Cuckoo Clock Tips and Troubleshooting
Are you having trouble with your cuckoo clock? Below are guides on how to troubleshoot some of the issues that you may be having. You can also contact us and we'll do what we can to help you resolve the issue.
Tips for Hanging Your Cuckoo Clock
• Make sure to hang your cuckoo clock by the hole onto a screw that is set into a stud or wall anchor. Anything other may cause the lock to say with the swing of the pendulum and could stop the clock.
• Ideally, your clock needs to be level left-to-right as well as front-to-back.
• The back of the clock case is flush against the wall and not tilted in either direction, otherwise the pendulum leader could rub against the opening. This can stop a clock from running.
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• Listen to the "tick-tock" sound as the pendulum swings back and forth. This is the beat, or heartbeat, of the clock. If the beat is not even and consistent, you'll be able to notice the pendulum does not swint evenly and the clock just sounds wrong! Slightly move the bottom of the clock towards the left of the right to change the sound of the beat. Move it until the "tick-tock" sounds even.
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Cuckoo Clock is Running Fast or Slow
If you are finding that your clock is slowly "losing time" or "gaining time" throughout the day or week, this simply means you need to adjust the position of the decorative 'bob' or 'leaf' up or down along the pendulum.
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To make your clock run faster, unhook the pendulum and slide the pendulum bob up a bit on the pendulum stick. To make the clock run slower, pull the carving down a bit. Reattach the pendulum to the pendulum leader at the base of the clock.
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The secret phrase to remember is: Lower makes the clock go slower!
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A good rule of thumb is for every 1/4 inch you move the pendulum bob it will make a difference of about 10 minutes over a 24 hour period. Make the adjustments once a day until you have it accurately timed. You can mark the back side of the pendulum stick with a pencil indicating the position of the bob on the stick, if you wish. This way, if the bob is accidentally moved, you can easily set it close to its correct position.
The Hands Are Pointing to the Wrong Time or Are Loose
If the minute hand is in the wrong position and the cuckoo is triggered at some other time than on the hour or half hour, simply loosen the hand nut and reposition the minute hand to the proper position so the coo coo is triggered every half hour with the minute hand in the 12 or 6 position. Then retighten the hand nut.
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The hour hand is a pressure fit on the cannon and be repositioned as you would spin a ring on your finger. If the hour hand comes forward and becomes loose in the process, re-tighten it by gently nudging it back toward the dial until it is fits snug.
If Your Cuckoo Doesn't Cuckoo or the Music Doesn't Play
If the bird doesn't come out and cuckoo or if your clock is supposed to play music but doesn't, then it is in need of a little TLC, but first, check to make sure that the silent lever, if your clock has one, isn't in the off position before reaching out.
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