HOWARD MILLER avb LINQ Wall and Mantel Clocks Instruction Manual
- July 10, 2024
- HOWARD MILLER
Table of Contents
Instructions Manual
Follow These Steps to Set Up Wall and Mantel Clocks
Setting Up Your Clock
Located in the shipping carton with the clock will be a key to wind the clock. If provided on your model, the shipping carton may also include a pendulum and finial that are separately packed. Please keep all of the original packaging material.
WARNING: KEEP PLASTIC BAGS AND SMALL PARTS AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
Access to the clock movement and chimes is made through the back of the clock.
Howard Miller uses a combination of rubber bands, foam, styro foam, metal, and
cardboard to secure the movement and chimes during shipping.
Cut rubber bands with scissors and discard.
DO NOT PULL ON THE RUBBER BANDS TO BREAK.
Remove foam, styro foam, and cardboard from around the movement and chimes. When possible, pull in the direction shown to remove. (See figure 1 & 2) For clocks with a pendulum, cut the rubber band or remove the metal spring clip from the back side of the movement by first pulling one end free. (See figure 2). Open the front door and remove the white plastic insert holding the minute hand at the 3:00 location (this insert is not used on all models).
Follow the remaining instructions as they apply to your clock.
FOR CLOCKS THAT HAVE A PENDULUM
-Follow these instructions for hanging pendulum. NOTE: To perform the following steps, Howard Miller suggests wearing cotton gloves or using a soft cloth when handling parts.
Some pendulums have a colored protective plastic film covering the pendulum
disk. Carefully remove this film before hanging the pendulum.
To hang the pendulum, locate the pendulum guide through the front door or back
access panel. While holding the pendulum guide with one hand, slip the
pendulum through the front door with your other hand. Place the pendulum hook
over the pin or through the slot on the end of the pendulum guide, and lower
the pendulum until it is hanging securely on the pendulum guide. (See figure
2).
FOR CLOCKS THAT HAVE HANGING WEIGHTS
-Follow these instructions for hanging weights. Do not remove the styrofoam blocks until after your clock has been operating for at least eight (8) hours. Check the weights to ensure that they are tightly assembled. Check to make sure that the cable is in the cable pulley. Hang the weights on the pulley. (See figure 3).
FOR ALL CLOCKS – SETTING TIME (moving the hands)
To set the time, slowly move ONLY THE MINUTE HAND counterclockwise (backwards) until hour and minute hand are at the correct time. (See figure 4). DO NOT MOVE THE HOUR HAND WHEN SETTING THE TIME. The hour hand will move automatically when the minute hand is moved. If the clock begins to chime while setting the time, stop moving the hands until chiming is complete. The movement has a self correcting feature which synchronizes the chimes with the time. If after setting the clock on time, it does not chime properly, permit it to operate 2 hours to correct itself.
FOR ALL CLOCKS – STARTING CLOCK
Clocks without a pendulum will start automatically if the clock is wound. To start clocks with a pendulum, reach through the front door of the clock and place your hand on the side of the pendulum disk. Move the pendulum to the far left of center and release. Let the clock operate a few minutes until the pendulum settles into an even swinging motion. (See figure 5).
If your clock gains or loses time after 24 hours, see General Information Section to regulate the time keeping of your clock.
General Information
Product Information Label
The product information label identifies the clock model number and serial number. The clock model number and serial number are essential for obtaining parts or service. The product information label is located either on the back or bottom of the clock. Refer to thi label when contacting your dealer or Howard Miller. For easy reference in the future, take a moment to record these numbers. Attach your sales receipt to this manual for future reference.
Winding Your Clock
Insert the winding key into the holes located in the dial face. (See figure 6). Depending upon the model of your clock, there can be 1, 2, or 3 winding key holes. Turn the key clockwise until the spring becomes tight and will not turn further. For clocks with hanging weights, raise the weights using the crank. DO NOT lift the weights by hand while cranking Wind your clock once a week.
Regulating Time Keeping
One Day
- Select a time of day that will allow you to check your clock at the same time for at least six days.
- Record time selected
- Check correct time.
- Re-set the minute hand to the exact, correct time.
Day Two, Three, Four, Five, Six (If Necessary)
- Check correct time.
- Compare time shown on your clock with correct time. Is your clock fast or slow?
- Adjust as detailed under “Clocks with Pendulum “or “Clocks without Pendulum”.
- Check correct time. 5. Re-set the minute hand to exact, correct time.
