An index for this video: 00:00 Showing the animated figures of the clock 00:58 Examining the inside of the clock 02:58 The clock running on a stand; evidence that the music isn't playing as often as it should 05:42 Removing the hands; documenting the placement of the chains; removing the chains 11:25 Removing the bellows 15:04 Removing the movement 16:34 Examining the movement; evidence of previous work on the clock 22:45 Removing the suspension rod; evidence of previous work; removing the hammer and bellow lift levers 26:25 What keeps the cuckoo door open; removing the rack, snail, and intermediate wheel 29:32 Removing the front levers; discovering that the pendulum post is riveted in 34:56 Examining the star wheel; removing the gathering pallet 36:45 The position of the door lever parts 37:21 Separating the plates; examining the wheels 39:59 Removing the star wheel with a crow's foot; how lowering manufacturing cost reductions affect repair-ability 42:04 Removing the door-holding lever; removing the final front lever; the function of the center wheel 45:34 The modifications to the star wheel 46:39 All the parts after cleaning 47:31 Testing the run (going, time) side pivot holes for wear; noting the extra wheel for this 8-day clock 55:55 Testing the strike side pivot holes for wear; evidence of prior work 58:55 Bushing: Measuring the strike side pivot diameters; choosing the bushings; filing the unworn side of the pivot holes 1:02:02 Bushing: Reaming out the worn pivot holes; de-burring and chamfering the holes 1:04:49 Bushing: inserting the bushings 1:06:43 Bushing: Broaching the new bushings; smoothing the broached holes; de-burring the broached holes 1:14:33 Bushing: testing the fit of the new holes 1:17:26 Bushing: Preparing to bush the one worn time-side pair of pivot holes 1:18:27 Placing the wheels and interior parts 1:21:38 (Briefly) locating the pivots into their holes 1:22:54 (Briefly) oiling the movement 1:23:37 Assembling the remaining levers, the rack and snail, and the motion works 1:27:33 Assembling and positioning the gathering pallet 1:30:00 Assembling the star wheel, bellows levers, and hammer 1:32:46 Assembling the music box trip lever and pendulum hanger 1:34:31 The assembled movement 1:35:07 Removing the music box; removing the water wheel 1:37:10 Disassembling and wiping the water wheel drive 1:40:03 Brief exam of the musical movement 1:40:35 Removing the musical great wheel; before and after bushing the great wheel pivot holes 1:43:00 Removing the musical movement; before and after bushing the musical roller 1:44:14 Examining the musical governor; cleaning it without disassembly 1:45:35 Testing the repaired musical movement 1:47:32 The dancers, before and after cleaning; attaching the dancers to their platform 1:50:27 How the music box starts and stops 1:55:53 Demonstrating the musical movement playing and animating the figures 1:56:53 Fixing a hitch in the dancers 1:58:23 Repairing the worn holder for the water wheel drive 2:00:44 The tap and die set used for that water wheel drive repair 2:02:35 Demonstrating the water wheel drive in the clock case 2:02:54 Examining the governer again and a replacement governer 2:05:08 The music box with the new governor installed; the repaired music box in the case 2:07:20 Putting the chains on the clock movement 2:09:08 Installing the clock movement in the case; summary of repairs 2:14:21 Running the reassembled clock 2:14:57 Making a new clock-to-music-box trip lever 2:20:14 The new trip lever in place 2:20:27 The fully-repaired clock
So happy to see a new video! Looking forward to learning this type of coo coo clock. Thank you for all your time spent videoing and editing. I know it’s time consuming.
I enjoyed your video! I have never seen a Cuckoo clock completely taken apart! You are incredibly knowledgeable! I love to see you working, I really love to see the precision of the parts working together! I guess you made this video for me! Ha! My name is Gloria! Thank you again!
I got a 8 day cuckoo clock with music box and three weights weighing 1500g, I was applying oil to the pivot points on the clock and secured the chain, to keep them in place. Once I oiled the gears, I failed to remove the wire that held the chains in place, and started the clock, didn't realize that I failed to remove the wire. After a few minutes of operation notice the clock pendulum wasn't moving and realize the error of my ways and the clock has not been the same after that. After a few minutes of movement it stop working. Watching your video was inspiring that someone is out there, that can repair this complicated movement and like to hire your services, if you are still in the business of repairing clocks like mine.
Sounds like you obtained a used movement as you oiled it.. The wire had nothing to do with the clock not running. It probably needs extensive cleaning and pivot holes repairs with bushings. I'm not in the business of repairing clocks. This is strictly a hobby I've been doing for 56 years. I do outside work from time to time and ask for charitable donations to our food pantry. At the present time, I'm overwhelmed with clocks waiting for repair and, at 81 years old, I don't take on any more work than I can complete in a relatively short time. If I'm still here around January, contact me then if you still are having problems with the clock.
Just watched this entire video. You truly are a master craftsman with these cuckoo clocks. I particularly liked your thorough instruction on the operation and intricacies of the music box. I have a 1-day wood chopper clock with a water wheel and music. The music box is malfunctioning a little. I now feel more comfortable with checking on it to see if I can get it figured out. I need to check on those bushings. Keep up the great videos!
