I have a quartz president wall clock, I changed the battery and set the time OK but the chime needs setting and I have no instructions as it is a very old clock

probably find that the clock has it's own aa battery
the pendulum has it's own aa battery and the chimes have 2 aa batteries

Are there two batteries. One for the time and one for the chime? Try taking the one for the chime out and it should stop chiming. mine worked that way but is a different make.

without seeing the clock .....are you sure it isn't something as simple as the hands ( arms) detaching from the centre spindle which continues to turn but without the hands. Alternatively have the hands become stuck on something on the clock face or become intertwined themselves ? Very simplistic but all I have to offer...

There is a sliding button on the back side to the right of inner frame. The slider has "Normal -> Time -> AL SNZ -> CountDown->Timer" marked on it.
You need to move that button to time basically to the right side and then user up and down buttons to adjust the time.
Hope this helps.
-- Anant

I have owned this exact clock for 30 years. Syncing the chimes with the time is very simple.

1. Flip the second switch from "Start" to "Set."

2. Use the thumbwheel to move the hands to the desired time.

3. Use the four "H" and "M" buttons to set the time for the chime.
— For example, if the desired time is 12:05, press the first button 1 time, the second button 2 times, skip the third button for 0, and then press the fourth button 5 times.
— If the desired time is 9:00, you only need to press the second button 9 times (all unpressed buttons default to 0).

4. When you're ready for the clock to begin using the time you've set, flip the switch from "Set" to "Start."

That's it! It's that easy.

I'm afraid you have to visit clock repair shop, as without close inspection it is not possible to say what's wrong with your clock.

I have the same clock. Here's what I did to re-set it after changing batteries: After replacing batteries, use the turn dial to set the correct time. Press the RED button 6 times, wait for it to go through that series of chimes, then press the button again to set the time.
Example: Press RED button 6 times. Wait for it to chime. Press RED button the correct number of times for the hour to be set. For 5:00, press the button 5 times, etc.
I lost the directions to my clock, and I am posting this from memory and also just had to re-set mine and it works OK now.
Hope this helps!

If it is like mine you press the test button until you hear the chime. Wait for the hour chime to go and count it. If it chimes once for 1PM and you need it set to 6PM then you press the test button to reset the chime and repeat press the button 5 times. This will set the chime to 6 PM. If you get lost on the time press until it makes no noise. This means you are 11PM or later and continue to then press until it makes noise again. Count the hour chimes and you are at the count in the AM. Repeat the steps and keep pressing to get to the proper AM or PM hour count..

IF I GATHER CORRECTLY , YOUR CLOCK HAS TWO BATTERIES, ONE AT BASE AND ANOTHER ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT. THE ONE ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOCK'S FUNCTIONALITY AND I THINK THE BATTERY AT BASE IS FOR THE ROTATING BALLS ( PENDULUM ). SO OPEN UP THE BACK IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO, AND REPLACE THE BATTERY. CAREFULLY THOUH AS THERE RE TWO SCREWS ON TOP AND A SNAP AT CENTER BOTTOM WHICH YOU COULD EASILY BREAK IF YOU DO NOT DO IT WITH CARE. OPEN UP THE SCREWS FIRST AND GENTLY USING A SCREW DRIVER PUSH BACK ON THE SNAP HOLE TO FORCE IT UPWARDS AND INWARDS. IF NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT CLOCKS.

HOPE THIS HELPS.