Minute hand adjustment on cuckoo clock

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:32 am     Post subject: Minute hand adjustment on cuckoo clock

I have three cuckoo clocks, all in good working order. Something that is bugging me though, all the clocks' minute hands are about 2 minutes past the hour and half hour when the cuckoo calls. Unlike some of the other clocks that have the nut in the hand that can be adjusted, the cuckoo minute hands do not. Is there any way that I can adjust these clocks so the minute hand is on the numerals when it calls? Thanks.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:27 am     Post subject:

Most cuckoos have a brass hand washer that fits behind and in the minute hand and a retaining nut to keep the hand tight on that washer and also on the hand shaft. The brass washer should have a square drive hole in it that fits over a shoulder on the hand shaft.

The easiest way to set the minute hand for me is to let it chime on the half hour and stop the clock. Then you can loosen the retaining nut on the minute hand, leave the hour hand alone unless it needs some tweaking, and allow the minute hand drop to dead vertical pointing at the number "6" on the dial. Tighten the hand nut being careful to hold the minute hand in proper position so it doesn't move and you should have the minute hand pointing right on the number "6" where it should be on the half hour strike (cuckoo call) and the hour hand half way between the last hour and the next hour on the dial. Start your clock back up and you should be good to go! It may need a few minute's adjustment to get it caught up with the real time.

It's easier for me to do it on the half hour than to try to balance the minute hand pointing up at the "12" on the hour strike.

Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:03 pm     Post subject:

I was loosening both nuts, no wonder it did not work. Thanks.