I have watched many of your videos and have had several “ah ha” moments when you are working on these clocks. Thanks for explaining your techniques and how the various parts work. While watching your videos I keep saying to my self “I wish I had seen these years ago”. Some of the the things that you do like pulling the chains through the holes have simply eluded me because I would wait to put them in after the movement was back in the box. You would not believe the shapes of wires I have made for threading them through the holes then around the wheels. This is only one example of many lessons I have learned from your work. Since watching your videos, most of my spare time has been spent working on watches. I have been thinking that it would be nice to work on another cuckoo clock. Someone brought me two this week. I started working on them on the weekend because I could not wait to try out what I have learned! You are a Master Craftsman. I hope you are doing well and can make more videos. Thanks again
I'm glad you have found the videos helpful. I wish I knew how to deal with the tiny parts of watches. I don't consider myself a master of repair; just a hobbyist who's been at it for more than 50 years. Thanks for the comments and best wishes with continuing in your work with timepieces.
I'm not following your question. If you like, you can leave an email, I'll contact you and delete the comment with the email Then, you can send pictures so I can see what you are describing.
IDKY but i have found an interest in clock repairing, you actually show how to fix these motors all the other videos i saw they dip the whole mechanism in the cleaner or toss the motor bc they dont know about the screw placement! i hope i can put these videos to practice. its so fun repairing clocks! ive repaired three so far but fully amature. TY and god bless!
OMGosh! Subscribing! I looked up your fake rocks today, and then when the lady asked if you had any more helpful videos, you posted the link. 428 videos! Superman! Plus, a lot of stuff I really need to fix! We've taken our cuckoo clock in for repairs so many times, it's cost us at least five times what we paid for it. Thank you! Maybe I can even figure out how to fix my antique chiming mantel clock. That would be amazing to hear again...though I'd have to set them to go off at different times, since they're in the same room now, and I don't want that cuckoo to overwhelm it.
1:47:00 What is the purpose of the white plastic tube to stop the fanfly? I note that the fanfly isn't even catching it after it is drawn down. I noticed same thing in my clock, and adjusted it down just until it stopped the fanfly same time that lever was fully pulled down. One video by VDS claims if that part is adjusted wrong, music will not start, but don't understand how that is.
The white plastic tube is actually the permanent stop for the music box. The tube is also a sound attenuator to deaden the sound of metal on metal. It is adjustable by sliding it on the metal peg extension of the brass lever on the music box. That lever is held to the music box by a collared screw in a slot on the lever, allowing the lever to move downward when the hole on the cylinder pulls the hook that rides on the end of the cylinder. When the hole catches the hook, it pulls the lever downward, moving the plastic tube in front of the fan, stopping the music box. The lever should not be "fully pulled down" or the hook will be so tightly held in the hole that it cannot be released at the next strike cycle and the music will fail to play. The plastic tube is moved upward away from the fan by the action of the lever on the cuckoo clock movement, but another lever (black) must move in front of the fan before the plastic tube releases the fan. It is a delicate adjustment to get just right by slightly moving the plastic tube and by bending the other parts of the lever (both from the cuckoo movement and on the music movement). If adjusted properly, the cuckoo movement will lift a lever in front of the fan just before the plastic tube moves up enough to release the fan. That also releases the hook from the hole in the end of the pin cylinder. When the cuckoo is finished, the lever from the cuckoo movement drops and releases the black lever holding the fan and the music plays. When the hole in the cylinder pulls down on the brass hook, the plastic tube also pulls down enough to stop the fan. Just make sure that the hole doesn't pull the brass lever too far or it will take too much force to release the hook from the hole on the next strike cycle and the music will not play.
@@dperry428 Thanks, I was thinking that white plastic stop was to mitigate tension from the pin in the hole of roller. I noted if white sleeve was pulled down too much, the last couple notes of song would not play. I set it to catch right after last note, and swear if I raised it a 32nd inch, it would no longer contact fanfly.
Hi Mr Perry how are you doing? How is your hip? Are the shots working? Anything scheduled for a replacement? Hope you will be doing a video soon. It must be cold outside so I hope you can get back to your repair work. Hope you have a vey happy New Year.
Happy New Year and thanks for the concern. I'm scheduled for February 16 for left hip replacement, though I will believe it when it actually happens. Just in time for my 78th birthday on February 17. I found a few old cuckoo clocks of the junker variety in my storage and am going to fix one up for a young lady who likes cuckoo clocks but needs one with a more contemporary look, so it will make the purists go nuts when I paint it black with silver trim. Getting started on it in the next few days.
Hi; I have a farmers daughter cuckoo clock that keeps perfect time but does not cuckoo. Checked to make sure there were no obstructions . The spring on the cuckoo bird perch is doing its job. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks; Bill
Check the position of the bellows. Are they both down, or is one stuck up? Are bellow lift levers interfering with each other? To check other possibilities, you'll have to remove the movement from the case and check the front-mounted levers for them sticking. Anything jamming the wheel teeth, such as a dead spider (not kidding)? Any badly worn pivot holes? Bent teeth on a wheel or a bent pivot? Too many possibilities without actually examining.
You made me laugh when you said, "i wished they kept the quality and charged more", lol. Well they made them cheaper and still they charged more, customers lost twice !. but thanks an excellent video.
