Cuckoo
Clock Repair
| Cuckoo Clock Repair Tips, Tricks, & Secrets! |
Cuckoo Clock Repair
Troubleshooting Guide
| Grandfather clock repair |
Pendulum
will not swing
Runs
too fast or slow
Weights refuse to fall
Weights are on wrong
Chimes out of
sequence
Moon phase dial
set-up
| Cuckoo clock repair |
Pendulum
will not swing
Runs too fast or slow
Replacing lost weights
| Mantel clock repair |
Pendulum
will not swing
Runs
too fast or slow
| Wall clock repair |
Pendulum
will not swing
Runs
too fast or slow
Pendulum will not swing / cuckoo clock repair
1. Is the time train weight chain properly looped around
the sprocket wheel ? Your cuckoo clock time train is composed of a
set of wheels which gear into each other, providng the power necessary
to operate the pendulum. The weight is hooked onto a chain, which enters
a hole in the bottom of the cuckoo clock, then loops around the sprocket
wheel, then exits another hole. Check and make sure the chain is properly
looped around the first wheel sprocket by slowly pulling up the weight.
If the chain is correctly engaged which the sprocket wheel, you will hear
a clicking sound as you pull the weight up. If it's off the sprocket,
the chain will be difficult to pull, you will not hear a clicking sound,
and the weight will rapidly fall when you release the chain. Cuckoo
Clock Repair Tip! If the weight chain
has fallen off the wheel sprocket, you can repair the problem by removing
the cuckoo clock movement, then looping the chain back onto the wheel
sprocket before reinstalling the movement. Cuckoo
Clock Repair Secret!You can also solve the problem by taking the back cover
off your cuckoo clock, turn the cuckoo clock upside down, grab hold of
both chains, and while looking at the sprocket wheel, dangle the chain
loop around the wheel, then pull both ends of the chain, causing the chain
to firmly wrap around the sprocket. While holding the chains firmly at
the base of the cuckoo clock case, upright the clock. This takes some
degree of dexterity and patience, but if your sucessful, it will be a
lot faster then the first method.
2. Is the time train weight chain
free of all obstructions?
The pendulum of your cuckoo clock needs
a certain amount of power to operate properly and that power is supplied
by a chain suspended weight. Obstructions that interfere with the downward
movement of either the chain or weight can cause a reduction in power
and result in pendulum swing failure. The wooden cases of cuckoo clocks
frequently become warped with age, so it would be a good idea to check
and make sure the chain that the weight is attached to is not rubbing
against the side of the cuckoo clock chain hole, located at the bottom
of the clock case. Cuckoo
clock repair tip:You can correct the problem
by removing the chain from the hole and drilling it out a little larger
so as to allow the free fall of the chain. In addition, always look for
obvious and the not so obvious obstructions which could interfere with
the falling of the weight such as picture frames, the backs of tables,
chairs, etc., that could block the fall of the time train weight.
Wayne Berry, Certified Clockmaker
E-Mail: How to Repair
Clocks
Last Modified:
February 22, 2004
Copyright 2001-2004, All Rights Reserved
Your Clock!
