Damaged 1950s Cuckoo Clock Restoration

Watch how I try to bring this vintage German made Cuckoo Clock from the 1950s back to life. This clock belongs to a friend of mine who let me give it an overhaul. The clock was passed down to him from his grandparents who purchased the clock when they were traveling in Europe. The case is damaged in multiple spots and the clock does not cuckoo. This clock is a 1-Day Cuckoo Clock made in Germany in the 1950s.
In this video you can see:
- How to fix a damaged cuckoo clock bellow
- How to disassemble a cuckoo clock
- How to assemble a cuckoo clock
- How to clean and oil a cuckoo clock
This is only the third clock I've worked on so far. It's so much fun learning how to restore clocks. I'm not a professional clockmaker by any means and I definitely have much more to learn.
Thank you for watching and going on this journey with me. I hope you liked this video! Please feel free to like, comment and subscribe. :)
SUBSCRIBE:
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#restoration #clock #clockrestoration #restorationvideos #cuckooclock #antiqueclock #vintageclock #diy #satisfying #woodworking #repair #broken #asmr

[@KLUNKET]

I have a similar cuckoo clock that belonged to my grandma. I would walk to her house every other day growing up, sometimes spending hours and hours just sitting and talking with her, playing games, listening to music- I miss her dearly. Anyway, when I was really young, every time I went over, without fail, I always wanted to see the cuckoo bird come out! She would move the clock hands to 12 o'clock to make the cuckoo do it's thing. I would laugh and she would smile! It never got old! When my grandmother passed, the only item I wanted from her home was the cuckoo clock- because it was such a special memory. It has not worked in over 30 years now. I never could find anyone to repair it. Do you or anyone you know allow for people sending you broken clocks to repair?

[@WatchOverhaul]

That's a really nice story! Thanks for sharing. I don't personally know anyone else who works on clocks. You can try a clock repair shop or join a clockmaker group online and ask if someone would work on it for you. Thanks for watching!

[@dperry428]

I may be able to help you after the first of the year. I don't advise taking it to a clock shop. Most of those guys will not repair the clock, but will simply replace the movement. Check out my channel to see if my methods are suitable for you.

[@garydergut4741]

Go on the internet and you will find many. Don't know if they are good but they are out there Good Luck your grandmother would be proud to here it again I'm sure.

[@jerlynneallison6361]

I LOVE CUCKOO CLOCKS!!!!! We had one when I was growing up (I'll be 60 in February '23) and whenever I had a bad dream and I was laying there all scared, I'd hear the cuckoo clock and I knew them I was home, safe and I could go back to sleep. 🥰

[@WatchOverhaul]

That's awesome! They are really neat clocks. Thanks for watching!

[@jimenz6548]

I have 14 Grandfather clocks and 300 mantle, kitchen and parlor clocks.....ranging in age from 50 years to 200 years. I work a little on them, but watching you makes me want to do the repairs many of my clocks need. I have a clock/watch lathe with all the assesories, plus most of the tools needed to start. And I was once a machinists. The reason Im writing is that all the repairs that have been done to my clocks in the past, have been done by hacks....the repair workmanship is horrible. And the bad repairs are consistant over the past 50 years of collecting clocks. Thanks for the videos!!!!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Sounds like you're all set to start back up working on your clocks! It's a lot of fun. Thanks for watching!

[@buskman3286]

Nice Video. One thing that would have been good to mention is that the position of the warning wheel pin is quite critical to the proper operation of the strike train. If the pin on the wheel is not set at the proper position when re-assembling, the strike train can lock up or strike endlessly. (This is true of any mechanical striking or chiming clock movement). Easiest way to ensure that is to mark the position of each strike train wheel, other than the fly, in relation to the one it engages before disassembly. Of course, that assumes that no one has been futzing with the movement previously and had disassembled/mis-aligned the warning wheel.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Yeah, the warning wheel pin is very important. Thanks for watching!

[@Brooks_Adams]

I’m extremely impressed with the fact you took on the task of repairing its original bellow. I would have just replaced it at that point. Well done and awesome awesome video!!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! It was a little extra work but I think it turned out pretty good. Thanks for watching!

[@RonGunnerRetzlaff]

Nice job, excellent narration about the steps you're going through while working. I can truly appreciate someone who admits their faults when they mess something up.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@The_Real_Chris]

Being German, there has been a cuckoo clock in my parents house since my birth. Learned to sleep through the relentless racket of the insomniac cuckoo bird. As with most clocks, it “cuckoo’d” the hours and a single cuckoo every half hour. I’m 52 and this clock continues to operate without ever having any issues. Doing some basic math, each bellow has run 1,713,870 cycles (3,427,740 cuckoos). Actually more as this clock pre dates my birth. Amazing craftsmanship. Very interesting to see how it all works.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Very cool! Thanks for watching!

