Friday, April 2, 2021

Repairing an inexpensive clock...


We've had this inexpensive clock (I think it was a house warming gift from Ray & Jen, nearly 30 years ago) in our master bathroom.
It stopped keeping time & it isn't the battery.
Was going to just throw it away since it's such an inexpensive item but decided to see if I can fix it (maybe it's something easy & obvious).
Started taking it apart to see if the issue is something simple...

The plastic housing pieces are just clipped together with locking tabs between the pieces.
Using a thin small screwdriver, the tabs can be flexed to take the housing pieces apart (being careful not to break the plastic tabs).

The clock hands just press in place.
These are the major components, taken apart...

This is the actual working part of the clock (encased in the black plastic housing).
As the red arrow shows, there's green corrosion where the battery terminal piece meets the clock electronics.

There was a tiny bit of green on the battery tab also.


Using a vinegar/baking soda mix & a Q-tip, cleaned the corrosion.

Reassembling the clock.
All the plastic gears are loose and had to be carefully reassembled between the housing, the electronic board and the other half of the housing.
It's like assembling a tricky puzzle.
Almost need three hands...

Mid-process...

Got all the pieces put in place, ready for the other half of the case.
The case halves have matching holes for holding the plastic gears in place when the two housing halves are put together.

Now ready for putting all the other pieces together and the hands on the clock...

Finished.
Checked to see if it kept time for 24 hours.
It's keeping time.
Fixed...

 

AZ motorcycle plate...

Pretty beat up.
Will straighten it out a bit, later...


 

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 -- Manhattan Beach Pier






 

White Table Top...

Cleaned the white top on the flat files.
It had several places where the top was chipped and the particle board substrate was visible.
Used a white paint pen to color in those spots.
Looks pretty good now...