Cuckoo clock chain/cuckoo problem

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:18 pm     Post subject: Cuckoo clock chain/cuckoo problem

I have a cuckoo clock that I purchased in Germany around 1994 I think. It has been boxed away for close to 15 years now and I decided to get it out today. The clock part seems to be working fine. The pendulum works and it appears to be keeping good time.

The problem is the cuckoo/chime part doesn't do anything. The chain & weight on the right-hand side seem to be stuck and the weight never moves down. When it reaches the top or bottom of the hour I can hear a "clunk" inside but nothing else happens.

I took the back off and can't really see anything wrong. I tried pulling gently on both ends of the chain (sort of rocking it back and forth) and I can hear faint cuckoos when I do this but it's still not moving. The weighted end is all the way up against the clock.

As far as I can tell there is no switch or wire to disable the cuckoo part. On the one hand I might not want it going off every hour but on the other hand I think I would like it to be working properly.

Here is a photo of my clock:


[img]http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnapier/5628009563[/img]
Anyone have any thoughts about what I can do?

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:21 am     Post subject:

Unfortuately Michael the photo doesn't tell me anything. you need to put a picture of the back of clock on flickr with the cover off so i can view the inside. even then it may not guarrantee a remedy but may help.

the chain may have got jammed which is common.

if you took it to repairer they could free it in 5 minutes if he knows what he is doing - don't leave it with them but take it elsewhere if they cannot do it there and then.

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:54 pm     Post subject:

Here is inside the back cover:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnapier/5641454499/

Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:39 am     Post subject:

looks like the striking is jammed up as the one bellow is in the raised position. this indicates it started to operate but then got stuck.

a repairer should sort it in 5 minutes.

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 6:12 am     Post subject:

i bought a cuckoo a few months back. it must of been stored up side down because the bellows were both open. When you pushed them down they would pop back up. Also if the bellow wire is to short it won't cuckoo but the pine cone should fall either way.

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:48 am     Post subject:

when the bellows are up it means the strike mechanism has been activated and the wheels have turned a little which operates the cuckoo. forcing the bellows down will bend the rods designed to operate the bellows. they should be straight and not bent.

you could try putting a tiny bit of oil on the pivots of the wheels where they meet at the plates - this may free the mechanism.