Following what has been a prolonged period of record-hot, dry weather, now is a good time for steeple keepers to have a session to check the tightness of nuts and bolts in the belfry.
If you have wooden headstocks or a wooden frame, it is especially important for you to check that all is well with your installation. Wood, being a natural material, dries out and shrinks when there are periods of high temperatures and low rainfall. Even a centuries-old wooden headstock will be affected.
Check the bell bolts or straps, as bells can become loose on their headstocks. Then check the clapper staple bolt to ensure it is tight and the staple can’t move at the top of the bell.
Has the handling of any of your bells changed for the worse during the hot weather? If so, check the strap bolts which hold the gudgeons to the headstock. Just a few millimetres of play will cause the gudgeons to move enough to make a bell go badly.
Have you noticed any unusual bumps and thumps? This could be a sign that the bearings are loose on the frame, so check that they are firmly bolted down. It is also worth checking the frame tie bolts of a wooden frame, but approach this with care, and work out a systematic order to tighten the whole frame.
Bells with metal headstocks aren’t immune. If there is a wooden spacer pad between the bell and headstock, this can shrink, and the bell may be found to be loose on its headstock and will need tightening, as will the clapper.
Other things to check are stays, wheels, sliders and runner bars. Even pulley boxes can be affected, where the wood can warp and cause the pulley wheel to bind.
As with any work in a belfry, don’t work alone. In this hot weather, take refreshments and keep hydrated. Dress appropriately for the belfry environment. Have a mobile phone with you and check that it works in the belfry, and always let people know where you are and how long you will be. Finally, if you are unsure, ASK. Guild belfry inspectors are there to offer advice, and just a quick email is all that may be needed.
David Godwin
SDGR Belfry Inspector.
