Hudson Clocks and Wisdom

RL Chilton
RL Chilton Administrator, Member
edited November -1 in HUDSON
My grandfather used to have this saying whenever someone would mention anything about "fixing" a clock. He'd say, "There's only two kinds of people that will open the back of a clock, a clockmaker and a damned fool. Which one are you?"

. . . . . . sorry . . . I was typing slowly, my hand was in the air ("damned fool"). I had a badly corroded, but intact clock assembly and a bucket full of Hudson clock parts. I thought, "Hell, I can do this." HA! There's about 300 parts that go into making up one of these clocks, but I "got 'er done". She runs like a Swiss watch, (er, clock) now! Compared to the clock, the speedo was a piece of cake to re-build.

Actually, the main reason for the post was 1) I figured out how to post pics again (Woo-Hoo!), and 2) I was thinking that if I had had a schematic or a blown up illustration of the assembly, this job would have been much easier (Alex: are you reading this?). If anyone has any literature on the Geo. W. Borg Corp. clock assemblies, I sure would like to have a copy for the future.
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Comments

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Oh, and hey, I know we had this info in a recent thread, but since the 'vert is a very early one, I went with the gold backgrounds as it could've been a carryover from '51. I'm also going to install the black numeral plates but with the white marbelizing in them, which I don't have, yet (Doc is actually this way, too).
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Nice job, Russ. I am proud of you! Maybe over the winter, I'll tackle mine, It runs for a few minutes and then stops until you touch the dial knob and it runs again for a few more minutes.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Dave-

    Actually, if you don't want to do it yourself, Hudzilla re-builds these, I just really wanted to do it myself, and once I started, I wasn't gonna fail.:D
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:



    Actually, the main reason for the post was 1) I figured out how to post pics again (Woo-Hoo!), and 2) I was thinking that if I had had a schematic or a blown up illustration of the assembly, this job would have been much easier (Alex: are you reading this?). If anyone has any literature on the clock assemblies, I sure would like to have a copy for the future.

    index.php?option=com_community&view=photos&task=showimage&tmpl=component&imgid=1611&maxW=674&maxH=404





    Well, RJ, it's like anything else I've scanned - if it's out there I'm also looking for it.



    How about it folks - anybody got any clock bulletins (or any other bulletins for that matter) or other lit they have they'd like to see on line. It's real simple - drop me an email @ NEChudsontech09@yahoo.com (drop the NEC) and let me know. We'll go from there.



    In the meantime check out the Hudson On-Line Library @ http://www.hudsonterraplane.com/tech/tech_index.htm

    and see what all's available.



    Coming soon: for you 1930-1933 Hudson owners who have been begging for a service manual - we're finishing one up now; got a 1939 parts book we'll be working on along with a 1940 shop manual and a 1952 parts book.



    We keep digging for this stuff. The heavier manuals I can't scan - unless they have fallen apart. I don't want to take apart a good manual, which limits the field a bit. The 1952 parts book we just accquired from ebay is already mostly apart so we can do that one. the 1939 and 1940 pieces are what I call junk manuals - so used it won't matter if I take them apart. When I'm done I can put them in a 3 ring binder.





    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    HudsonTech

    Memphis, TN
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    DaveFury wrote:
    Nice job, Russ. I am proud of you! Maybe over the winter, I'll tackle mine, It runs for a few minutes and then stops until you touch the dial knob and it runs again for a few more minutes.



    My Commadore clock did this. There is a little flat overcenter spring that snaps back and forth when the solonoid winds the mainspirng. It pivots on a pin and mine was not moving freely on the pin. A little PB Blaster and it works great and keeps good time.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    RL Chilton wrote:
    My grandfather used to have this saying whenever someone would mention anything about "fixing" a clock. He'd say, "There's only two kinds of people that will open the back of a clock, a clockmaker and a damned fool. Which one are you?"

    . . . . . . sorry . . . I was typing slowly, my hand was in the air ("damned fool"). I had a badly corroded, but intact clock assembly and a bucket full of Hudson clock parts. I thought, "Hell, I can do this." HA! There's about 300 parts that go into making up one of these clocks, but I "got 'er done". She runs like a Swiss watch, (er, clock) now! Compared to the clock, the speedo was a piece of cake to re-build.

    Actually, the main reason for the post was 1) I figured out how to post pics again (Woo-Hoo!), and 2) I was thinking that if I had had a schematic or a blown up illustration of the assembly, this job would have been much easier (Alex: are you reading this?). If anyone has any literature on the Geo. W. Borg Corp. clock assemblies, I sure would like to have a copy for the future.
    index.php?option=com_community&view=photos&task=showimage&tmpl=component&imgid=1611&maxW=674&maxH=404
    Russell, when you get it all finished, do as I did. Get a house alarm 6 volt battery, install side of your regular battery, ground the positive, run a wire to the dash, negative, add a switch and a wire to the clock. Get a motorcycle battery charger, 6 volt and charge once every 6 months. This way you can shut it off when car is not in use. My clock has now been running for 8 years. What kills clocks is the generator, just when it starts to rewind the generator kicks in and the high amps and voltage makes the points stick together. When new they lasted about 2 to 3 years. Walt.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Thanks, Walt, I'll do that.
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Walt, you need to start on Tech Tips Vol. III.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    walt's garage-53 wrote:
    Russell, when you get it all finished, do as I did. Get a house alarm 6 volt battery, install side of your regular battery, ground the positive, run a wire to the dash, negative, add a switch and a wire to the clock. Get a motorcycle battery charger, 6 volt and charge once every 6 months. This way you can shut it off when car is not in use. My clock has now been running for 8 years. What kills clocks is the generator, just when it starts to rewind the generator kicks in and the high amps and voltage makes the points stick together. When new they lasted about 2 to 3 years. Walt.



    Well Walt here's another way. get a manual windup. I got sick and tired of worrying about the electrical overcharge when you fire it up after you've disconnected the battery. So instead of going the electrical route, I took a Super Six wind up job and put it into the Hornet. Just wind it up and it's good for about a day or so. Keeps good time too. No more worrying about burning out contacts on the clock. And if you're too lazy to wind the clock then use your watch.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I think the reason they "give out" after a few years is simply that the points get burned. The clockwork itself is bulletproof. A simple cleaning of the points with the point file may be all that's necessary to keep one's clock running forever.



    One great figure of the Geo. Borg clocks is that they were used in many makes of cars. The guts of my '37 Terraplane clock came from a '38 Buick clock (bought for peanuts at a Hudson flea market). Fitted right onto the Terraplane clock.



    Really, once you take one of these things apart and scope it out, if you have a shred of mechanical ability you'll pick right up on how it works. No mystery to it at all. My biggest problem right now is finding a spare 3 amp fuse for it -- one of those teeny weeny little ones!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Jon B wrote:
    I think the reason they "give out" after a few years is simply that the points get burned. The clockwork itself is bulletproof. A simple cleaning of the points with the point file may be all that's necessary to keep one's clock running forever.



    One great figure of the Geo. Borg clocks is that they were used in many makes of cars. The guts of my '37 Terraplane clock came from a '38 Buick clock (bought for peanuts at a Hudson flea market). Fitted right onto the Terraplane clock.



    Really, once you take one of these things apart and scope it out, if you have a shred of mechanical ability you'll pick right up on how it works. No mystery to it at all. My biggest problem right now is finding a spare 3 amp fuse for it -- one of those teeny weeny little ones!
    Why go through all the trouble removing, filing and reinstall when a house alarm battery saves you all that time?? You don't have to wind every day. Walt.
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