Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 10/9/2008

Question
I have a musical cuckoo clock with the music box portion attached to the roof of the clock's wooden case. My military husband and I just completed a move, and now the clock's music box is making an awful clacking noise when the music is triggered, often stopping in the middle of the music. Sometimes the door containing the little figure that is supposed to emerge when the music plays opens and sometimes it does not. When it does open and the little figure emerges, to door often does not close back up but remains open. I am wondering if something is now bent after being packed in boxes and shipped across the country with our furniture. The clacking noise seems to indicate that something is hanging up inside when the music starts to play. Any suggestions? How do i get into the clock to work on the music box? By removing the two screws that hold the roof on or by simply reaching past the clock mechanism with the back plate off?  Thanks so much!

Answer
These are nasty little buggers to work on.

First you need to figure what is making the noise.
Run the music with the back door off and while inspecting with a strong light to see where the noise is actually coming from.(some one else to hold the clock up?)

Depending upon what you find, get back to me and maybe we can adjust it without taking it out of the clock.To remove the music, everything else has to come out first. Not a good first time job for amateurs.