Repair Electric Kundo Clock

[richar...@my-dejanews.com]

I am looking for help with the circuit diagram and/or parts to repair a Kundo
ATO electric pendulum clock.

This clock consists of a pendulum that has a curved bar at the end which
passes through a brass covered coil. The field of the coil is controled by a
transister inside.

The clock runs slow and I have been told that the problem is electical.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Richard Cooper

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[Henry J. Lesovsky]

In <6p565h$ma$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com> richar...@my-dejanews.com

Richard: consider yourself fortunate to have a Kundo ATO
clock with integrated solenoid coil/transistor circuit that
at least works albiet slow.

Replacement coils have to be canabalized from working clocks
to repair/replace. The imbedded transistor could be replaced
but in so doing, the brass pieces and the plastic coil bobbin
gets damaged beyond repair.

The fact that it runs at all indicates that the coil and drive
circuit is functional. The coil and circuit have nothing what
ever to do with the fact that it runs slow or fast. The rate of
the pendulum is a function of it's effective length. (by theory)

I strongly suspect the fact that your Kundo clock is slow is
because the suspension spring is either broken on one side or
someone replaced it with one weaker than required. The
suspension spring SHOULD NOT affect the rate of the clock but
in fact, it does affect pendulum clocks that have short,
light pendulums. 'Can't be avoided.

Of course it is possible that the rating nut/slug/weight above
the swinging bar magnet is the wrong one or improperly
positioned.

I've repaired a few of these Kundo transistor clocks and have never
experienced one that kept a bad rate. It's always been
an go or no-go situation.

Let's see what some of the Kundo experts on this news group have to say
about your slow clock. I cannot see how the circuit could
cause any change in rate.

Les Lesovsky in Alhambra, CA

writes:

[Mike Murray]

>I am looking for help with the circuit diagram and/or parts to repair a Kundo
>ATO electric pendulum clock.
>
>This clock consists of a pendulum that has a curved bar at the end which
>passes through a brass covered coil. The field of the coil is controled by a
>transister inside.
>
>The clock runs slow and I have been told that the problem is electical.

I cna't help with the diagrams but a slow running clock, in this case, is
an indication of a weak battery. Also, some ATO types have an adjustable
mass somewhere on the pendulum.

A reply from, E-mail address: mi...@netcom.com
Mike Murray Founder of Clocksmiths

A specialist in Atmos and 400-day (anniversary) clock repair.
Also, I overhaul most plug in electric clocks.
In continuous horological service since 04/01/1982.

Mike's Clock Clinic
1326 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, California (CA) USA 90404-2502
Phone: 310-828-6707 or Fax: 310-828-7381
Memberships: AWI # 17851; Clocksmiths; NAWCC # 074021

My main Web site is located at "http://www.webcom.com/z4murray/"

Home of my unofficial AWI Web site which is located at:
"http://www.webcom.com/z4murray/awi.shtml"

Main FTP site is located at "ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/mi/mikem"

[Henry J. Lesovsky]

In <35b75b4...@192.0.2.3> z4mu...@webcom.com (Mike Murray)

Mike Murray suggests a weak battery could cause slow rate on
a Kundo battery clock. 'Something that missed my mind when I
stated in an earlier reply when I opined that the electronics
has nothing to do with the rate. Well, if the motion of the
pendulum is insufficient for the pawl on the pendulum to engage
a tooth on the ratchet wheel of the motion works once in a while,
then the clock would indicate slow. Weak dry cell: decreased
motion and apparent loss of rate. Actually, these Kundo transistor/
battery clocks seem to run forever on a single "D" cell. Maybe so
long that the dry cell disintegrates and erodes the polished brass!

Les Lesovsky in Alhambra, CA

writes:
>

[JOHN P WOODS]

Richard,
Starting on page101 in Henry Fried's "Repairing Quartz Watches" is a
complete description of your Kundo Clock if it is just like mine. On page
103 he states that if your battery is less than 1.1 volts when measured with
a high impedance voltmeter, it should be changed.

After doing this then move the cone shaped regulator to fast or slow and the
clock should keep a very close rate until the battery again drops below 1.1
volts.

John Woods

[richar...@my-dejanews.com]

The battery is new and different batteries have been tried and have not
improved the speed. The weight has been adjusted for maximum rate. The clock
has been cleaned.