[@alexandrebohm9496]

Congratulations on your talent. As a proud owner of an early 60s cuckoo clock, I’m happy to know there are people like you who have the skills to keep these fascinating machines running for the decades to come.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertproctor198]

If that's only your 3rd clock repair you did an awesome job, yes not a good idea to put grease on wheel teeth as the grease collects dirt. Personally I would drop the chains through the holes & then place the movement as a little gravity helps to keep the chains on the sprockets. Hand bushing isn't difficult the trick is to just open the hole enough to allow the bush to start entering the tapered hole you made & keeping the broach at 90° to the plate is needed, I usually rock the arbor back & forward in both planes to check the the arbor moves in both directions equally. Thanks for showing the repair of the bellows to. All in all an impressive video with good narration. Thx for sharing!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! Yeah, this was the 3rd clock I've ever worked on. There's so much to learn and perfect. I know I'm not getting everything right the first time, but it's fun to work towards that goal. Thanks for watching and for the tips!

[@auto5man]

very well done video. For a novice you seem to have real aptitude for it! I am fascinated with cuckoo clocks as well. I have three and am enjoying working on the "junker" I picked up cheap. Its been running well for a week now! I was fortunate the pivots are all in decent shape too. At some point I will have to take it apart again for two more fixes. Adjusting the pendulum wire so the clock doesn't hang crooked while in beat. And I need to adjust the minute hand so the strike side goes off precisely on the hour, instead of 4 minutes late. I am jealous of the minute hand on yours, its made so that you can just slide the friction fit minute hand to match the strike. Again, great job!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks! There's a lot to learn. I just try to take my time and not rush anything. That's good that yours has been running for a while! Thanks for watching!

[@eugenepiurkowski5439]

When I got out of the US Army in 1971, I bought six Cuckoo Clocks for family through the PX. (I was stationed in Belgium). Over the years I did clean them for family members. No where as well as you did. :) As those family members passed away, the clocks went into our attic. Two years ago, I advertised them as not working on a local site and people fought over them. Still have mine, hanging in the living room. Thank you for the memories. I am so impressed with your work. How do you remember how to put them back together without extra parts?

[@WatchOverhaul]

Very neat! I'm video recording everything. If I forget where something goes, then I look at the video. Thanks for watching!

[@Thierry787]

Very amazing cuckoo, my mother have the same in this house, it belonged to my maternal grandmother before, we got it back after her death in 2001. When I was a little child, with my grandparents, I was fascinated, always watching and listening to him.. And now it's my nephew who is like me is fascinated by this age. I love this cuckoo for all my life, so much memories in my head !

[@WatchOverhaul]

They are nice clocks! Thanks for watching!

[@rehorneman]

The movement holder you made is genius!. You should make the top part and sell it as in a kit. the legs can be made locally. Include a drawing and measurements. I will buy one right now. $20.00 plus shipping is reasonable. I love your work! You appear to be able to reassemble a movement by memory. I have only been doing clocks for 2 years and I need to take plenty of photos to help me put a movement back together.. Ultra sonic cleaning solution of all the parts is a must. Polishing pivots ,replacing bushings where needed, cleaning and greasing springs should always be done. You did an outstanding job of replacing the Bellow paper. It is not that easy! There are a ton of videos on You Tube. Dperry428 has some excellent videos. So does Jefferson clock works. I am now subscribed. Looking forward to future videos

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you so much! I have a small woodworking business I do on the side as well. It's not my main job but it's fun to do. You can email me at [e-mail] so I can get some dimensions from you. I'm getting better reassembling by memory, but I actually started videoing what I'm doing so I can use it as a reference to put things back together. I then figured people would like to watch what I'm doing so I started a KZbin channel! I really need a bigger ultrasonic cleaner and should start using a cleaning solution. What solution do you use? Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@rehorneman]

@@WatchOverhaul I like Deox7 from Timesavers

[@Tommy_Poole]

Great exacto knife advice. If only I had been able to watch this video 10 years ago.

[@WatchOverhaul]

😀

[@hkansler]

oh I went back to my childhood years, there was one of these in the living room and I listened in the silence of the early morning waiting for the cuckoo, beautiful work of preservation.

