Antique Cuckoo Clock Repair and Restoration

[@G3sgofast]

It's nice to see even an expert can run into a problem from time time. Thanks for NOT editing out attempts 1 thru 6!

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Yes. Clocks teach me lessons all the time. They are always teaching me that I have more to learn.

[@andygigliotti487]

I found that when the cuckoo door gets stuck is usually caused by the wire that's connected to the bird and door either being too tight or too loose, a pain yes but you just have to find the sweet spot to have your cake and eat it too. It may not be the case with this clock but each clock seems to have a personality of their own at times... Love the video and found it educational. 👍🏻

[@dperry428]

By the way, the date of this clock is likely closer to the 1870's. The first "railroad" style clocks were made after a contest in 1850 and did not begin to incorporate the carved oak and maple leaf designs as seen in this clock until the 1860's. This one looks like those of about 1875.

[@henrynguyen5105]

hi chris very educational lesson patience is every thing thank you

[@BradfordNeedham]

An excellent illustration of how labor-intensive (and so, expensive) clock repair is. Thanks for the video.

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Hey Bradford. My new video on quail cuckoo part 2 shows you how to put the levers in the clock when it is assembled. I thought you would like to see that.

[@gorp27]

Really nice job on the restoration. I don't know if it would have helped on this one, but what i have found to work very well for cleaning cuckoo clock hands is called "Awesome" from the Dollar tree store. Just spray it on and scrub with a tooth brush, than rinse it off, also works well on plastic cuckoo birds.

[@Chrisclockrepair]

gorp27 Thanks. I appreciate the tip, I will give it a try.

[@dennislohr5672]

The "Click Spring" is effectively a ratchet and pawl, a classic mechanical mechanism that allows rotation in just one direction. These would now be regulated by DIN standards for pitch but would've been completely custom in the 1800s. Your multiple tests and adustment is very much the German word, "Fingerspitzengefühl." The closet translation is "instinctive feeling" but there isn't an English equivalent. It literally translates as Finger-feel sharpening, because it's the requirement to use your fingers to get it just right.

[@dperry428]

The problem you were having with the cuckoo door is caused by excessive wear on the tip of the brass lever that rides the brass cam and/or wear on the brass cam on the second wheel. By fitting a piece of brass with silver solder to that tip and reshaping it so that tip is a couple millimeters longer, the lever will be lifted higher by the cam and the bird will be pushed further out. When you adjusted the wire that activates the door to make the door open more, it had to be very close to the bird perch lever, not allowing it to close completely and the door stayed open. You run into the dilemma of either having the door close after the strike or having the door not open completely during the strike. The resolution is making the tip of the brass lever longer. Nice clock, by the way.

[@Chrisclockrepair]

dperry428 Thanks for the info. I am always eager to learn more. That makes perfect sense. Thanks!

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Hey Dperry. I watched your video on your railroad clock repair. It was extremely helpful to see you do each aspect of the repair and I have since successfully added some brass to the stop lever or the detente as you called it in your video. Thanks for the video and your interest in my channel.

[@dperry428]

@@Chrisclockrepair Good. Glad it was helpful. I had run into the problem with the brass lever a number of years ago and found that many others on the NAWCC forum had also. That goofy lever does a lot of things and it's sometimes tricky to get the size of the point that rides the cam just right as it also affects the position of the horizontal stop, adjust the wires that control the bird door and the wire that rides the count wheel The problem with the design is that it's brass riding on brass and the wear can be significant. That's why we don't just put steel bushings in clock plates. Best engineering for metal against metal is two different metals. With both the cam and the lever tip being brass, both get worn more. I'm glad I'm leaving what I've learned in my 53 years of clock repair to the next generation. Best wishes for continued success.

[@Chrisclockrepair]

@@dperry428 Yes, after I made the brass piece, it took some doing to get the wire that lifts it into proper adjustment. It’s running great now. I appreciate the wisdom from my clock elders. Cheers

[@jorglanganki6116]

amazing how many parts were used in the movement unchanged. Compared to the early Black Forest clockworks that still had wooden plates. The chain wheels, the wheel in the striking mechanism with this three-quarter disc, and some small parts are almost unchanged. I have a Black Forest cuckoo with wooden plates myself.

