Cuckoo Clock Questions

"My Cuckoo Clock will not run out of the box or after a repair."

• Make sure all the packing is removed from the clock.
  
  -Bellow Clips (usually 2 bright orange clips)
  -Remove the piece of paper from the gong on the back panel.
  -Move wire latch on the cuckoo door to the side so that the door can open freely. (Do not remove the latch, just slide it to the side)
  -Remove wire that is holding the chains underneath the bottom of the clock.
  Once the weights are on the clock, start the pendulum swinging. Move the minute hand forward to the next half hour to hear the cuckoo sound.
  Listen for an even tic-toc sound. The bottom of the case may need to be tilted SLIGHTLY to the left or the right until an even tic-toc sound is obtained.
  Cuckoo clocks DO NOT necessarily need to be perfectly level to operate.

2- Make sure the clock is NOT leaning forward- it must be flat (FLUSH) against the wall.

3- If NO tic toc sound is heard, remove the weights and pendulum and look to make sure chain is completely on the wheel. If not, reinstall chain properly.

4- Ceiling fans, open windows, and floor vents will stop the pendulum from swinging.

Most likely it is because of lack of maintenance. Most clock manufacturers recommend oiling a clock every year. Though this is a very good practice, usually if done correctly, a clock can go 2-3 years between oilings. After 1980, when whale oil used for clocks was banned, a petroleum oil was developed. This oil works very well, but unlike whale oil, evaporates. After 3 years, residue from the oil and trapped airborne dust is left behind. This trapped debris will wear the clock's pivots and its bearing surfaces. The clock often stops because of lack of lubrication or from the worn parts.

No. 2 Order a clock oiling kit. Click Here

Sometimes when setting the clock to the proper time by moving the minute hand you may have accidently caught the shorter hour hand and moved it to a different hour. The hour hand is only pressed on the shaft and can be moved. To fix - move the minute hand to the next full hour and count the number of cuckoos. Then simply move the hour hand (shorter hand) to that number. If the hour hand becomes loose push it towards the dial to retighten. Finally reset the clock to the proper time with the minute hand.
view illustration

Cuckoo Clocks can be regulated by moving the decoration on the pendulum up or down. Remove the wooden pendulum rod from the clock and move the leaf UP slightly to speed up and DOWN to slow down. A very slight amount of movement will affect the time keeping one way or the other. Then place the pendulum back on the clock. Humidity and room temperature will affect the time keeping of a cuckoo clock. Make only one adjustment a day to give the clock time to catch up.
view illustration

No. 5 "How do I replace the chains on my Cuckoo Clock?"
To order new chains: Click here

If Chain is still on Clock: To replace the chain, start at the end with the hook and open the link, remove the hook and attach the new chain to the old chain. Feed the chain through by winding the clock as usual. Remove the old chain once the new one is through the clock and place the chain hook and ring onto the new chain.

If the Chain is off the Clock - Hold the clock upside down and feed the chain through the hole in the bottom of the clock. Guide the chain over the gear using your finger to turn the gear. Continue turning the gear as you rotate the clock to the upright position.

No. 6 "I have broken one of the hands on my cuckoo clock, what do I do? "
To Order New Hands: Click here
To Order Hand Nuts: Click here

1.Remove the nut holding the hands. Remove the hands and note if the center shaft holding the longer minute hand is round or square. ( Also take note of the position of the hands.)

2. Measure the minute hand for length.( If hand is broken measure from center shaft to outer edge of the dial.) This will determine the size of the hands.

3. Place the new hands on the clock, being sure to place the hour hand first then the minute hand. Using the proper hand nut set. Re-tighten the hand nut.
view illustration

No. 7 "How do I replace the bellow tops on my Cuckoo clock?"
To Order Bellow Tops: Click here

Remove the bellow whistles from the inside of the cuckoo clock,(It is best to do one whistle at a time to avoid a mix-up.) note and mark bellows for left and right in reguard to placement. Transfer all hooks and wires from the old bellows to new bellows. Gently remove the bellow top from the whistle, clean off any remaining glue from the whistle. Attach the new bellow top to the whistle, hot glue works best for this, note that bellows have 1/4" hole in differnet sides of bellow. Be sure to match new with old bellow tops.

No. 8 "How do I replace the bellow paper?" Order Bellow Paper: Click here

1) If you put the clock near open windows, fans, doorways, or heating vents, the clock may stop periodically due to drafts.

2) If the clock does not run, move the minute hand back half an hour and forward to the hour and let it cuckoo. Set the pendulum swinging again.

3) If the clock does not run, wind the weights fully and check the chains for any kinks that may have prevented the weights from coming down properly.

4) If you put the clock on the wall and it does not cuckoo, or if it is music box does not play the music check on the side of the clock for a metal lever that is the shutoff lever. The lever may be turned to the off position. Disregard the sticker which tells you which way to move the lever to turn the music and the cuckoo on and off. Sometimes these stickers are translated from German wrong. The lever must be moved to one extreme or the other. If it is placed in the middle of the two extremes problems may result.

5) Listen to make sure that the clock has an even tic-toc, tilt the clock slightly to the left or right to obtain an even tic-toc

6) To adjust the sound of the gong look through the hole on the back access door of the clock-the hammer can be bent slightly closer or further away from the gong to obtain a desirable gong sound.

No. 11 How do I put my cuckoo clock into beat?

No. 12 "Operating Instructions for Quartz Cuckoo Clocks"

* Turn the minute hand clockwise until it points to 12 o'clock.
* Open the back cover and insert two (three for clocks with music) batteries (usually C-Cell). Pay attention to + and -.
* Hand the clock on the wall and hang the pendulum.
* Turn the minute hand clockwise, round and round until the clock tells the correct time. **IMPORTANT! Let the cuckoo strike every full hour before advancing to the next hour**
* Should the time the clock is showing not correspond with the number of cuckoo strikes proceed with the following: Example: If the cuckoo strikes twice move the HOUR hand to the II (or 2 o'clock position).
* By pressing the "Push" you can move the cuckoo call by one hour.
* At the right side of the clock you may find a switch for the sound: "max", "min", and "off".
* There is a light sensor that automatically switches the cuckoo off when it is dark in the room.
*The batteries must be changed if the bird's door does not open or close anymore or if the clock is slow.

Quartz Cuckoo Clocks