[@WatchOverhaul]

😀 thanks for watching!

[@thefreyfactor442]

I don't know how i stumbled on this video but was amazed when this was suggested to me. I have this exact same clock hanging on my wall. My father served in the Army in the late 50's to early 60's and brought this home with him.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Very cool. Thanks for watching!

[@cindyhoelderle946]

stencil. Mother in law and great Tanta left us with 2 most beautiful Coocoo clocks. One from the black forest of Germany and a light color Coocoo clock there are in beautiful shape but wont run. I took them to our clock repair man years ago and worked for some time but no longer cocoons. I love the sound and miss them. I no longer have a clock repair person around us. Thank you for sharing g.😊❤😊

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@infernalchaos1066]

One day, KZbin decided I needed to see the channel Wristwatch Revival (KZbin was right), and that foundation of knowledge has brought me here. Great video! Thank you.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Same here. He is the one that got me hooked on watchmaking, so I decided to give it a try. I started working on clocks too just due to price and availability. I definitely don't have his skill, knowledge or production quality yet, but I'm learning and giving it a try! Thanks for watching!

[@infernalchaos1066]

@@WatchOverhaul Nice! The only thing holding me back is the lack of tools. I'll get there. And I'll keep watching you, too. And your production quality is decent.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks! Yeah, the tools are expensive so if I have to buy something, I choose something with good reviews that isn't expensive. I'm just taking it one step at a time.

[@d.michaelpratt5987]

Watching this video, I already have a lot of respect for the Clockmaker. Keep on practicing and learning new techniques, and soon you will be a Master Clockmaker!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the encouragement and for watching!

[@gignaposixsix9821]

Impressive craft and patience. Fantastic Job

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@sabrinaschultzkisby]

Wow i have this exact clock i got from my late great uncle that i was going to repair! What a lucky find!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Cool! Hopefully, my video helps out some.

[@janeparker570]

Your patience pays off. I like to keep a small flashlight & magnet handy for finding runaway pieces,needles & pins,they reflect the light & make them easier to find

[@WatchOverhaul]

I have the same thing handy as well. I got lucky on this clock because I heard where the part bounced! Thanks for watching!

[@claytonshea9146]

I hope to one day fix our family coocoo and hear it play once again. Also, that quip with the donkey sound was hilarious. Well done all around mate.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@stayingsane5213]

Nicely done. I admire your courage of taking on a Cuckoo so early in your clock restoration adventure. It's a wonderful satisfying hobby. Be careful of those fingerprints on the brass, they will eat into the finish and tarnish the brass pretty quickly. Thanks for sharing

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! Yeah, this clock was kind of difficult, but they are all kind of difficult to me at this point. There's a lot of fundamentals and skills I'm still trying to learn. I keep forgetting to put on my finger cots when I'm assembling! I've noticed old fingerprints on other movements I've worked on. Thanks for watching!

[@LateNightModels]

I have a cuckoo clock on my wall that looks pretty much exactly like this one. My grandpa rescued it from a dumpster a long time ago. It eventually went to my mom, who was going to throw it away if I didn't take it. I have done my own repairs on it - including a new bellow made from balsa wood model plane skin. I think it still needs a cuckoo bird return spring though. Excellent video! It was nice to see another clock like mine being worked on. 👍

[@WatchOverhaul]

Very cool! It's always a good feeling when you can save something to live another day. Thanks for watching!

[@kathydaffy5272]

I have this exact Cuckoo Clock. It was given to me from my gtamdpa. He got tired of of having to get the insides repaired amd had them removed. It hung on the wall since I was a toddler and was always fasinated with the little bird. So sad not to see it anymore but at least I got a piece of him. I got choked up watching this video. Thank you for posting it. Means alot!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for sharing that and for watching!

[@zs1dfr]

Please tell us if the piece missing on the clock video-ed is the mouthpiece of the circular horn that goes around the face? The woodwork at bottom left is damaged on this clock, and there was a nail sticking through the face. Did you notice that? Thank you

[@lwilton]