Clocks with Pendulum
Changing the speed of time keeping is accomplished by moving the pendulum disk up or down. The pendulum disk is moved up or down by turning the adjustment nut. To slow the clock down, move the pendulum disk down by turning the adjustment nut to the left. To speed the clock up, move the pendulum disk up by turning the adjustment nut to the right. (See figure 7). Turn the adjustment nut one complete revolution for each half minute fast or slow per day. (24 hours).
Clocks without Pendulum
Depending upon your clock model, changing the speed of time keeping is accomplished by moving the time adjustment lever or turning the time adjustment screw located on the back of the clock movement (see figure 8). To slow the speed of time keeping (clock runs fast), move the time adjustment lever down towards the “-” (minus) or turn the time adjustment screw clockwise toward the “-“. To increase the speed of time keeping (clock runs slow), do the opposite by moving the time adjustment lever up or turning the time adjustment screw counterclockwise.
Chime Selections
Selecting the chime melody is accomplished by moving a lever on or next to the clock dial. Some models play only the Westminster chime, while others give you a selection of three melodies.
If the dial states “WESTM-SILENT” or “STRIKE-SILENT”, your clock has only the Westminster chime. If your clock has a triple chime movement, the chime lever identifies the melody choices.
Never change the selection while the clock is chiming or positioned near the release points. See figure 9 for when it is safe to move the chime selection lever without damaging the movement.
Clear and Maintenance
Your clock requires little care and maintenance. Listed below are steps you can take to maintain the exceptional quality of your Howard Miller clock.
- Wind your clock every seven days.
- Wax and polish your clock cabinet as frequently as you do your other furniture. Use a no silicone liquid or paste wax.
- When cleaning glass, use a non-ammonia glass cleaner. Never spray the cleaner directly on the clock.
- For clocks with hanging weights, check the weights occasionally to ensure that they are still tightly assembled.
- Avoid exposing the clock to direct sunlight or high intensity lighting which may fade the finish. Protect from extreme temperatures and humidity changes which may cause the wood to split or crack.
- It is recommended that your clock movement be oiled every two years from the date of purchase and thoroughly cleaned every five to ten years depending on climatic conditions. Extremely dry, humid or salty air, heat or cold may necessitate more frequent servicing. Howard Miller does not recommend that you service the clock movement yourself. Con-tact an authorized Howard Miller Service Center.
Troubleshooting
Ensure that all instructions provided with your Howard Miller product have been carefully followed. These instructions will provide detailed information to answer most questions. Contact the Howard Miller web site (www.howardmiller.com) for a list of frequently asked questions that may conveniently resolve your problem or answer your questions.
Clock Does Not Chime At Proper Time
If the clock chimes more than one minute before or after the proper time, the minute hand should be removed and adjusted.
CAUTION: When performing this operation be careful not to scratch the hand nut, hand or dial.
- When the clock starts to chime, stop the pendulum and record the time.
- Using pliers, carefully remove the small nut that holds the minute hand in place by turning the nut counterclockwise while at the same time hold the minute hand with your fingers near the small nut.
- Remove the hand from the hand shaft by grasping it with your fingers at the point where it attaches to the shaft. Pull the hand straight off. This hand is not screwed on and should come off easily. The minute hand has a small raised area on the back side directly around the shaft hole, this is the hand bushing. Using pliers, grip the bushing firmly by its sides so that it cannot slip in the pliers. With your other hand, turn the clock hand forward or backward the distance necessary to chime at the correct time. (See figure 10).
- Re-attach the hand to the shaft and turn the hand nut finger tight. Make sure the hand points to the correct location that you recorded in Step 1 plus any corrections you made in step 3. If the hand does not point to the correct mark, repeat steps 2 and 3.
- Snug up the hand nut with the pliers. Do not over tighten.
- Start pendulum.
- Re-set the time by moving ONLY THE MINUTE HAND backwards as described in the set-up operation.
EXAMPLE: Clock chimes at 1:10 but should chime at 1:15.
Step 1: When clock chimes at 1:10 stop the pendulum and record the time of
1:10.
Step 2: Carefully remove the small nut.
Step 3: Remove the minute hand. Grip the bushing by its sidesand turn the hand
forward 5 minutes.
Step 4: Reattach the hand so it points to 1:15. Attach the hand nut finger
tight.
Step:5 Snug up the hand nut.
Step 6: Start pendulum.
Step 7: Reset clock to current time.
