Can I oil an alarm clock with WD-40 or sewing machine oil to get it to run again?
One of the worst enemies of clock movements is WD-40. While it is an awesome lubricant meant to be used for general household uses (like door latches, hinges, rusted bolts and power tools), it is NOT suitable for clock repair. Clocks oiled with WD-40 may run for a short time, but will soon gum up again-and this time for the worst. WD-40 is a natural enemy to clocks. It gums up the fine movements, runs out onto dials and stains them, and contaminates clock-cleaning solutions when it inevitably becomes necessary to properly clean the movement. Please avoid this material, even as a temporary fix.