I sure could use your help on a cuckoo clock. I have several after being stationed in Europe many years. The one troubling me is an old traditional hunter theme clock; large, deer head on top, birds, rabbits, etc., no problem with the case. It is an 8 day clock with music. Cannot get the music part to trigger on. Your help please. Glad to pay you for your work.
Choose the sizes and size ranges that suit your needs. Sorry, I can't do all the shopping for you. I have no idea what you can afford or how extensive you want to make your tool and supply inventory.
Look at the whole video before you comment. I replaced the chain with new chain. There aren't even any "gears" involved in the water wheel; it's a rubber wheel.
Cool video, I really liked how you made it play music on the half hour and hour instead I found it very interesting and never seen someone do that before.
Some only play on the hour. This one was designed to play on the hour and half-hour, hence two melodies. Also, if is playing only on the hour and the weight on the music box is going down half the distance of the other two weights, it's a clue that it's meant to play on the half-hour as well as the hour. Nothing tricky or unusual at all. Not all cuckoo clocks with music boxes play only on the hour.
Do you have a video that shows what to do if the weight is pulled all the way up on the left but it won't tick tock or stay running? I noticed on my cuckoo clock.the left weight is pulled completely up to the hole in the bottom of the wood and it does not seem to move down at all.
The hook on which the weight is hung has a circular piece that attaches to the chain and is quite thin and sharp enough that, if the chain is pulled forcefully, the circle can actually cut into the wood hole and be wedge enough to make the clock not work. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen. Otherwise, does the clock run at all, even for a few seconds? The clock might just be out-of-beat. OR, damage may have been done to gear teeth if the chain was pulled too forcefully. Without actually examining the clock, I can't give a definitive answer.
@@dperry428 it runs for a few seconds. It does need to be cleaned and oiled. The seller doesn't know if it's a 1 day clock or an 8 day clock. The weights say 1500 et on them.
If the weights are 1500 grams, it's an 8-day clock, which means it is much more sensitive to wear. If there is any wear in the pivot holes, or if the clock is in need of cleaning and oiling, it will be less likely to run than a one-day clock.
I have something i need your advice on and hopefully you will see this comment. I have a clock i am assembling that my brother took apart, and i did not see it being taken apart. It is an open mainspring 31 day korean time and strike movement with rack and snail. I have figured out where every gear except the 2nd wheels go. One is slightly larger, which side does the larger 2nd wheel go to, the time or strike train?
I don't know. Just try placing one or the other in one of the gear trains. One will mesh correctly and the other will not. The one that doesn't mesh with the main wheel and third wheel goes in the other train. It is a truism that they only go together one way.
Just curious if you could use a 5 sided broach to ream the hole in the plate for the bushing. Seems that with the taper the reamer has, it would only start to cut on the unworn side, thus there would be no need to file the unworn side. What do you thnk of this idea?
It's not a new idea; in fact, many do use a broach to even out the wear by putting pressure with the broach to the unworn side with the broach only partially inserted. After determining that the unworn side is now cut out to the extent of wear, the broach is then used to cut the hole for the bushing. Simply using the broach without evening out the wear will likely cause an off-center hole.
I just stumbled onto your Channel. I am a watchmaker tinkerer. I think I picked the wrong one LOL your parts are much larger and easy to work with. But you are a Craftsman
Hi Mr Perry. Are you still going to do a hip replacement? I hope all goes well if you do. Hope you will be able to do a cuckoo repair soon. I know you use piano wire to make loops. Can you tell me the gauge of the wire you use? As that the same gauge you can make a pivot with?
I had a visit with the orthopedic surgeon, who said the only solution to the hip problem is replacement. It's definitely bone on bone. Problem is that, because these surgeries were declared by morons to be "non-essential" during the Covid lockdown, there is a major backup of surgeries. He can't schedule me for the replacement until "well after the first of the year". In the meantime, he prescribed an anti-inflammatory (Meloxicam) that has given me significant relief. Weather is changing quickly, I've put the pond to sleep for the winter and I'm ready to get back to fixing clocks. I have a number of sizes of wire coils I keep for repairs and try to match the original. As I recall, they are around .022 to .025 inch. Pivot wire is general too heavy to bend and also much more brittle.
Thank you for your informative videos, just one question I have some broken timber pieces on an old 8 day cuckoo clock I just purchased could you please give me some advice on what glue would be best to glue these pieces back together. Thank you so much. Tricia from Australia.
I use mainly yellow wood glue. The brand I use is Titebond. I like to put a little in a small container, like a plastic bottle top, and add a little water. Then, I apply that to both broken surfaces with a small artist paint brush in a thin layer. Try to keep the glue from oozing out by not using too much glue. Wipe off excess with a damp rag or paper towel. Clamp or hold the pieces together until set and don't disturb the glued pieces for a couple hours. The glue won't accept wood stain, so I use acrylic artist paints to mix a color that matches the finish on the case and paint the glue line with a fine artist brush.
Hello Sir Hope you're doing well and safe .Happy to write to you because you are my best guide and the horologist master. It's for Regula 34 and its music box both are in good working order but the synchronizing way a little bit far on 30's they perform well but on the hours the music lever of the movement presses hard on the control of the music box and remains until the weight arrives at the floor. It returns up after 10 minutes when the bellows inter in action . I tried many music levels over the music bar but no success please could help me solve this problem and thanks.
