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Asynchronous alarm and inconsistent start on Copal RP-200

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    #1

    Asynchronous alarm and inconsistent start on Copal RP-200

    Hi,

    I'm new to flip clocks, and bought a Copal RP-200 that I want to gift someone. It came with a bunch of issues, and I managed to fix a few of them, but I still have two:

    1. The alarm is out of sync with the clock. The alarm works, but if it's set to 3pm then it goes off when the clock strikes 9:30am. Has anyone encountered this before? I suspect it's an easy fix but I'm afraid of breaking something.

    2. The clock is really slow to start, and sometimes needs a little manual help. I lubricated it a bit using Liberty clock oil, but it doesn't seem to have helped much. What's the best way to break up some of the gunk that's probably slowing things down? I'm hoping for something minimally invasive.

    Thanks!

    Tags: None
    #2
    I don't know the inside of the RP-200 but getting an alarm back into sync is usually a matter of partially disassembling the mechanism to unlock some gears and then reassembling them in the correct position. First task is to examine carefully how it all works. There are gears connecting the motor to the mechanism, gears connecting the minutes and hours, and gears driving the alarm. The last ones you need to take apart and assemble again in the correct position. This can be an iterative procedure as it is difficult to determine what exactly is the correct position.

    Very important: take lots of detailed pictures before disassembling anything! And repeat this at each step.

    Do not expect to get the alarm setting working precise to the minute. These alarms are accurate within a few minutes at best.

    Regarding the lubrication I think this video helps to understand how to apply it to the best effect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twl4iOmYq-E&t=323s
    If that fails I have seen people that have had succes with applying WD40 to free up extremely stuck motors.
    And if that fails you could try to replace the bearings, but that is quite the opposite of minimal evasive

    Comment

    • eathan21th
      #2.1
      eathan21th commented
      May 2, 2024, 10:13 PM
      Editing a comment
      I agree with Johan's idea. It's better to take more pictures before starting this process.
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