How to Wind an Emperor Grandfather Clock

Establish a pattern of winding your emperor grandfather clock every 6 days. While some clocks run on a weekly cycle, the Emperor clock needs winding at least every 6 days. It does not hurt the clock to be wound often.

Locate the chain and weight mechanism and observe how far the weight has dropped in the grandfather clock. Verify that the clock weight is not sitting in the base of the cabinet. This can cause the clock to stop and need to be restarted.

Verify that the time is still correct and that the clock is still running. If the clock is stopped, turn the minute hand clockwise to the next quarter hour and wait to allow the clock to chime. Continue this procedure until the clock is set at the correct time.

Wind the clock by using a soft cloth to hold the weight that is at the top of the cabinet and carefully pull the weight down until the counter-weight that was at the bottom of the cabinet is at the top. Stop the weight about 1 to 2 inches before it touches the clock mechanism at the top.

Adjust the chains while you are winding the clock so that they do not interfere with the pendulum movement. If you bump the pendulum, it can interfere with the normal operation of your clock.

Verify that the clock is operating properly after you wind it by listening to the next time it chimes and observe that it is set at the right time.