Without actually seeing and watching the action, I really can't be of much help. There are too many different ways that the music box is controlled. All I can tell you is to study how it is supposed to work and then keep adjusting it until it works properly. You're finding why it is that many clock repair people just won't try to fix cuckoos with music boxes and animations. They can be a pain to deal with.
timesavers.com/c-325606-clock-repair-replacement-parts-cuckoo-clock-parts-cuckoo-clock-dancing-platform-drive-gear.html or watch ebay for parts only clocks.
Not sure what you mean by assembly drawings. Do you mean like this: www.ronellclock.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Regula-34-Cuckoo-Clock-Movement-Cannon-Pinion-CLOSEOUT-3-768x552.jpg
Where can I find broaches like yours? I'm having such a hard time figuring out what I need. I only want to work on cuckoo clocks for myself so I don't think I need many. A lot of the main suppliers have pretty poor websites and it's just hard to know what kinds/sizes I need. I am seeing a lot of the "stub" style. They don't look like they taper. I assume I want to avoid them? Some of the sets have plastic handles, I don't know if that comes recommended or not. If they do require a pin vise how can you figure out what size you need? Thanks for your videos!
Go to Timesavers and search for broach sets. Here's one that would include sizes for cuckoo clocks. timesavers.com/i-8944714-10-piece-cutting-broach-set-for-large-clocks-035-157.html "Stub" refers to sizes. I'm not familiar with that system. I go by the largest diameter they will cut. Since I use metric measurements for pivots, I have to convert the advertised inch size to millimeters to know what sizes I need. They all taper by a few tenths of a millimeter. Here's a set on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Galapagoz-Repair-Cutting-Broaches-Germany/dp/B084G96P1R/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=clock+cutting+broach&qid=1614825183&sr=8-8 Use a caliper to measure the sizes of the pivots you'll be working with and order sets or individual broaches that fit those sized holes.
Depends on the movement but, in some cases, they turn in opposite directions, the wheel is in a different location on the arbor or, in the case of the time side, sometimes has another gear on the arbor that runs the motion works.
Such a fantastic and educative video with intricate detail! Learned a lot from you sir. Working on an old count wheel movement here in Canada. Strangely without any pivot wear, but with anchor wear! Time side needs 1kg to function but strike works with 875 gms. i.e a difference of 125 gms with the time needing more! Have you experienced anything like this? Also where is your shop located and do you have a website or email address?
Having to use more weight to make it run is a sure sign of excessive friction. Did you replace/repair the anchor? A worn groove will make the sides of the escape wheel teeth drag. Also, recheck all pivots and holes. Some of these older movements had short pivots that did not extend through the plate and the wear is only on the inside of the pivot hole, so from the outside, it looks as if there is no wear. Also check for one or more bent pivots. I don't have a shop; just my basement workshop. This is simply a hobby for me that I've been doing since 1968. If you want further contact, you can leave an email address in a comment and I'll contact you. I hold comments for review and will simply delete the comment so it is not seen by others.
@@dperry428 I suspect the original weights were missing and a previous repairman had substituted two 1260 gm weights. When I initially cleaned and lubed the movement, I overlooked one pivot hole which had a bushing inserted during a previous repair. The anchor is still as is as that type of replacement anchor assembly is not available. However perhaps you might be able to share the best way to repair that anchor. The cuckoo would run excessively fast with the 1260 gms weights and bend the warning/lock pin on the warning wheel causing it to ultimately not stop cukooing. Bringing the cuckoo weight down to 875 gms stopped that problem. But I overlooked something else. I just found there was excessive play between the fly blade and the fly arbour and tightened it. Now I am sure I will have to use a 1 kg weight on the strike train as well as the fly will now offer proper air resistance. But I need to test it. If it works, I expect both trains should then run on 1 kg.
If it's a strip anchor, you can fashion one from strip metal, you can buy one like this and bend it to shape timesavers.com/i-8948707-fits-all-verge.html My method would be to grind the worn surface flat, cut a piece of spring steel and silver solder it in place. Then file to the original contour. Use the old one as a pattern in either case. Is the movement you're working with a one-day or eight-day? That style movement, if it's a stamped movement, should run on about 500 grams if it's a one-day. If it's a cast brass movement, a one-day takes somewhere around 800 to 1000 grams. The most weight I've seen on a cuckoo is 1750 grams and that's for a very large, three-weight, 8-day movement.
Those cast brass movements are one-day and take a heavier weight 750 to 800 g. Those movements also have relatively thick plates that twice as thick as more modern pressed plates. These are the movements that often have pivots that are so short they don't go all the way through the plate and wear the pivot hole only on the inside of the plate, leaving the hole on the outside of the plate looking to be unworn when, in fact, are badly worn. The pivot hole appears round from the outside of the plate and oval from the inside of the plate.
Hello, Mr. Perry! I have a question for you. Right now I am waiting for a backordered Bergeon reamer/chamfering kit. I've been waiting for a few months now, and the KWM system is tempting me with its availability. I believe you use Bergeon reamers if I'm not wrong. Is it worth waiting for the Bergeon set or am I better off getting a KWM set so I can re-bush the clocks I have? I've read through a lot of NAWCC threads about the subject, and I still can't come to a conclusion. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated!
