Expert: Michael Radi - 1/25/2011

Question
I replaced a 24hr. movement and the music box in a German clock.
I had a gentleman try to synchronize the music and cuckoo, but he didn't do it properly.  Now I have been trying to make the cuckoo go first, and then the music.  Now the music plays first until the weight goes halfway down the wall before the cuckoo goes, and then it will stop the music.  I have tried to position the bar from the movement onto the music bar but I am unable to get the synchronization right.  I have spent several hours trying to get it fixed, but it still does the same thing.  I am out of my mind in getting the cuckoo clock to function the way it's supposed to when it was purchased in Germany in 1984.

Answer
First locate the fan on the music box. This is a spinning winged piece that controls the speed of the music. When the clock is cuckooing an arm should reach into the fan and hold it still. When the clock stops cuckooing the arm moves out of the way and allows the music to play.
Sometimes this arm is on the music box assembly, sometimes it is part of the arm that reaches over to the music box to actuate it.
Let me know if you can't figure it out. A photo of the inside back of the clock would be helpful to me.
Michael
norkro.com
clock parts and repair