Expert: William J Perkins - 11/10/2007

Question
Hi, I have read all the past Q&As from the site and I think I know sort of what I have to do.  

My wife has a ten-or-so year-old cuckoo clock bought in Germany.  Recently it lost the large last chain link that prevents the chain from passing into the clock, passing around the sprocket and back out of the clock. So of course this happened -- stupid me.  I want to re-thread the chain back over the sprocket.  

From reading through some answers on this site I think I need to "remove the movement" of the clock.  I don't know how to do this (and I can't really find on the web a good explanation of what the "movement" is), but I really want to do it myself (I broke it, I feel obligated (and somewhat excited) to try to put it back together).  Is it true that I must remove the entire interior mechanism?  

I am maybe above average in mechanical ability but I am no savant.  I would like to learn, but is is worth it for me to try, or are my chances of doing irreparable harm to the clock very high?

Thank you very much.
Matt

Answer
Because of all the wires and goo gaa's on them, cuckoo's can be a real bitch to work on.  On the plus side they are very forgiving.  Be of strong heart and have at it.  To help you I have a video on cuckoo clock repair that I could lend you.  Send me a postage paid, self addressed cd mailer and I will forward it to you.  My address is; William J Perkins, 1502 Johnson Rd., Centralia, Wa., 98531.