The reason I like the Bergeon sizes in reamers and bushings is that they come in 1/2 mm outside diameter instead of the many sizes of KWM. With the KWM, you'll have a significantly larger investment to make. Where did you order your reamers. There are many vendors that carry them. If someone is not providing them on a timely basis, cancel the order and get them somewhere else. You can even find them on eBay.
@@dperry428 I ordered them from Timesavers. I checked Ronell Clock Co and they were out of stock as well. I emailed Justin at Timesavers and he said the vendor might be having troubles sourcing them. I'll keep my eyes peeled on ebay for any. Thank you for your advice! Nobody on the nawcc threads mentioned the outer diameter as a positive; they actually used that as a pro on KWM's side, but your logic makes more sense to me. Less od's, less reamers! I appreciate your help!
You might also check with Butterworthclocks.com User name and password both butterworth. Mark Butterworth also has drills sized to bushings at, as I recall, $5 apiece. Also: www.ebay.com/itm/New-American-Made-Reamers-for-Bergeon-or-KWM-Machines-Hand-Tools-19-Choices/292716834075?hash=item4427486d1b:g:XakAAOSwnXpbkug7
Personally, I'd buy a new one if it is a simple cuckoo with no dancers or music box. The newer Regula movement is just as good as an older one, with the exception of some manufacturing techniques that make repair more difficult. An older clock, however, will likely need repairs, which can be expensive.
I just got a new clock from adolf herr with this movement in it and there is a grinding noise just when the music and the dancers stop moving. Any thoughts on that?
It's the stop pin hitting the governor fan. I'd bet it used to have a piece of plastic tubing on it to silence the sound. You might try putting a bit of electrical tape on the brass pin that stops the fan. A piece of heat-shrink tubing might also work.
I just left Triberg, Germany yesterday (where the cuckoo clock comes from). The standard for ones that play music is music only on the hour. The half hour typicality gets one cuckoo chirp. That clock was fully functioning as designed prior to your ‘repair’. You in fact did not repair it, but rather re-engineered it.
So, your position is that the clocks made today are made exactly as they were 25, 50 or 100 years ago? Nonsense! Today's "standards" are often not what was done yesterday. The way to tell if a music box should run on just the hour or on both the hour and half-hour is to look at the position of the weights at the end of an extended period of time. Say, for example, the music box is set to run on both the hour and half-hour and the weight runs way ahead of the weights for time and cuckoo, it is designed to play only on the hour. If, on the other hand, it is set to play only on the hour and the weight falls far behind the other two, it is designed to play on both hour and half-hour. Another clue is whether the music box has one or two tunes. A one-tune music box is usually made to play just on the hour. A two-tune box is designed to run on both hour and half-hour. You other line of reasoning is equally false. Just because you went to Triberg does not make you an expert in cuckoo clock design. I've been doing this for 56 years. Give me some credit for knowing what I am doing. By the way, where on YOUR channel do I find your videos of clock repair? For that matter, you've had a channel since 2011 and have NO videos whatever. You know what that makes you -- a viewer who makes no contributions to the UA-cam community other than to comment on other videos. Probably, as here, just negatively. That's called being a TROLL.
Most of the tools used are common household tools like screwdrivers and pliers, available at hardware stores. Specialty tools, like spring winder, reamers and broaches are available from clock suppliers such as Timesavers timesavers.com/ Ronell www.ronellclock.com/ Black Forest Imports blackforestimports.com/ Merrits Antiques www.merritts.com/merritts/public/default.aspx or jewelry suppliers.
I learned a lot from this video. Especially the music box, dancers and waterwheel. How did you clean the music drum? Will you be doing any more videos before your hip replacement in November?
I cleaned the drum with a toothbrush and the acrylic cleaner/polish I use on gears. Scrub, let polish dry and polish with clean brush. This one was a frustrating challenge. Combination of cheap, poor design and messes made by someone in the past. The owner got this from a thrift shop for $5, so there had to be a reason someone dumped it. I found all the reasons. I have a cuckoo movement and an electric clock movement to do. A lot depends on what I can do outside. If I can work, I''ll take advantage of the weather. I know I have to fix a leak that's developed in my pond. It has to be fixed before winter.
I got it at Office Max. The lens is about 6 inches across and has a circular fluorescent lamp around it. Here is a link to a picture of it: www.officedepot.com/a/products/326381/Realspace-Space-Saver-Desktop-Magnifier-Lamp/ I sometimes have difficulty with it staying in place and have to tighten the "joints" on it to make it stay where I want it. I've had it a few years and it's served me well. Often use it to get real closeups by putting the lens in front of my video camera.
Hello, I found a box of cuckoo clocks that was going to be thrown out. The owners let me take them to try to fix them. I got a couple working, but I can’t keep the pendulum swinging. I was wondering if you would be able to help me out. Thank you
First, clean, then oil, then make sure the clock is "in beat", that is, it is level and the sound is even: tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock, not ticktock--ticktock--ticktock. Bend the pendulum leader or crutch until it ticks evenly. Do a simple cleaning with soap and water, scrub with a toothbrush, rinse thoroughly and dry with a hair dryer. Oil each pivot hole and nothing else. If it's cleaned, oiled and in beat and still doesn't run, there is likely enough wear to require bushing. I'll be happy to answer questions.
I watched this video to see if I could learn to fix my cuckoo clock that is very similar to this one. What I have found is that I really want you to fix my clock! I am pretty handy, but I don't know if I have the skill or patience to take on a task such as this. Anyway I can find you?
