Expert: Martin Meyer - 1/11/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, My lovely cuckoo clock has arrived from the USA, I have got it running but it won't cuckoo on the hour. I can manually work the bellowd to get the sound so I think something moved during shipping. Would you have any ideas on the cause?
Many thanks for your help
Annette

ANSWER: Hi Annette,
    This is a common problem with cuckoo clocks; they have a series of delicate wires which easily get out of adjustment.
    First, I would check two things. Make sure that the bellows do not have wire clips on them that prevent them from opening. These are just U-shaped wires that hold the bellows shut for shipping. Remove these clips.
    Next, check the cuckoo door. It usually has a small wire that holds the door shut. You just rotate this wire out of the door's way so that the door can open.
    If neither of these things help, you may need to have a clock repairer adjust the wires that lift the bellows or make other adjustments to correct the problem.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Martin
Many thanks for getting back to me on my non-cuckooing cuckko clock! There were no bellow clips put on for shipping (unfortunately) and there is no actual door for the cuckoo just an opening as it is a fixed cuckoo that is just 'tipped' by a wire under the tail. There is a wire fixed to one bellow that appears to control both bellows and Im not sure if it goes under/over the hook on the 2nd bellow? Also there is a square loop of wire that at present enclosed the cuckoo's tail, is this correct or should this whole loop sit UNDER the cuckoo's tail? Not sure if there is anything else I should be lookin for? MANY thanks for your kind help,
Regards
Annette

Answer
Hi again Annette,
    I'm not sure of the wire arrangement that you describe.
    The usual arrangement for cuckoo wires is as follows:
There is a round wheel on the lower left back of the movement with teeth, or prongs, on the wheel. There are three levers which are lifted one by one by this wheel when the clock cuckoos. Each bellows has a wire going down to one of these levers which makes the bellows open and close. The third lever lifts the hammer which strikes the gong on the back door of the cuckoo. The bellows on the left also has another wire which sticks out horizontally a couple inches. This wire should be beneath the tail of the cuckoo. As the bellows lifts, this wire lifts the cuckoo tail to make the cuckoo bird bob up and down. On your clock, this wire may have a square opening bent into it to hold the cuckoo tail.
    If your cuckoo has a different arrangement, I would need to see it to tell you how it should be set up. You're welcome to send me photos of the back of the movement by email, via my website, ClockmasterOnline.com . Then I can try to answer your question in more detail.