A very nice job! I was especially impressed with making a test stand for the clock and the case repairs. Most people seem to be into machines or wood, but not both. The spring clips: some of them are E clips and some are C clips. You can tell which is which by the shape. The first ones you removed were C clips, and the special tool you bought is the right tool for both removal and installation. Many of the other clips were E clips. You can normally remove these just by inserting a normal flat-blade screwdriver in one of the holes in the back of the clip and then twisting. This will pry the clip right off without danger of bending it. Watch out for them pinging off though. :-) To install them you can squeeze them on as you did, or for small ones like that, you can often just grab them across the flat side at the back of the clip with a pair of needle nose pliers with serrated jaws, and just push it onto the shaft. When you do it this way you generally don't have to worry about getting your fingers pinched, bending the clip, or it pinging off. You can't do that for every E clip, but it works for a lot of them.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! I wasn't sure at first if they were C-Clips or E-Clips. On two different websites they called them E-Clips, so that's what I thought they were called. timesavers.com/i-8947345-regula-cuckoo-clock-e-clip-10-piece-pack.html www.clockworks.com/product/clock-e-style-clip-washers I thought about using a flathead screwdriver but I didn't want to risk scratching the movement, so I decided not to. Thanks for the suggestions and for watching!

[@lwilton]

@@WatchOverhaul I've noticed a fair amount of confusion about C or E clip nomenclature on the internet in the last few years. I suspect that someone heard someone else saying C or E clip for a spring clip and just assumed that name applied to all spring clips, and then this inaccurate assumption became common "knowledge". The timesavers web site is just plain wrong, those are C clips. The clockworks web site shows images of both C and E clips on that page. (In fact some of those with an extended tab at the back may not really qualify as C clips, since they appear to be designed to be removed by pulling on the tab.) You do have to be a little carful about scratching a baseplate (especially brass) when prying a clip off with a screwdriver. But really, you can also scratch the plate using circlip pliers or most any other way. Sometimes you can get a sheet of paper or feeler gage stock under the circlip to prevent scratching with the removal tool.

[@WatchOverhaul]

@@lwilton Very interesting! I'm just glad I was able to find the clip that flew across the room. Would have sucked to have to buy and wait for a small clip.

[@gjforeman]

Great fun to watch. Never worked on clocks before, but as a service engineer and lifetime DIYer, our son's inlaws have asked me to take a look at a very complex clock they bought while visiting Germany a few years back. Haven't seen it yet, but it probably looks a great deal like this one. Apparently there are staples and other packing and blocking material needing to be removed that has them flustered. Fingers crossed.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! Let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to help! Just try to take pictures and video - helps during reassembly.

[@JHK98219]

​@@WatchOverhaul I very much enjoy your videos. I'm a Disabled Veteran and my hands are too shaky to enjoy this type of hobby.:-) I have a clock, semi old that requires repairs. If your interested, I could se d it to you. Its quite nice. Thank you.

[@debragibson3489]

Fantastic!!!! You thought it out, documented, common sensed it, took your time. Great video also!!!! You have renewed my clock/watch repair interest. I love clock and watch movements. I subscribed, lookin forward to more vids!! My shakes keep me "shakey" and nervous for meticulus/detailed work.....Oh well. Remember special oils/lubes for various reasons and tiny tiny amounts. Mix up your own ultrasonic water based solvents and temperatures. Keep magnets closeby for locating tiny lost flying parts. Get urself a small dedicated room with no carpeting. LOVED the Donkey sound!! Gotta make one somehow.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked the video and the donkey, haha.

[@sandyhearn8332]

I have this same clock, my father in law brought it home from Germany in the 50s when he was stationed there in the service. Below the bugle or horn, there should be 2 rifles crossing each other, that is why there was a nail in the front that you removed. I had no idea there was bellows inside. Ours has a loud koo koo that we can throughout the house. Ours is not in mint condition, it has a few small broken pieces, but it works great.

[@WatchOverhaul]

👍

[@billguy6861]

Thank-you for your attention to detail and descriptive step by step process. This is the best guide I have found on the platform being not overly complicated and digestible for the noob cuckoo enthusiasts. It gave me confidence in repairing my clock and inspires me to learn more.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Cool! It's definitely fun to work on. Thanks for watching!

[@TheBlackForestClockShop]