I'm not taking on any repairs at the present time. I have enough from local people to keep me very busy. Maybe sometime after the first of the year. Just leave an email in a comment. I hold all comments for review and can then delete it without publication.
Hi my cuckoo clock is broken and I was wondering if you can help fix it but I don't know if you have a shop or not or where it is. It would be nice if you could help me.
No, I don't have a shop. I am a retired science teacher and have been fixing clocks for more than 50 years as a hobby. I do sometimes take clocks to fix by mail, but I only do that during the winter. I can't currently commit to any repairs at all because of continuing health concerns. After I get my hip replaced, probably in November, I may be able to take on more repairs.
I have a Hubert Herr that my grandmother left me. She meant the world to me and so does her clock. Unfortunately my teenage son knocked it off the wall last night. It needs someone with knowledge and love to put her back together again. Which has brought me to your channel. Thank you for posting these videos of your talent. I'm sorry to hear you're having some health issues. I will say a prayer for you sir and your health. Many blessing.
@@dperry428 Mr. Perry I watched your video on fixing the 1 day Hubert Herr for Kayla. And I took my clock apart step by step. I also examined it and put it all back together following you. ( loved seeing your granddaughter in there too. So precious!) Thank you so much. Because of your video, I now have a working clock. All I have left to do is find some wood glue and glue some details back on. I couldn't be happier! Thanks again! Do you have any suggestions on how to align the gong? I think my striker is hitting directly on the gong. Making an awful "bong" sound with no reverberation.
Nothing rare about it to my knowledge. That's why there are two tunes; to differentiate between hour and half-hour. There are some modern clocks that do as you suggest, but not in this case. The clue is that the weights should all fall, over the week, the same distance. When the music weight fell only half of what the others fell, it was because it was only playing half of what it should. When the adjustment was made in the trip wire, the music played on both half and full hour. The weight then fell, over the week, the same distance as the other two weights.
I have seen nearly all your videos and enjoyed your work, thank you! I do have a question about the cuckoo, did I miss what the little guy on the bottom right does? Isn’t he supposed to ring a bell or something, and when? Maybe I fell asleep during that part? Thanks from Texas.
@@lesliebooth2833 The bell-ringer's arm has a wire that is attached to one of the cuckoo bellows, so the arm moves when the bellows goes up and down during the strike. You only notice it when the cuckoo is striking a large number of hours. In reality the movement is very small, anyway. There is no real bell to ring and I think the action is frivolous.
Are you self-taught? How did you come to learn all you know about both cement/concrete and clock repair? Did you grow up at the knee of a handy and knowledgeable dad? It’s heartbreaking that this kind of knowledge is almost unheard of in our present day, and most certainly the pride of doing a job well and right. I’m sure there are some young folks who do take pride and have a propensity for learning all they can about their profession but I just don’t see it, not like it used to be. Guess nothing’s like it used to be. Or maybe I’m just grumpy. Or both.
@@lesliebooth2833 Yes, for the most part, you might say I'm "self-taught", but that's really not accurate. I rely heavily on the knowledge developed by others and not so much on what I develop myself. I learned about clock repair by watching and listening to, initially, my father-in-law as he repaired clock mechanisms for a collector-neighbor, then by becoming a member of the NAWCC, reading it's publications and through practice. What you see now in my videos is the result of over 50 years of reading, learning, application and practice. With concrete, it was the same thing. When I retired in 2004, I knew little about concrete. I bought a video series on decorative concrete, read a multitude of PhD theses from engineering schools, tried recipes, applied what I had read to experimenting with new recipes and, over the course of 16 years, continued reading and applying what I had learned from the works of others. Reading, listening, watching, learning, application and practicing are the keys to development of most any skill. As to the rest of your comment, I agree that things are not like they used to be. I was a science teacher for over 30 years and watched the changes that took place in parent/student attitudes toward learning. There are still many hard-working young people, but far too many who spend too much time mindlessly affixed to their "smart" phones or engaged in too many video games. Without getting too political, I'm glad I'm old and won't be around to see the result of what is to come as a result. Perhaps I'm just grumpy, too.
The German and Swiss craftsman are disappearing. Brand new four figure clock, music box won't start. Clockwork is releasing the pin on roller and it comes out of warning fine after bird call, no impediments there. The music box drive itself just wont start without a considerable pull to get it started, the mechanism is very noisy. I find the older clocks much nicer built.
Just like most other industries, the search to increase profits leads to the use of inferior materials and engineers that look to cut production costs. Same old story -- greedy people. End result -- crappy products. One of the classic examples of this was the German clock movement manufacturers in the 1970's decided to save tooling costs by using soft steel arbors and then chrome plating the pivots. Result was that when the chrome plating failed, the resulting hard powder created a grinding paste that destroyed the pivot holes. Then, with no plating on the pivots, rebushing the holes was futile; the soft pivots would wear quickly. Final result was that thousands of people paid for expensive mantel, wall and tall case clocks that were essentially garbage. Repair costs to replace pivots were more than the movement was worth. The manufacturers finally went back to using hard steel for the pivots. Did create a big market, though, for replacement movements.
You really can do that yourself. Do you mean by replace, do you mean with new chains or just to get them back on the chain wheels? Either way, I can walk you through it.
