Replacing an electric movement in an outdoor wall clock.

dav964

Some years ago I bought an electric wall clock for the garden.  After several years it started to run erratically and I replaced the battery operated movement.  The clock worked successfully for several months but has now started playing up again.  I've changed the battery but this still hasn't helped.  I'm not sure whether the clock stops occasionally or has periods of running slowly.  If I correct the time on the clock it will be OK for a few days after which it will show the wrong time  although the second hand still sweeps (at least it does when I look at it).

The replacement movement I bought looked exactly the same as the original movement insofar as it has a back cover to protect the movement and battery from damp.  I'm wondering whether I should get another new movement, so: -

a) Is there a certain type of movement that is designed for outdoor clocks?
b) Is there a certain type of AA battery that is designed for outdoor use?

FreeBear

There appear to be any number of quartz clock movements advertised as being "outdoor" from £5 on ebay & amazon. On the face of it, plastic gears & brass shaft tube. Battery housing doesn't look to be particularly well sealed, and I suspect a ferrous core in the ticking mechanism - Both will corrode over time and eventually fail.

Decent quality movements guaranteed to last are also available from specialist suppliers, but come at a price. Most are either mains powered or run off a 12V supply. Really depends on your budget.

Vitor

Probably best just replace with a cheap movement as needed. Outside there will be condensation forming  pretty much regardless of any seals and it'll rust out.

twopenny

Have you checked the hands are straight?

Rust inside the hands/piviot going into the housing?

My friend used to make clocks and I had to sell cheap ones for someone. They are ok but not made to last for great lengths of time and outdoors you have 'wildlife', weather and such that can distort the facia and hands.

ThisIsWeird

How big is this clock, Dav? Is this a standard mechanism as you'd find in the vast majority of indoor clocks?
If so, then I think a few things you could try, and would likely make it last a few times longer, are, spray the clock's battery contacts, and the battery itself, in WD40 - adding another squirt after installing it, to 'seal' around the contact points.
Spray the external mechanism shaft with a light coating of silicone lubricant/waterproofing. This will lube, hopefully shrug off moisture, but won't attract too much dust that could turn it to a sticky paste.
Don't try and seal the clock mechanism inside the clock body by boxing or wrapping it, in the hope of keeping damp air from it - that won't work. Instead, make sure it is well ventilated in its location.
Since mechanisms are cheap, you could even experiment by lightly spraying the silicone over the internal mech as well. This carries the risk of preventing the motor rotor from turning - it's very delicate, and without much power - but if the silicone dries so it doesn't 'drag', it could well be fine, and add further protection.