Very informative video and love how you're putting your self out there as a beginner, although you seem to have some repair knowledge already. No shame warning others of mishap experiences either.. I'll be wearing my face shield going forward. ON CLEANING: Lots of cleaning brews to find on the net because the pre-mixed stuff is pricy, making your own is really easy. My go-to solution is Ammonia, Dawn dish soap, Murphy's oil soap... replaces hard to find [Oleic acid] used as a softener, and water to fill. Never bother using distilled water because I use compressed air to dry therefore no mineral spots form. You can dunk in IPA but that's just another expense. I nearly always leave out the Acetone solvent unless I want to strip the shellac coating off the brass (rare). Exact quantities aren't critical, 2/3rds of the solution is the ammonia and water and a 1/4 cup each of the remaining ingredients for a small batch in a 2.5 liter unit. Got mine at Harbor Freight and I have found it to be more than sufficient. Another solution saver if only cleaning a few small parts, place them in a ziplock baggie with cleaning solution and place it in the Ultrasonic cleaner filled with plain water😉. Nice steady hands on the watch work too... now that's where I can learn a thing or two! Good luck, keep learning and stay curious!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Yeah, I'm definitely a beginner and this was my third clock I've worked on. I have a little repair knowledge from working on a couple other clocks and watches. I've also picked up some things from reading. Glad I got at least one person to wear a face shield! Power tools don't always give people a second chance. I've been nervous about using too many chemicals when cleaning. I don't want to remove patina or make things look shiny. I want to remove oil, dirt, etc., but I don't want to remove natural aging characteristics. I'll have to try some solutions on some donor movement parts I have. Thanks for taking the time to message and for the suggestions!

[@terryrogers1025]

Young man I also am impressed, I believe you stated that this was only your 3rd clock you have worked on, and you took on the bellows repair, then completely disassembled the works, repaired some casing issues, and made observations and assessments on what you were seeing and took the time to thoroughly clean the case, not once but 3 times. Me, I would be lucky if I could remember where a third of the component parts came from that alone reassemble. I salute you sir, thanks for the video, I enjoyed it immensely.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! It was a lot of fun to work on and I enjoyed the challenge. I'm glad you liked the video! Thanks for watching!

[@floydloonie4880]

Amazing skill for being only the third repair you have done!! Thank you!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@3xfaster]

The fact that you took the time to do what you could with what skills you have and tools at your disposal, I’d say the work you’ve put in cleaning and oiling is greatly appreciated by the clock, grateful I bet that you where able to mend its bellow!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! I appreciate it 😀

[@davidpalladino5189]

That was really interesting. Fearless tackling of that historical piece !

[@WatchOverhaul]

Oh, there was some fear involved, haha. But not enough to stop me from trying! Thanks for watching!

[@johnlarro6872]

When I was a kid I was obsessed with a friend's Cuckoo Clock, so my parents bought one. :) That was about 40 years ago now, and it's been sitting in a box under my bed for about 12 years now after it stopped running smoothly. I'd love to get it going again, but not sure I'm game enough to take on a full disassembly like this..!

[@WatchOverhaul]

I'm sure you could do it if I could. It helps to record video of the disassembly so you can reference it to put things back together again. Thanks for watching!

[@tombarlow6176]

That was a brilliant restoration of the old clock ⏰

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@dperry428]

Nice job. For the case, I thoroughly brush off dust with a brush and then go over the case with a 50/50 mixture of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. I then wipe it down with a clean, soft cloth. I also do that on the inside of the case. It really helps keep wood fibers from shedding and getting into the movement. It feeds the wood and refreshes the finish without putting a coating on top.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the tips!

[@Josh.Davidson]

Amazing engineering on the mechanism that drives it. Love it!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@queenbee3647]

Authentic Black Forest clock from Germany! Nice.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@thouartit]

clock oil is mineral oil. 3 in 1 is mineral oil. Either works great. Do not be fooled, by a pint of mineral oil in drugstore and thats that. You did a great job amigo. Keep going, build tools slowly. You are going to have so much fun with the clocks you work with. Follow your passion.😊

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@vikimoody8783]

Love yr channel. You’re doing a great job. Very interesting! Thanks for all the work you do to bring us this.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@cyrysvonnachtseite4546]

I found on line all the parts I needed to restore my grandfather’s Black Forest clock no matter what it needed. It has 2 hourly notifications. One the Cukoo second music box with a figure of a man with a music box cranking a handle

[@WatchOverhaul]

👍

[@daledunning5856]

FANTASTIC Wonderful to watch you work !!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@williamstyers4264]

I used to repair and rebuild small gearboxes for the textile industry. Many of them had both e-clips and c-clips. I used special installation and removal tools for them. They are available for under $20 from Amazon if you care to check them out. Wonderful job of rebuilding and restoration.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the info and for watching!

[@131dyana]

Thank you I enjoyed that video. Great job.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@RussMcClay]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this. Thank you.

[@WatchOverhaul]

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@melody3741]

I can smell the video, but it smells like, bed bath and beyond soap or something, not like an old clock. I think that means i have stayed up too late. I’ve always wondered how cuckoo clocks worked, its simpler than i thought, just a chime, but those in and of themselves are cool. I really appreciate these videos.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@patbarrett9263]

Nice job, I was very happy to find this video. I have a duplicate clock on my bench that my mother purchased when she visited Germany. After several moves it has many of the same problems. Well, here I go; Wish me luck

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks and good luck!

