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Clocks, Watches/setting time on cuckoo clock

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Expert: - 8/18/2010


Question
Hi, I have an old cuckoo clock that keeps good time. However the bird chirps at 18 min after the hour and half hour.  I think I just need to loosen the minute hand nut and reposition the hand it but the nut will not turn.  I'm afraid of using any force to loosen it Any suggestions?
Thanks

Answer
Anne, evidently there has been a problem with the Allexperts Website or something in my server.  I did answer your question and evidently it did not get to you as the question has appeared again.  I apologize.

It is rather difficult to advise someone to loosen a stuck part, as sometimes when I do that the part breaks.  The only thing I can offer is that you might want to apply a drop of penetrating oil on the hand nut and let it sit for a couple of hours.  WD-40 would be good but do not spray it on.  Spray a small amount in a plastic cup and use a tooth to put a couple of drops on the nut and shaft where it is screwed on. Then grasping the minute hand as close to the center as you can, carefully use a pair of pliers to loosen the nut.  In a couple of occasions I have actually broken the shaft because it was so heavily rusted.  The movement had to be replaced anyway, but I did have to remove the hands.  Once the nut is loosened, retighten it and turn the hand until the clock strikes.  Loosen the nut, slip the minute hand to the top of the hour and tighten the nut.  You might have to slip the hour hand to point to the hour that just struck.  Let me know how it works.  

And one FYI, although WD-40 has MANY uses and I use it all the time, we use it very seldom for clock work.  Clock owners will spray it on a clock to get it going.  WD-40 is not a lubricant, but it loosens the existing lubricant, along with the ground up debris in the clock parts.  We have to clean and rinse the clocks to remove all of this and this increases the repair bills.

John Newman
THE VILLAGE CLOCKSMITH
Old Prattvillage
Prattville, Alabama
klokdok@juno.com

Note:  Because of the number of Allexpert questions and follow ups,
and the excessive backlog in my shop, I regret that I can only answer
the Allexperts related questions in a timely manner.

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John Newman

Expertise

As much as I would like to offer values of clocks, I am not a certified appraiser and will not venture into giving an unresearched guess. There is very little published information on what I consider to be the value of "modern production clocks". Considerations are what the clock originally sold for, the condition of the case and movement, and particularly the area in which you live, the demand and the economy. ALSO, WATCHES ARE NOT MY FIELD. However, I can advise the clock owner on proper maintenance of a clock to keep it running, small corrections and adjustments and how to move a clock without damaging it. I can also advise on obtaining parts for clocks. It helps if you can send any information on the clock movement which is usually found on the back plate of the movement. I have been a clockmaker for about 35 years and was plant engineer in the mid 90's and later operations and engineering consultant at Emperor Clock Company in Fairhope, Alabama. I now have my own clock shop.

Experience

One of my greatest accomplishments was traveling to China to assist a clock factory in building clocks to the standards which we required. With the proper specifications and quality control, some beautiful clock cases were built. The factory people from the wood carvers to the plant manager were very congenial, friendly and I left a lot of wonderful friends when I returned from my trips.

Organizations
Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee

Publications
Horological Times, a publication of the American Watch and Clockmakers Instute. Collaberated column author, with Photos and ideas for clock movement conversion article.

Education/Credentials
Associate of Science Mechanical Engineering Technology Emperor Introductory Clock Repair (Eventually taught a portion of the class after becoming employee)

Awards and Honors
Small Business of the Quarter (Prattville, Alabama) Leadership Class of 2009 (Autauga County, Alabama)

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