Smith's Sectric Delhi Running Counterclockwise

[paulmolive]

Hello everybody .

Having trouble with my Smith's Delhi. A few years ago, it started running backwards and it's been sitting ever since. I decided to take a look inside and see if there is an adjustment I could make. I noticed that this part (see picture) fails to weave in & out properly between the metal tabs while running clockwise. It goes a half turn, bumps the tab, and then runs backwards. Sorry, not sure what the part is called. Is there an adjustment that can be made? Or is there a defective part involved. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Cheers

Paul

[Rhgbristol]

You could try starting from stationary several times and closely observe what happens.

With the ac supply, it will be pot luck on which part of the sine wave the motor starts rotating on.

Usually if running backwards, within a second or two some sort of simple cam intervenes and as you say ‘bumps’ rotation, effectively stopping it and causing it to bounce back and rotate in the opposite - correct - direction.

It should be possible by watching multiple starts from stationary to see what sort of bump mechanism you have, and it may be that just a very simple adjustment or lubrication is all that needed to get it working properly again.

Hope this may help.

I have come across this problem on many older Metamec and Smiths clocks.

[Jon_G4MDC]

Been wondering on this since it was first posted some days ago. Being no clock expert I was holding back.

"It goes a half turn, bumps the tab, and then runs backwards." suggests to me the tab could have been assembled backwards.

If it can be reversed then it will bump on wrong way running not right way.

[Nickthedentist]

Could you post pics of the entire movement, please? The item in your second pic looks unlike anything I’ve seen in a Smiths clock before.

The first pic suggests it might be the Bijou movement.

[paulmolive]

Thank you for the replies! Much appreciated. Here is another picture. Yes I believe it is the Bijou movement. I did try several times starting it in different positions with no luck. I'm a total novice here and hesitant to make adjustments that might do damage. I am ill at the moment but I will have another try at it this week hopefully

[julie_m]

Is that the bit of mechanism in question -- the spring rides up over the ramp where the bit of the disc is lifted up if the motor is running in the right direction, but catches and stalls until the armature automatically reverses if it was running in the wrong direction?

If so, the spring is upside-down -- the bit that curves back and sticks out should be on the other side of the post, so it will catch going in the other direction.

[Jon_G4MDC]

haha! yes that looks like it could be the problem.

[Nickthedentist]

Well done Julie!

Paul, thanks for this picture. Could you post another of the whole movement if you get time please.

Nick

[paulmolive]

Thank you Julie! I will give that a try. Here is an another pic of the movement apart for Nick. Thanks again

[Nickthedentist]

And thanks Paul!

Definitely a Bijou then, but not a variant I've seen before, and believe me, I've seen dozens of them! Any date codes on it, please?

[paulmolive]

Only possible codes I can see on the movement are BJM148SS 5512

??

[Robsradio]

A self starting Bijou, not seen one of them before.

[paulmolive]

So I've managed to get it going forward consistently. With the movement apart I powered it on and I was able to set the spring on the correct path. Powered off, then secured it in place, and carefully re-assembled the case. I'm not sure if the spring is upside down, but it now weaves properly in the right direction between the tabs. Been running ok for the last 8 hours. Even when it starts backwards after powering off, it corrects itself. So far so good?

[Nickthedentist]

Yes, well done!

Just seen that you're in Canada, which may explain why that particular movement isn't known to us here.

[paulmolive]

My next issue is re-assembling the hands etc. It's been many years since I took it apart, and cannot remember where some pieces fit. I really hope I didn't lose anything. Been working on it for a couple hours and it doesn't seem right. The hands seem loose to me. Especially the hour hand. Here's a pic of what I have

[paulmolive]

Wow that's strange. Made in England but perhaps a different design for North America? Maybe something to do with the different voltage over here?

[paulmolive]

Got it all assembled and been running fine for the last 24hrs. Fingers crossed. Thanks again everyone

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by paulmolive

Wow that's strange. Made in England but perhaps a different design for North America? Maybe something to do with the different voltage over here?

And frequency of course.