VDO Kienzle Ghia clock repair

[mcdonaldneal]

[mcdonaldneal]

For the record, in response to a query I took a pic of the engraved mark by the adjustment screw. Tiny, hidden by a VDO label and/ or the copper earthing strap it reveals clockwise for slower, anticlockwise for faster!

_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[dshawirwin]

Hello,
I realize this is an old post but I'm taking the chance you will read.
I am very grateful for all your hard work posting these photos & directions. Thank you.
I fixed my clock by soldering the 2 broken connections as you descripted.

Without sounding lazy or half-a... my question is;
Is wiring an inline fues to the clock an absolute necessity?
Thank you so much

[sputnick60]

[mcdonaldneal]

[dshawirwin]

A very heplfull explaination. Thank you.
An inline fuse it is!

[Mizan]

Hey guys. I can recommend Novastar Type R Clock Oil for the pivots of this clock. It's cheap online. DO NOT USE WD-40, or anything in a spray can for that matter. Clocks have to be oiled with very special oil, and the Novastar barely does the job properly, but is miles and miles better than anything household.

You wouldn't use cooking oil in your motor, would you? Same idea with clocks, it will run all over the place then gum up and die.

If anybody knows who posted the PDF here on The Samba, its extremely helpful, but instructing to spray with WD-40 should be amended, bad idea.

No offence intended, just a word of warning I'm putting on the posts about the clock. Do right by your clock.
_________________
"If it ain't leakin' oil it's out of it"

[16CVs]

Interesting thread, I am installing a factory set of Gauges in a slightly modified Ghia that had VDO's in it.
I have Re soldered some on Bus clocks before and they always failed within 6 months or so after.
I will be sending them out for a pro build as there are way too many other things to tackle on this car for my Customer.
One thing that struck me funny was the clock being at 10 before 2, it is actually supposed to be 10 after 10 as a tribute to when Lincoln was shot.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[mcdonaldneal]

[mcdonaldneal]

[mcdonaldneal]

[Hokie87]

I'm trying to fix my clock, too, and have found this thread very helpful. I have a couple of questions that I hope someone can help with.

I opened the clock and found the solder fuse broken. I soldered the contacts together, installed an in-line 1 amp fuse and reinstalled the clock. I also added a ground wire since the case wasn't grounded. After hooking up the battery, I could hear a clunking sound coming from the clock that lasted for about one minute. I disconnected the clock. The fuse had not blow.

I took the clock out and apart again and found that the contacts on the winding wheel were stuck together. I freed these up and cleaned them with an fine grit emery board. I then decided to bench test before reinstalling the clock. The winding wheel works fine if turned by hand but it does not move with electrical power. Now when I test it I can see a small spark at the winding wheel contacts but the wheel doesn't move and the 1 amp fuse blows.

So, my questions:

1. Does anyone know how the coil-winding wheel works? Is the wheel magnetic? Any thoughts as to why power would be present at the contacts (spark visible) but the wheel not turn?

2. Unrelated to my troubles, but for future reference: Is 1 amp a big enough fuse? Others have said it works but is this in bench testing or in the car? When installed, a 1 amp fuse between the fuse box and clock means that current for both the clock and the interior light are going through that fuse. If the clock winds while the interior light is on will the fuse blow?

[mcdonaldneal]

Hi Hokie87,
Last question first! My suggestion of the 1A inline fuse goes back to when I originally fixed my clock. It was wired up differently, from the unfused side of the fusebox! The wiring diagram does have the interior light getting power after the clock, and so the 1A might not be enough. Actually, wired correctly, the clock is protected by the 8A fusebox fuse. Personally, I have supplied the clock on its own red wire, so it is protected by the 8A and its own 1A fuse. 1A is enough for the clock alone.
I'm not sure what's happening with your mechanism. I believe the winding wheel is 'thrown back' by an electromagnet, activated by the closing contacts. If you don't have enough voltage, the contacts stick and create a short, which I think is why the solder link blows. 9v is usually enough though, as a bench test. It may be that another part of your wiring has gone, but if you solder link is still intact, just try running the clock off 12v with a good ground and no fuse (temporarily!). If it doesn't work at that your problems may be deeper !
Good luck, and repost whatever happens !
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Hokie87]

I found my problem then caused a worse problem.

The clock wouldn't wind because the arm that drives the first wheel was backwards. It should push the wheel like in the first picture, not pull it like in the second picture. Hooked up incorrectly, it might be too much resistance for the winding wheel to rotate when energy is applied.

Once I corrected this, it ran beautifully...for four cycles. Then the coil smoked. Now looking for a parts clock to take the coil from.

[mcdonaldneal]

Ah. That would do it !
I guess that arm must have been forced around at some point. It could happen if the support arm was pushed in the wrong direction.
Good luck with the repair. Look out for a clock that is 'dead' for the usual reasons. It would be an easier repair.
Please post your results!...
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[sputnick60]

if you work out how to rwmove the burnt coil, you might be able to rewind it instead of searching for another. The wiire is common in electronics hobby shops and you turn the bobbin with an electric drill. just depends on how far you want to go
Nicholas
_________________
'66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Hokie87]

Fixed!

I found a donor clock and used the back panel with the coil from the donor rather than trying to rewind the coil in mine. Runs perfectly now.

[mcdonaldneal]

Hey, good skills!
Well done, and it's good to know that's a possibility!
It's amazing to me how repairable some of our VW stuff is!
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Jos.Hall]

So I've got a question.
what would cause the clock to stop mid cycle?
I hook up my clock to 12v. When the points connect, It springs out and the windings/escape go into motion. About midway through before the points reconnect, the momentum is lost and the the escapement stops along with all the gears. If I bring the points back together and then reapply the 12v it goes back into motion again.

Here's a quick clip of what I'm talking about. Sorry it's as boring as watching time go by.


Link

[paul_round]

Could be nothing more than friction, caused by a lack of lube.