Clock Does Not Strike the Correct Hour
If after several hours of operation your clock does not strike the correct hour, grasp the HOUR HAND ONLY and move it forward or backward to line up with the correct hour on the dial indicated by the number of times the hour strikes. Rotating this hand independently will not damage the clock.
If the minute hand needs to be reset (to correct time), move the minute hand counterclockwise (backwards) as described in the “FOR ALL CLOCKS-SETTING TIME’ section of these instructions.
Clock Will Not Chime or Strike
- Make sure that the selection lever is not in the “silent” position or halfway between two chime melody positions?
- Make sure that all the packing material is removed from the movement area.
- Make sure that the clock is wound.
- Check hammer adjustment and correct chime tone as necessary.
- Lift all hammers approximately one inch and then let them return to their resting position.
Chimes Have the Incorrect Tone
DO NOT ADJUST CHIME HAMMERS, unless the chime tone is incorrect Chime tone may be affected by the hammers resting on the chime rods or striking the rods off center. Although the hammers were set at the factory, it is possible for them to get out of adjustment. For most clocks, it will not be necessary to adjust chime hammers. There are different types of chimes (rods, coils and bells).
Chime hammer arms are made of brass and can be safely bent. If necessary, adjust hammers so that they do not interfere with each other while moving or striking the chime rods, chime coil or chime bell. This is accomplished by bending the hammer arms slightly in the middle so that each hammer rests approximately 1/8″ from each rod or 1/8″ from the coil or bell. (See figure 10). DO NOT bend the chime rods or chime coil. Chime volume cannot be adjusted.
Clock Will Not Run
Although it is not recommended that you repair your own clock, you should check these items before contacting Howard Miller, your dealer, or an Authorized Service Center. Do not attempt any adjustment you do not feel confident in making.
- Has all the packing material been removed from the movement area?
- Did you wind the clock?
- Is the clock level?
- Do the hands operate without interference? Do not let the hour hand hit the second hand. If the second hand is rubbing the dial, pull it out slightly. If the hour hand is rubbing against the back of the minute hand, the hour hand should be pushed closer to the dial (put your thumb nails on the center portion of the hour hand and push).
- Make sure the pendulum is hanging correctly in the pendulum guide.
Limited Warranty
Howard Miller offers a limited 1-year warranty on your product from the original date of purchase or date of receipt if the product was a service award. In the unlikely event that your product appears to be malfunctioning or requires repair within the warranty period, please contact your retailer or the company who provided the item if it was an award. They will be your first resource for information regarding your warranty and service options.
If your product is more than one year old from the date of purchase or receipt as an award, your product is no longer under the manufacturer’s warranty. Support for products that are no longer under warranty is available through the “Help Center” at www.howardmiller.com.
We recommend that you carefully read and follow all instructions provided with your Howard Miller product before pursuing service. These instructions will provide detailed information to answer most questions.
To find additional information regarding your product, to order parts or to find a service center, please go to the “Help Center” located at www.howardmiller.com. The “Help Center” also has links to product manuals, instructions, videos and frequently asked questions.
Before contacting your retailer, award provider or a service center, please have the following information available. The model number and serial number can be found on the Product Information Label which is normally on the back or bottom of the product.
Model Number:
Date Purchased:
Serial Number:__
Where Purchased:____
If the item was shipped directly to you, it is your responsibility to report freight loss or damage to the carrier and your retailer or award provider. If the carton indicates signs of “visible damage”, instruct the driver to note the damage on the freight bill. If damage is found after the item has been delivered, notify your retailer or award provider and the carrier immediately. Many carriers require notification within 2 days. Failure to notify the carrier within their required time frame may waive your rights to a damage claim and you may be liable for the damage.
Minor Adjustments Not Covered Under Warranty
Repair service and/or parts to correct the following minor adjustments are at the consumer’s expense:
- “Set-Up”. Set-Up instructions have been provided with your Howard Miller product.
- Mechanical Movement Oiling and Cleaning. The movement in your clock is a mechanical mechanism and, therefore, requires periodic oiling and cleaning depending on climatic and environmental conditions. Under normal conditions a movement requires oiling with high quality clock oil approximately every two years from the date of purchase. Please contact a qualified clock repair person or authorized Howard Miller Service Center for this service.
- Replacement of Suspension Spring. Please return broken suspension spring to Howard Miller for proper identification. Replacement suspension springs are available from Howard Miller.
- Pendulum, Timing, and Chime/Strike Hammer Adjustments. Instructions for these adjustments have been provided in this publication.
