Winding an old clock - torque measurement

Sounds like a good way of having an oops moment and over-winding it, surely? How about getting another key and making a bigger handle for it so it takes less effort to wind?

Impact driver!

Jules - it's a drum to drum cable mechanism (a horologist would correct my crude description) - the essence of this is that 'stop' is very positive and the torque selector on the driver will sense it easily.

Your option did cross my mind, but Mum is now not very strong and a larger handle though making the effort requirement lower would increase the whole body energy demand and that would be counter productive.

Rob

No and don't know, but I reckon this would be capable

The handbook gives torque guides for each setting, or trial & error.

You can get torque adjustable electric screwdrivers: at their lowest setting they would be hard put spin a teaspoon in a cup to tea - all you get is a furious clicking as the mechanism 'slips the clutch'. I suggest experimenting with one of those at various torque settings until you find one that is sufficient to wind up the clock, but slips when the clock is near enough fully wound. I'm assuming the resistance to being wound increases the more wound-up the clock mechanism gets.

Sid

I was concerned about over winding as well but that doesn't sound as if it would be a problem. Get one of the adjustable torque drivers and set it so it slips at the right point. I then suggest finding some way of locking the torque setting to prevent future adjustment by Mum.

Bear in mind she will still have to resist the torque required even if she doesn't have to twist at the same time and also the weight of the driver.