Clock ground

Chumley · March 15th, 2007, 05:45 PM

I have a '72 Cutlass. Is there supposed to be a ground wire attached to the back of one of the clock housing nuts? My service manual shows one. I installed a supposedly "working clock" with no success. The only ground I could detect was that metal strap on the dash instrument face where one of the mounting screws goes in, thereby making contact with the clock housing. I guess I need this other wire as well? The clock power feed is hot, as well as the lamp feed.
Thanks, Chumley

Oldsguy · March 16th, 2007, 04:31 AM

To double check that run a wire from the metal housing of the clock to a known good ground like the metal firewall or metal on the doorjamb or on the seat frame. Someplace that you know for sure is ground and unpainted. Then see if the clock runs. If it does then you can find a more appropriate and convinient spot to run the wire to.

Chumley · March 16th, 2007, 07:46 PM

Thanks, that's what I was thinking to do next. I have 3 of these clocks and none of them show any evidence of there having been a ground wire attached. Time for more investigating...........Chumley

American Lead · March 17th, 2007, 02:39 PM

Some clocks are "electrically wound" and you have to make it wind somehow by shorting a wire to it or somthing like that, if you don't the clock will sometimes sit and do nothing. Let me know what you found out.

Chumley · March 19th, 2007, 07:48 PM

Well I attached a wire to the housing and tucked the other end in a crevice on the metal part of the dash. I don't know if this was the "shorting out" mentioned in the previous post, but now the clock works ( without the temporary ground wire hooked up). Don't quite understand it all, but I'm happy I now have a working clock.
Chumley

Oldsguy · March 20th, 2007, 04:42 AM

Sounds like the housing was the ground for the clock motor. Good work.

Chumley · March 22nd, 2007, 10:03 AM

Yes, but after the clock started working, I removed the wire and it is still running! Maybe these clocks just need this "jump start" to get things going. I'm going to try it with the other 2 clocks I have to test this theory.I'll keep you posted.......Chumley

March 15th, 2007, 05:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Chumley Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 254	Clock ground I have a '72 Cutlass. Is there supposed to be a ground wire attached to the back of one of the clock housing nuts? My service manual shows one. I installed a supposedly "working clock" with no success. The only ground I could detect was that metal strap on the dash instrument face where one of the mounting screws goes in, thereby making contact with the clock housing. I guess I need this other wire as well? The clock power feed is hot, as well as the lamp feed. Thanks, Chumley

March 16th, 2007, 04:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 6,416	To double check that run a wire from the metal housing of the clock to a known good ground like the metal firewall or metal on the doorjamb or on the seat frame. Someplace that you know for sure is ground and unpainted. Then see if the clock runs. If it does then you can find a more appropriate and convinient spot to run the wire to. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

March 17th, 2007, 02:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
American Lead 2Blue 55 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 455	Some clocks are "electrically wound" and you have to make it wind somehow by shorting a wire to it or somthing like that, if you don't the clock will sometimes sit and do nothing. Let me know what you found out. __________________ Classic cars are my drug of choice

March 20th, 2007, 04:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Oldsguy Hot Rodder at heart Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 6,416	Sounds like the housing was the ground for the clock motor. Good work. __________________ Dan '77 Cutlass Supreme '46 2 door "The rocket 455.....it's a sledgehammer approach to a thumbtack world" LuxBlue of HAMB.

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March 16th, 2007, 07:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chumley Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 254	Thanks, that's what I was thinking to do next. I have 3 of these clocks and none of them show any evidence of there having been a ground wire attached. Time for more investigating...........Chumley

March 19th, 2007, 07:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chumley Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 254	Well I attached a wire to the housing and tucked the other end in a crevice on the metal part of the dash. I don't know if this was the "shorting out" mentioned in the previous post, but now the clock works ( without the temporary ground wire hooked up). Don't quite understand it all, but I'm happy I now have a working clock. Chumley

March 22nd, 2007, 10:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chumley Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 254	Yes, but after the clock started working, I removed the wire and it is still running! Maybe these clocks just need this "jump start" to get things going. I'm going to try it with the other 2 clocks I have to test this theory.I'll keep you posted.......Chumley