[@frankierzucekjr]

I'm only 1 minute in and I had no idea that the bellows was how the cuckoo clock cooed lol. Very cool, I'm excited to see what you do with this. First time to your channel.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Yeah, I hadn't really thought of how the cuckoo sound was made prior to working on this clock. I didn't know either haha. It's really cool how people thought these things up.

[@frankierzucekjr]

@@WatchOverhaul yea you're absolutely right. Very cool video and great fix.

[@MauricioMoreira-vh5js]

Vivendo e aprendendo. Poucas pessoas tem a paciência neste tipo de trabalho. Parabéns.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@ryburnsjr]

Wow just wow...clocks to me are pieces of art..thank you so much for this video.. I have a few coo clocks..

[@WatchOverhaul]

I agree! Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@MegaMesozoic]

New subscriber here; you have my full sympathy with super glue - goes where you want it to, and everywhere else too! Great video!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Awesome! Thanks! Yeah, super glue goes everywhere. I usually end up gluing my fingers together, but not this time, haha.

[@mickboakes7023]

I so admire your patience and skill, especially remembering where everything goes. Really enjoyed the video. All the best. Mick🇬🇧

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@twilabartruff7636]

@@WatchOverhaul o

[@4Truth4All]

Well done! I learned a great deal watching and listening to your process.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@shawneeheltsley8534]

There is no German clockmaker that has anything on you. Terrific work!!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@Barbarra63297]

That is one of the old Black Forest clocks made in Germany, we had one until I moved out of the country and forgot to take it, kicked myself a lot for that one. Ours had the bird and a little man with an Amish looking black hat, bird came out on the hour and little man came out I believe on the quarter or half hour. Great job, good to see things fixed, restored and saved.

[@WatchOverhaul]

That's very interesting! Thanks for watching!

[@TheNightshadePrince]

I really like this video and I'm glad you got a wrench for the bolts. I think if you do cuckoo clocks in the future having a good pair of rosary pilers would make your job much easier. :)

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks! I bought some nut drivers with handles now to use on future clocks, but I didn't have them yet when I was getting into this one. I'll look into those pliers you suggested. Thanks for watching!

[@davids6533]

I've always wondered how these things work. Thank you!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnkaimins9998]

Excellent attention to detail ~ well done.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@luisremigiotorresacevedo4620]

Excellent job of repairing and restoring a German made Cuckoo Clock. I came to this channel of yours by recommendation because I like to see restorations of mechanical wristwatches. I have watched three of your videos and subscribed immediately. Keep working with great care and dedication. Congratulations.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Awesome! I'm glad you like the videos. Thanks for subscribing!

[@sylhayes8152]

Enjoyed watching your work

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@garybledsoe3238]

Thank you for the video & narration. Good job!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@Darrin_Wyatt]

Awesome video, I've been watching restorations on pocket watches and yours came up very fascinating sir.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks and thanks for watching!

[@glenns5627]

Having torn my parents' Cuckoo bellows when I was 11 (knocked the clock off the wall), when I was 13 I recreated and replaced one bellows paper using a page from the Yellow pages. While it was initially too stiff, I gently sandpapered it until it wasn't. After it functioned, I sprayed it with "Aqua-net" hair-spray. You wouldn't think that near-disposable paper would last that long, but that clock cuckoo'd fine for almost 10 years, when we took it down to move. I have the clock somewhere, but I'm not betting the Yellow page bellows paper lasted the following 40 years.

[@WatchOverhaul]

That's very cool! I bet it was fun to fix. Thanks for watching!

[@oregonwanderer]

I am a clock collector and I have them restored. You are doing good work to a degree. However. The animals hanging on the clock are meant to move around like that. And the bell on the horn will come off if you pull it gently but firmly. That is made to come off and on. As far as oiling. Yes. NEVER use 3-in-1 or WD 40 or sewing machine oil. The clock smiths I know use Synthetic motor oil for European cars. It is the same stuff they sell as clock oil. Only difference is you get a whole quart of motor oil and it will last you for YEARS. And the best thing to clean clock cases with is The Original Bee's Wax Old World Formula Furniture Polish . You can use it on all outside parts of any clock.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the info and for watching!

