Expert: Kenneth Saunders - 2/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: We have an 8-day Black Forest Cuckoo clock that is about 5 years old.  My husband was winding it (lifting the weight as he pulled the chain) and the chain became stuck.  We currently live in Malaysia and have found a repair shop but the price seems high.  They say that they must take it all apart, unjam the gear, and then put it all back together.  They are charging the equivalent of $300.  Most things are cheap here so this seems like a lot.  We have the option of just picking it up and storing it in this condition for 2 more years before we move back to the U.S.  I'm wondering if this type of repair will be expensive in the U.S. anyway, and should we just go ahead and have it fixed here?  There are few places for cuckoo repairs.

Thanks,
Laura

ANSWER: should be about $20 - I could hold my breath longer than it should take to fix. They must really jack up prices for rich Americans!
  Store it or try yourself.
  Rule 1: never lift the weight just pull the chain!

Take the back off- weight and pendulum off and with a flashlight
or in the sunlight-- see what the problem is- follow the chain visually and see where it is caught. Perhaps a deft pull or poking with a long screwdriver will free the chain. You should be able to see the problem easily.

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

QUESTION: Thanks very much. The locals think we all have money growing on trees and will spend it freely, no questions asked. We will just pick it up and tell them no.
One follow up....you said to never lift the weight, just pull the chain.  When we bought the clock at a large clock shop along the Rhine River in Germany, they told us to always lift the weight because it puts too much stress on the gear (and if feels like you are pulling the clock off the wall!)  So now I'm not sure...we have always lifted the weights when winding.  Those 8 day weights are heavy.

Thanks again,
Laura

Answer
trust me on this one --lifting the weight got you in trouble here!
just pull the chain straight down BUT pull gently to a stop and release your tension on the chain gently-- so the weight will not jolt the mechanism!
I have never seen any chain gear on a cuckoo wear out in 35 years of fixing these. It is the strongest part of the clock.

Do be sure you have the clock snug to the wall on a big headed screw that it can't slip off!