Spring forward, fall back -- time to change your clocks      

[OCT. 29, 2005]  NORMAL -- Standard time returns at 2 a.m. Sunday, and homeowners once again will need to change their clocks. To help remember which way to change them, think of the phrase "Spring forward, fall back."

Gary Lutjens, owner of Gary Lutjens Clock Repair in Normal, receives questions each spring and fall from customers asking how to safely set their clocks. Lutjens provides the following helpful hints for the most common types of mechanical clocks:

If your clock only tells the time and doesn't strike, you have little to worry about. These time-only clocks, more properly called timepieces, have only one hole where you wind it up. These clocks will not be harmed whichever way you turn the hands. It is important, however, that you move only the longer minute hand forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the fall. The hour hand will follow on its own.

A striking clock will usually have two winding holes. A quarter-hour chime clock will have three winding holes. In the spring, move the longer minute hand forward, allowing the clock to strike the quarter and half-hours. "If you feel resistance at any point, back up the hand a couple of minutes and let the clock strike before moving forward again," Lutjens cautioned.

"Pendulum clocks generally will have a door, so just open the door and place your hand on the pendulum to stop it," he said. "One hour later, move the pendulum to one side and let it go." If your clock is smaller, just tilt the clock forward until the ticking stops and then gently allow the clock to be upright again. One hour later tilt the clock to one side and back to upright. The clock will start ticking again.

If your clock has a balance wheel instead of a pendulum, you will have to move the hands gently forward 11 hours, allowing the clock to strike each hour, half-hour and quarter-hour, if that is what it is supposed to do. This may seem tedious, but it will help avoid expensive damage to your clock.

This is also a good time to clean the glass on your clock and give the case a little polish.

Being careful with this seemingly simple task of setting your clock will help it continue to provide faithful service for years to come.

About Gary Lutjens Clock Repair

Gary Lutjens Clock Repair, located in Normal, services and repairs all makes and models of clocks. Serving central Illinois for over 20 years, it is also a factory-authorized service center for major clock manufacturers.

[News release]