How do I wind it safely?

Turn the key slowly and steadily. You should feel an even resistance as the chain or gut wraps around the cone. Stop immediately when you feel a sudden, solid resistance. Overwinding can snap the chain or damage the mainspring inside the barrel.

We inherited a large dial clock that runs for about two days before stopping even though the key won't turn any further when we try to wind it, so what could be causing that?

The movement is likely fouled with old oil and dust. Over time, clock oil dries into a sticky paste that stops the gear train from turning freely. Another common cause is a worn pivot hole. When the holes wear into an oval shape, the gears push apart and bind up under the mainspring pressure. A clockmaker will need to dismantle the plates, clean the components and bush any worn holes with fresh brass.

Can I replace a broken gut line?

Fitting a new gut line involves stripping the movement down. The spring tension must be let down safely before removing the plates. Most people leave this to a clockmaker. The risk of the mainspring unwinding suddenly can cause serious injury or damage the gears.

The wooden case on my wall clock has a small hinged door at the bottom and another on the side, but neither seem big enough to take the mechanism out through.

Those doors serve for routine adjustments rather than dismantling the case. The side door lets you check the pendulum swing and listen to the tick to ensure it sounds even. The bottom door gives access to the pendulum bob. You reach up through here to turn the rating nut, which raises or lowers the bob to speed the clock up or slow it down.

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Antique Fusee Clocks

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Antique fusee clocks are spring-driven timepieces equipped with a cone-shaped pulley system designed to equalise the pulling power as the spring winds down, ensuring steady timekeeping across the whole cycle.