How Do You Clean The Mainspring On A Seth Thomas Clock?
The mainspring on your Seth Thomas clock should need only seldom cleaning and lubricating. If your clock’s mainspring is inside a barrel, do not attempt to clean it yourself; ask a professional to do it for you. If your clock’s mainspring is visible, however, then it is possible for you to clean and then lubricate the majority of the spring yourself without removing the spring from the clock. Purchase mainspring lubricating grease; never use a penetrating product such as WD-40 to clean or to lubricate a clock’s mainspring. Allow the clock to wind down until it stops running. Remove the back of the clock. Use a small screwdriver (often called a jeweler’s screwdriver) to remove the screws on the back of the clock. Vacuum the back of the clock using a soft-bristled cleaning attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Dampen a cotton swab with benzene. Wipe as much of the mainspring as you can with the benzene-dampened swab to remove whatever dried-on lubricant, dirt and dust that you can reach. Do
