Expert: Martin Meyer - 10/22/2007

Question
My cuckoo clock chimes the hour at ten after and chimes the half hour at forty after.  It is an eight day musical clock.  Is there any way to fix it myself or do I need to take it to a repair shop?

Answer
Hi Brad,
    This method will work for MOST cuckoo clocks:
    Turn the minute hand until the clock strikes the hour. Loosen the hand nut, but don't take it all the way off. There will be a brass washer underneath the nut, then the minute hand, which is mounted on a brass collet.
    Pull the minute hand toward you, so that it comes off the brass collet. Make sure you pull straight toward you so that you don't change the time on the clock.
    Now re-mount the minute hand by pushing it straight back onto the collet, but with the hand pointed directly at the "12". Again, don't turn it, just push it straight on so that you don't change the time.
    Now tighten the hand nut without changing the time. If you do it correctly, the mechanism of the clock will still be at the strike point, but the hand will now be repositioned to point directly to the hour. Make sure the nut is tight. It may take several adjustments like this until you get the hand exactly at the hour and half hour when the clock strikes.