[@bobbartow9155]

Great video and great job. We have been repairing and rebuilding cuckoo clocks for years and yours looks great. I do not agree with the statement about the oil being the same as motor oil in this thread. I could go on for hours about clock oil. We use the same clock oil as you did in the video and have been extremely happy each time we use it. Keep up the great work.

[@RestorationAustralia]

Wow, super cool project.😊

[@WatchOverhaul]

Yeah, it was really fun working on this clock. Thanks for watching!

[@johndavis4767]

Nice video. I have my mother's cuckoo clock with a broken bellows my dad was going to fix but now it is my job. Now I know how. By the way, the first thing is a "snap ring". The thing that flew across the room is an "e" clip. The special pliers you bought are "snap ring pliers". I usually use needle nose pliers to install "e" clips. I have also broken a half dozen or so tips off of snap ring pliers, so don't squeeze too hard. Also, I don't work on clocks but I find them fascinating.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you! I wasn't sure at first what they were called. On two different websites they called them E-Clips, so that's what I thought they were called. timesavers.com/i-8947345-regula-cuckoo-clock-e-clip-10-piece-pack.html www.clockworks.com/product/clock-e-style-clip-washers

[@shemp308]

Just a little advice from another clock enthusiast there is a brass cleaner you can add the water it works best with a heated sonic bath! Now it I for brass but used for cleaning shell cartridges it is by Hornady called one shot sonic cleaning solution. It is fantastic with almost no smell for anyone to complain about. Personally I think it works better then the 50 dollar a gallon clock cleaning. Try it you will be happy you did.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the tip!

[@elultimo102]

I have a 3-weight 1969 clock, with a music box that turns a water wheel, as a woodsman chops. It's been packed for 45 years, and I have to see if it even works. It still looks like a scary project to reassemble.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Nice! Yeah, they can get pretty complicated.

[@mvps93]

As a hobby est repairer myself, excellent video.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@thomaslemay8817]

Preventing kick back is extremely important, in wood shop they showed a film of a person receiving a 2in X 2in strip of wood kicked back that went all the way through his midsection. You stand off to one side of the of the blade and work piece at all times. So you stay alive.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Yeah, they can cause some serious damage.

[@sfranklin9073]

I mounted the movement outside the case on a vertical 1x4. Using the mounts of the movement to the board. This way I could work out any chime issues. Great job. I love cuckoo's.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Good idea! Thanks for watching!

[@Jesselovespinball]

Love your videos! Btw , the second clip you had trouble removing with snap ring pliers is actually called a “C” clip . You can remove them with snap ring pliers. But honestly I’ve found that a small flat head screw driver works better . Put your finger on back side of clip and push one side with flat head very gently . Your finger will keep the clip from flying across the room . And you can reinstall the same way . Keep up the good work !

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the tip and for watching!

[@mikefochtman7164]

Nice video. I'm just starting out as well. I had a friend with a similar clock, but it was in better shape. One thing, I would have reeved the chains on the wheels before putting them in. A tiny bit of wire/string tied through a link on each side will hold the chains on and easily snipped off as you install the works back in the case.

[@WatchOverhaul]

That's a good idea. I had to pay attention to not let the chains slip off when I was moving it around. Thanks for watching!

[@stonehartfloydfan]

little trick from my guitar repair is to use a suction cup to push pull glue even down into small cracks.. not sure if you knew this but very handy to know.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the tip!

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Nice job. A couple of suggestions… clean, repair, and touch finish to the case before replacing the mechanism. Once you remove a movement, consider lightly degreasing the whole thing with a gentle cleaner like the purple stuff, and put anything that looks oxidized/rusted in Evapo-Rust. Then carefully rinse it off with distilled water, and use compressed air - the canned stuff if your work area isn’t set up for it - to get rid of moisture quickly. Obviously one has to be careful not to blow parts away or break small fragile parts, but you have the good sense to be cautious! Beware of flash rust on anything ferris, and on non-bearing areas of such materials, a quick coat with your clock oil wiped off with lint-free fabric will protect it. I always polish especially brass plates and such, but it depends on if you are conserving or restoring. I’ve done a number of old tool, clock, and jewelry repair with good results, but if a pro pipes in, listen to them first! Your best talent is gentle patience!! 👍🏼💡⚙️🪛

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm always hesitant about polishing the movement. I want to clean the movement, but I don't want to remove natural patina that shows its passage through time. Thanks for watching!

[@marcmckenzie5110]

@@WatchOverhaul You bet - nothing wrong with a conservation approach!