Does the coil push the pendulm on both sides of the swing?. Could half the
circuit be bad causing the clock to be slow and yet still run?

In article <6p838m$i...@dfw-ixnews8.ix.netcom.com>,

-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----

[richar...@my-dejanews.com]

The local clockmaker replaced the spring with a new one but that did not fix
the problem. Could all the springs be similar but the the wrong stiffness?

In article <6p6fst$h...@dfw-ixnews7.ix.netcom.com>,

> Les Lesovsky in Alhambra, CA
>
> writes:
> >
> >I am looking for help with the circuit diagram and/or parts to >repair
> a Kundo ATO electric pendulum clock.
> >
> >This clock consists of a pendulum that has a curved bar at the >end
> which passes through a brass covered coil. The field of the >coil is
> controled by a transister inside.
> >
> >The clock runs slow and I have been told that the problem is
> electical.
> >

> >Any help would be appreciated.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Richard Cooper
> >

[kyle....@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, July 22, 1998 3:00:00 AM UTC-4, richar...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> I am looking for help with the circuit diagram and/or parts to repair a Kundo
> ATO electric pendulum clock.
>
> This clock consists of a pendulum that has a curved bar at the end which
> passes through a brass covered coil. The field of the coil is controled by a
> transister inside.
>
> The clock runs slow and I have been told that the problem is electical.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Richard Cooper
>
> -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
> http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum

Hi, I am not sure if any of you are familiar with this happening, but I have one of the circular brass electirc coil Kundo clocks that is/was one of my most prized clocks. I purchased the 4 AA battery adapter and the clock ran perfectly for about a year. A month ago it began to slow down, I took it apart to replace the batteries thinking that they were dying... It was then that I discovered that the wires leading to the coil had all corroded and turned green. It had also appeared to have "melted" the brass that the wires ran along, even on the outside of the coil housing which made me the most sad. I tested the coil and for some reason, either by moving the wires just the wrong way or something, that there is no longer a complete connection through the coil. I cut the wires about an inch outside of the coil to get as close as possible and it still had no connection with a test. I am distraught, and worry that the adapter somehow sent too much power? The circuit is in parallel and the batteries are simple AA's. If anyone can offer help, a replacement coil, or a way to avoid this in the future I would really appreciate it.

[hans...@msn.com]

For all Kundo electronic repair and parts:
hans...@msn.com

[jsle...@gmail.com]

I'm experiencing the exact opposite. My ATO clock has magnets on either side of the pendulum. For years it kept perfect time. Now, its running fast. I have lowered the weight on the the pendulum as far down as it will allow me and its still running fast. Any ideas? I have a feeling that repairing it would cost far more than the clock's value but hate to part with such a unique timepiece.
Any suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks,
Jeff

[Ian Partridge]

<jsle...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:a95b14f4-a412-493b...@googlegroups.com...

Jeff,
Your Kundo ATO electro-magnetic coil is on one side and the other one is
usually a matching hollow dummy one. Lowering the pendulum bob is not the
answer. Move it back to where it was when it kept perfect time.

Examine the suspension for damage or kinks? Closely observe the escapement
and ratchet-toothed escape wheel and the gathering pallet pawl arm where it
engages the teeth of the escape wheel. It should gather one tooth only. It
is most likely that you will see it occasionally skip over two teeth, which
is the cause of your gaining rate.

The solution is leveling the base to stop the skipping. Raise the base
slightly on one side, or other, to stop the skipping and permit the pawl of
the gathering pallet arm to engage one tooth only. Trial and error. If it
skips then raise the opposite side.

Ian

[dave52...@gmail.com]

[hbau...@sbcglobal.net]

Did you ever find a manual? I have a problem hanging the pendulum.. I think I may be missing a part. Could you help?

[hbau...@sbcglobal.net]

On Wednesday, July 22, 1998 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-7, richar...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> I am looking for help with the circuit diagram and/or parts to repair a Kundo
> ATO electric pendulum clock.
>
> This clock consists of a pendulum that has a curved bar at the end which
> passes through a brass covered coil. The field of the coil is controled by a
> transister inside.
>
> The clock runs slow and I have been told that the problem is electical.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Richard Cooper
>
> -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
> http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum

[hbau...@sbcglobal.net]