Speedo / Tach / Gauges: 53-54 Commander clock question

[lelshaddai]

I have 2 53-54 Commander clocks. One seems to work fine. I can manually flex the spring and the 6 volts works to excite the points to open them. The other I can manually flex the spring and it works great. When I try to excite the points they stay together and spark and fry. I have lightly sanded the points but they still do not open to flex the spring. Thoughts of what is wrong or possible fixes?

[gordr]

I would guess that the winding on the solenoid is burned out. A not uncommon fate of those car clocks. Battery goes dead due to disuse (or lights left on?), clock runs down. Not enough juice to work the solenoid, so points just buzz for a while, and then weld closed, and remaining 4 volts in battery cooks the coil.

[lelshaddai]

Any fixes for that?

[StudeRich]

A conversion to a Quartz movement powered by a 1 1/2 Volt Battery.
Technicians who can do that, are getting harder to find but a few Must be still out there somewhere.

There ARE fixes for the original Electrically wound Mechanical Borg Clocks, but none actually LAST and they never did when New.

[lelshaddai]

Anyone know someone who can do this?

[StudeRich]

I found these, but they are for 12 Volt Car Borg Clocks and powered by the Car's system, there Used to be some that use a AA Battery a much better way to go, especially for 6 Volt cars..
Anyone that wants to try it in their 12 Volt Stude. you would need to contact them for Model and Fit info.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256285560064?itmmeta=01J0D2P3P2R95MBGFAA5M4TS72&hash=item3babcf4d00:g:lagAAOSw2xhh1J2c&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8AWoVqOSVOgpPY%2FMf90e7n70rnp47k7MXuWFuGZYgNJf3S2PgvOYtXOV4Qfo70NWXjnH2%2BDDbA9mfS1X6Gm6HYr9scdEM%2Fftxybi4M4nqonghSjhq8tVEPjBvHJ%2BvoegOwIdthSBjOWSxxfkF%2BvBQuTTWzss4o0ZJkLTAe4GKSlKMB7CCGomA6kehGGzWjnR%2BuAYfSqKKOP8do4qG1k5SaKtw1NQ4aiEULc6wCptvHPLlL2GiDLBHq5BLeVO8qk1r%2BrvlBO4VIDQ7%2BnnS5i98Fyd65V6bn7NKH0fZTDkSXGcVx%2FjDmbQd%2FMkbCFUJ0RuFQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5C72KKDZA

[lelshaddai]

Thanks. I have converted to 12volt. It is a borg clock.

[gordr]

You can buy a quartz clock movement at Temu.com for $3.99 Not an endorsement; just came up first when I searched "cheap quartz clock movement". The spindle has a threaded bushing to mount it to the clock face being used. Of course, having to reach under the dash to set it, and change out the AA battery once a year might be a deal-breaker. Similar clock movements probably can be found at craft stores like Michaels. Or just go to a thrift shop, and buy a quartz wall clock for a couple of dollars.