[@Chrisclockrepair]

That’s really cool

[@weirdgirl83]

This was very educational. Great video.

[@markblanchard88]

That is an American cuckoo clock company clock. The case design, back door, bird door, the way the pipes mount are all ACCC. I just restored the same clock. Most likely it is an early 20th century clock. All my 1850s cuckoos have wood plate movements. My GHS and Matha Tritschler "viertal wachtel und kuckucks uhren have wooden plates. One being 1865 and the other early 1870s. After restoring approx. 75 antique cuckoos over a 25 year period you get fairly good at identifying clocks. Not perfect but you can get close enough to the era by looking at the entire clock. Each has quite a few clues to when it was made. Who made them is usually a different story though some do offer clues like this clock.

[@HungNguyen-qv2jf]

I am really keen on antique wall clocks.

[@batmanj811]

Thank you

[@seanbarnes9021]

Great video. I just purchased a very old cuckoo clock from ebay. Very similar to this style and the bellows are missing. I got it to learn how to repair cuckoo clocks. What size bellows whistles did you use?

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Sean Barnes I don’t remember the size exactly. Fortunately, although broken, the original bellows and whistles were there so i measured them and ordered that size. I will look through my notes to see if I have it written down somewhere. If thats not an option for you, you can measure from the hole on the side to the bottom of case (from inside) and this will give you the approximate height of the whistle. You can order antique bellows and whistles from Merritt’s. They have 5 1/2” or 6 1/4”. Get the closest fit (www.merritts.com/merritts/public/productlist.aspx?CategoryID=1105)

[@batmanj811]

@@Chrisclockrepair I have a cuckoo clock that was given to me and the minute hand is broken off and I’m not sure how to Measure what size I need for the replacement any information would be welcome

[@Chrisclockrepair]

@@batmanj811 usually cuckoo clock hands are ordered as pairs based on the size of the dial. Measure the diameter of the dial and call merrits and ask them for hands that fit that dial size.

[@clock-vn]

I want to buy

[@magicman_metal_fab]

I have a cuckoo clock That I got from my mother which she got in the 50s or 60s. I’m looking to have it restored is that something you would do? And how to get a hold of you

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Yes that is something that I do. You can visit my website by googling Chris’s Clock Repair Southfield Michigan

[@stevenhewes2835]

I bought at auction a cuckoo clock without the winding weights. It is a BADUFA B100 150 Cuckoo Clock Mfg. Co. clock. I believe it is a 24 hour clock. Can you tell me in grams the two weights that I need to buy are? Thank You

[@Chrisclockrepair]

If its a 1 day clock than 320 grams. I was mistaken when I said 275!

[@justinabshire12]

Chris I recently bought a clock with the same movement it had no weights do you remember what size weights went on it? Also, I am having trouble with the striking and stopping do you have any suggestions on what I can do?

[@Chrisclockrepair]

They use 500 gram weights. These can be tricky to get to strike properly. You have to ensure the gears are in the correct position when you assemble it.

[@justinabshire12]

@@Chrisclockrepair I didn’t pull it apart but what I did notice that one of the gears that is used for the striking it has a tooth broken off would you happen to be able to help me out and get a replacement.

[@justinabshire12]

@@Chrisclockrepair also the bottom bellow bar seems to just hang down and not in the ready position any suggestions on this.

[@Chrisclockrepair]

@@justinabshire12 take a photo and email it to me. [e-mail]

[@plowkingwilly74]

That clock is from the 1940 and is worthless just setimental value

[@carmenrivas3034]

Can I have the phone# to bring mine. It is the pendelon that got stock. Thanks My name is Carmen Rivas

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Visit chrisclockrepair.com

[@claybaby003]

Do you do cuckoo repairs if we send to you??

[@Chrisclockrepair]

Yes. Please send me pics and i can give you an estimate. You send to my email on my website.

[@claybaby003]

@@Chrisclockrepair i don't see a email on your website it just shows phone and address under contact

[@Chrisclockrepair]

@@claybaby003 [e-mail]