@@dperry428 Hi Sir Hope you are fine safe and healthy. after assembling my regula34 -86 it has a good running condition on the testing holder , but on the other side the bird support being moving fwd doesn't go back and remain fix there until i put my finger on the release lever arm or turn the fly one turn or press on the star wheel a little to activate striking to retract back completly . at this time the strike seconde wheel cam pointing to the fallen lever the striking third wheel pin is in the top 12 oclock movement on the other side the pin is in the middle of the gathering pallet what could be unadjusted to perform as proper the system please; thanks for your patience and waiting for your advise.
The arbor that contains the gathering pallet also has two black tabs that control the door opening. Check to make sure they are not interfering . If you adjust their position, you'll also have to adjust the gathering pallet position and the warning pin position.
@@dperry428 Hi Sir thank you so much its exactly what you expect the two black tabs was on upright position and the down end was sitting on a black pin so i took off the upper left nut and i remove the flay to adjust that wheel it was easy trial and the movement is running now thanks again . so proud of knowing you.
Could be any one of a dozen different causes. Could be as simple as needing cleaned and oiled or could be as bad as a damaged gear. Without inspection, there is no way for me to know.
Either the chain came off the wheel or, if he pulled on the weight side, the click was bent and jammed the wheel. You'll have to try putting the chain back on track. If the click is bent, it will need repaired or replaced.
An index for this video:
00:00 Showing the animated figures of the clock
00:58 Examining the inside of the clock
02:58 The clock running on a stand; evidence that the music isn't playing as often as it should
05:42 Removing the hands; documenting the placement of the chains; removing the chains
11:25 Removing the bellows
15:04 Removing the movement
16:34 Examining the movement; evidence of previous work on the clock
22:45 Removing the suspension rod; evidence of previous work; removing the hammer and bellow lift levers
26:25 What keeps the cuckoo door open; removing the rack, snail, and intermediate wheel
29:32 Removing the front levers; discovering that the pendulum post is riveted in
34:56 Examining the star wheel; removing the gathering pallet
36:45 The position of the door lever parts
37:21 Separating the plates; examining the wheels
39:59 Removing the star wheel with a crow's foot; how lowering manufacturing cost reductions affect repair-ability
42:04 Removing the door-holding lever; removing the final front lever; the function of the center wheel
45:34 The modifications to the star wheel
46:39 All the parts after cleaning
47:31 Testing the run (going, time) side pivot holes for wear; noting the extra wheel for this 8-day clock
55:55 Testing the strike side pivot holes for wear; evidence of prior work
58:55 Bushing: Measuring the strike side pivot diameters; choosing the bushings; filing the unworn side of the pivot holes
1:02:02 Bushing: Reaming out the worn pivot holes; de-burring and chamfering the holes
1:04:49 Bushing: inserting the bushings
1:06:43 Bushing: Broaching the new bushings; smoothing the broached holes; de-burring the broached holes
1:14:33 Bushing: testing the fit of the new holes
1:17:26 Bushing: Preparing to bush the one worn time-side pair of pivot holes
1:18:27 Placing the wheels and interior parts
1:21:38 (Briefly) locating the pivots into their holes
1:22:54 (Briefly) oiling the movement
1:23:37 Assembling the remaining levers, the rack and snail, and the motion works
1:27:33 Assembling and positioning the gathering pallet
1:30:00 Assembling the star wheel, bellows levers, and hammer
1:32:46 Assembling the music box trip lever and pendulum hanger
1:34:31 The assembled movement
1:35:07 Removing the music box; removing the water wheel
1:37:10 Disassembling and wiping the water wheel drive
1:40:03 Brief exam of the musical movement
1:40:35 Removing the musical great wheel; before and after bushing the great wheel pivot holes
1:43:00 Removing the musical movement; before and after bushing the musical roller
1:44:14 Examining the musical governor; cleaning it without disassembly
1:45:35 Testing the repaired musical movement
1:47:32 The dancers, before and after cleaning; attaching the dancers to their platform
1:50:27 How the music box starts and stops
1:55:53 Demonstrating the musical movement playing and animating the figures
1:56:53 Fixing a hitch in the dancers
1:58:23 Repairing the worn holder for the water wheel drive
2:00:44 The tap and die set used for that water wheel drive repair
2:02:35 Demonstrating the water wheel drive in the clock case
2:02:54 Examining the governer again and a replacement governer
2:05:08 The music box with the new governor installed; the repaired music box in the case
2:07:20 Putting the chains on the clock movement
2:09:08 Installing the clock movement in the case; summary of repairs
2:14:21 Running the reassembled clock
2:14:57 Making a new clock-to-music-box trip lever
2:20:14 The new trip lever in place
2:20:27 The fully-repaired clock
So happy to see a new video! Looking forward to learning this type of coo coo clock. Thank you for all your time spent videoing and editing. I know it’s time consuming.
Thanks for watching!
^^^ What he said :-)
Thank You Sir! The view of the front of the movement at 18:37 was exactly what I needed to see to replace a little spring I wasn't familiar with.
I enjoyed your video! I have never seen a Cuckoo clock completely taken apart! You are incredibly knowledgeable! I love to see you working, I really love to see the precision of the parts working together! I guess you made this video for me! Ha! My name is Gloria!
