Removing the mechanism ( 7 ) There are several precautions that you will want to take to keep from damaging your clock. It is not hard work, but you want to be careful. Your clock is designed to last for many decades or even centuries. You don't want unnecessary nicks, dings, or scratches. Cut a slot in an index card, and slide this behind the hand nut. This will keep you from damaging the dial if you slip while removing the hand nut. Before you remove the clock hands, set the clock to 12 o'clock. After the hand nut is removed, very carefully just pry or jiggle the hands off. Make sure that when you remove the seconds hand you hold it in the center. The seconds hand is easy to break. ( 8 ) Next you will remove the four screws that hold the wooden frame around the dial. This next note is very important. On some of the larger clocks this plate is heavy, and as soon as you remove the screws, it wants to slide down. Make sure that you hold onto it so it can't slide down and bend the center shaft of your clock. After you slide the mechanism toward the back of the clock case, there will be just enough room for the plate to clear the clock's center shaft. Do not get in a hurry when you are working on your clock. ( 9 ) Now very carefully remove the wooden frame. On some clocks this frame slides down behind the trim. And on some clocks it just lifts off. Once you have removed this face plate, you are ready to lift the clock mechanism out of the clock case. BE CAREFUL! Your children want this clock for their grandkids. ( 10 ) Place a soft and thick cloth on your work surface. The clock dial is held to the clock mechanism with four locking paws. This can be a little tricky, not so much when taking it apart, but when putting it back together. It is a tight fit so it has to come apart evenly. If you remove one paw before the others, it can bind the others. Just take it easy, you are doing fine. ( 11 ) On many newer clocks, the locks simply slide out of the slots. When you reinstall the dial make sure that you lock these all the way into the grove. Just pay attention to how it looks before you unlock the clips. ( 12 ) After all four clips have been unlocked you are ready to separate the clock from the dial. Any time you handle a clock mechanism, you want to be very careful with the suspension spring. They are not expensive if you break one, but it takes about a week or so to receive a replacement. A lot of times a customer will order an extra suspension spring when they order the oiler from us. Continued on the next page