You cannot release the chains unless you pull the movement out. Try removing the pendulum and pushing slightly on the hanger you took it off of. You may have to keep pushing it to keep the clock going but it should slowly lower your weight where you can put the pendulum back on and restart it. If you don't get a ticking sound when you push on the hanger, apply slight downward pressure to the weight.
Stevens Clocks, June 2009