[@JGR088]

Excellent video buddy, thank you.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@MatildaRabbit]

It's amazing to me how new ones look a lot like the old ones and mostly the same technology. It's nice to know that some things don't change. Mine is very similar to this one, but my rabbit and pheasant are on the opposite sides. The leaves might be a bit different, and the guns are more detailed. I don't know why the guns always appear upside down to me. Mine says "W Germany."

[@WatchOverhaul]

Yeah, that is interesting. There seems to be many variants.

[@frankschuler2867]

I just use tyvek from disposable white tyvek coveralls you can buy at the hardware store. One suit is only about $10 and is enough for a LOT of replacement bellows. I prefold/crease the bellows before I attach it to the whistle. And, I attach it using hot glue. I use a small clothes iron around the glue seams to be sure the hot glue joint is strong and leak-free. Your method appears to work just fine as well!

[@WatchOverhaul]

👍

[@zofiakmicikiewicz2269]

Stunning.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@nigelnightmare4160]

20:20 Using pliers like you did is the best/safest way of removing & refitting those 'E' clips. Re: Oiling Less is more.(You can always add more later)😉.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for the feedback. I went a little heavy on the oil, but not on purpose. I wasn't used to oiling like that, and it came out fast. Thanks for watching!

[@arnaldosalinas4923]

Se nota al artista cuando repara y deja trabajando a la perfección un objeto felicitaciones, desdé Santiago de Chile

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@DrMardo]

Great minds think alike! I just ran across yor video today - and have never been to your channel. Two weeks ago, I was working on a Cuckoo Clock and needed a stand to test the clock. Within the first minute of your video, you show the stand that you built. The one that I built was very similiar and serves the purpose! Great minds think alike! Nice video!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Awesome! It worked pretty well for me and was a quick build. I always wonder if I keep too much scrap wood in my woodshop, but I'm glad I do! Thanks for watching!

[@Uhren_und_Technik]

Congratulations for this beatiful Video. I'm a Hobby Watchmaker and repairing Cuckoo clocks for a long Time. If you want to clean the Movement well, you Can use Elma RED 1:9, it is specely for those and is based on Amomonjak and Water. Good Job. Best Regards from Germany

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you for the tip. I will look into that. Thanks for watching!

[@rienspan2098]

@@WatchOverhaul. Cleaning is also possible with an mix of a bit of vinegar , tiny bit of salt, drop of detergent and 2 liter of distilled water in an stainless pot . warm it up on the gas in the kitchen bij some stirring and after an hour cool it down in fresh water, you will be amazed.

[@tjeremypope]

well done. I have one that my grandfather brought back from the Berlin Airlift. I had to replace both bellows and I used a thin leather as that was what the original was.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@thierryfelix1121]

Très belle réalisation merci

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@umo5534]

Ohweh, der Balg sieht eher nach Papier als nach feinem Ziegenleder aus. Klasse Arbeit!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@RandomDude989]

Have the same clock. My father was in the US Army in the early 70s and sent one of these back to the state when he was stationed in Germany to his mother. Still works, unless there is an open window and a breeze stops it from running.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Nice! Thanks for watching!

[@thegrassyknoll7792]

I Use some rodico on a stick of pegwood, placing it on the clip,while dismountimg them,just to Make sure they wont fly away, to become a part of the swiss space program 😁 in the past i worked more under my bench that on it 😂 Have a nice day 👍🏻

[@WatchOverhaul]

That's a good idea. I have rodico so I can do that next time. Thanks!

[@philipbrailey]

Beautiful!!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@ericfg806]

Fascinating!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@jacqueshummelgaardolesen]

Nice job, i have really learned something from your video, thank you.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@Aquafbody]

Great job!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@luiseduardoarroyo7282]

¡¡Excelente trabajo felicitaciones!!

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thank you!

[@max.m.8873]

Wow!👍😍 great work 👍👏💪🥰👍

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks!

[@gangisspawn1]

Super cool clock. Interesting to think this was made in Germany not long after ww2. Maybe a craftsman drafted into the war, survived, and couldn't wait to go back to work only to find his shop destroyed. Really an interesting time period.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks for watching!

[@hope56]

Thanks a lot good job and good share

[@WatchOverhaul]

Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@Emilmarch]

You got me there when testing the cuckoo, from now on it’s a hee-haw clock 😁. Great job, can’t believe this was your 3rd clock.

[@WatchOverhaul]

Haha, glad you liked that part. It was only my 3rd clock but it did take a lot of patience and time - it wasn't easy. Thanks for watching!