that you only oil the parts of the clock that are not free moving; oiling any freely moving clock parts can damage the clock severely.

Once the clock is oiled you should reverse the above steps to reassemble your clock correctly. Your clock should be lovingly cleaned and oiled every three to five years to keep it in tip top condition.

Related posts:

  1. How to Oil a Sewing Machine
  2. How to Oil a Stationary Bike Chain
  3. How to Oil an Airsoft Gun
  4. Simple Instructions On How To Change Oil on Your Car
  5. How to Get Motor Oil Stains Out of Concrete

Filed under: Home and Garden

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!