How to Tighten Hands on a Clock

Dangling hands on the face of a clock don’t do anyone any good. The clock may continue to run, but it certainly can no longer tell you the time, and if you own a clock that chimes on the hour and the half hour, it may not let out a single note. Many clock hands are held to the face of a clock by friction and a small nut, and it only takes a simple repair to tighten them. If the hands on your clock refuse to remain tight, you may need to replace the nut or the clock hands.

  1. Push the hour hand against the clock shaft. Friction holds the hour hand on the shaft, and pushing it back onto the shaft will tighten it. Once you tighten the hour hand, rotate it too the correct time.

  2. Tighten the nut on the end of the shaft holding the minute hand. Using needle-nose pliers can help you grasp this small nut. This nut holds the minute hand in place. Rotate the minute hand to the correct time.

  3. Push the stem on the back of the second hand into the opening on the end of the shaft if your clock has a second hand. Friction holds the second hand in the small opening at the end of the shaft.

  4. Check the hands once you tighten them. Make sure nothing obstructs the hands or they catch on each other. Carefully bend the hands to straighten them if necessary.