Thank you again!
Thanks for watching!
Good to see you back on the air.Hope your health is better
Thank you.
I got a 8 day cuckoo clock with music box and three weights weighing 1500g, I was applying oil to the pivot points on the clock and secured the chain, to keep them in place. Once I oiled the gears, I failed to remove the wire that held the chains in place, and started the clock, didn't realize that I failed to remove the wire.
After a few minutes of operation notice the clock pendulum wasn't moving and realize the error of my ways and the clock has not been the same after that. After a few minutes of movement it stop working.
Watching your video was inspiring that someone is out there, that can repair this complicated movement and like to hire your services, if you are still in the business of repairing clocks like mine.
Sounds like you obtained a used movement as you oiled it.. The wire had nothing to do with the clock not running. It probably needs extensive cleaning and pivot holes repairs with bushings. I'm not in the business of repairing clocks. This is strictly a hobby I've been doing for 56 years. I do outside work from time to time and ask for charitable donations to our food pantry. At the present time, I'm overwhelmed with clocks waiting for repair and, at 81 years old, I don't take on any more work than I can complete in a relatively short time. If I'm still here around January, contact me then if you still are having problems with the clock.
Total Genius! I come here to learn. bless you Sir! For sharing your gifts and wisdom ! have a Wonderful creative day!🌞✌🙀
Just watched this entire video. You truly are a master craftsman with these cuckoo clocks. I particularly liked your thorough instruction on the operation and intricacies of the music box. I have a 1-day wood chopper clock with a water wheel and music. The music box is malfunctioning a little. I now feel more comfortable with checking on it to see if I can get it figured out. I need to check on those bushings. Keep up the great videos!
Thanks. Yes, those music boxes can be fussy. Just a tiny bit out of adjustment and they malfunction. Good luck with it.
Adapt, improvise, overcome, Wow, nice job!
Thanks!
All of your videos are wonderful!! Needless to say, your works with cement are really really fantastic!! You are a man of creativity! Respect you sir
Thank you very much!
I have watched many of your videos and have had several “ah ha” moments when you are working on these clocks. Thanks for explaining your techniques and how the various parts work. While watching your videos I keep saying to my self “I wish I had seen these years ago”. Some of the the things that you do like pulling the chains through the holes have simply eluded me because I would wait to put them in after the movement was back in the box. You would not believe the shapes of wires I have made for threading them through the holes then around the wheels. This is only one example of many lessons I have learned from your work. Since watching your videos, most of my spare time has been spent working on watches. I have been thinking that it would be nice to work on another cuckoo clock. Someone brought me two this week. I started working on them on the weekend because I could not wait to try out what I have learned!
You are a Master Craftsman. I hope you are doing well and can make more videos. Thanks again
I'm glad you have found the videos helpful. I wish I knew how to deal with the tiny parts of watches. I don't consider myself a master of repair; just a hobbyist who's been at it for more than 50 years. Thanks for the comments and best wishes with continuing in your work with timepieces.
You make a good Job. I have repaird a 1-Day Cuckoo Clock with Music and dancers. I want you to show a picture of it. Best Reguards from Germany
You sir are a genius great video
I try
I'm in middle of doing one but the 2 rods the man and cuck coo sits on keeps coming out of the lower hole how do i fix it to stop it coming out ?
I'm not following your question. If you like, you can leave an email, I'll contact you and delete the comment with the email Then, you can send pictures so I can see what you are describing.
You don't try you kick ass lol
Great educational video as usual. Your videos are a brilliant source of help for a beginner clock enthusiast like myself. Best Wishes, John, Ireland.
Many thanks!
IDKY but i have found an interest in clock repairing, you actually show how to fix these motors all the other videos i saw they dip the whole mechanism in the cleaner or toss the motor bc they dont know about the screw placement! i hope i can put these videos to practice. its so fun repairing clocks! ive repaired three so far but fully amature. TY and god bless!
OMGosh! Subscribing! I looked up your fake rocks today, and then when the lady asked if you had any more helpful videos, you posted the link. 428 videos! Superman! Plus, a lot of stuff I really need to fix! We've taken our cuckoo clock in for repairs so many times, it's cost us at least five times what we paid for it. Thank you! Maybe I can even figure out how to fix my antique chiming mantel clock. That would be amazing to hear again...though I'd have to set them to go off at different times, since they're in the same room now, and I don't want that cuckoo to overwhelm it.
Don't worry about setting them to the same time. They will surely almost never chime and strike at the same time.
nice work pops, I'll bet gloria's happy.
Thanks, junior, but Gloria hasn't seen it yet.
Thanks for new video. More to learn in this one.
I have learned so much in a short time. Such impressive work, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
1:47:00 What is the purpose of the white plastic tube to stop the fanfly? I note that the fanfly isn't even catching it after it is drawn down. I noticed same thing in my clock, and adjusted it down just until it stopped the fanfly same time that lever was fully pulled down. One video by VDS claims if that part is adjusted wrong, music will not start, but don't understand how that is.
The white plastic tube is actually the permanent stop for the music box. The tube is also a sound attenuator to deaden the sound of metal on metal. It is adjustable by sliding it on the metal peg extension of the brass lever on the music box. That lever is held to the music box by a collared screw in a slot on the lever, allowing the lever to move downward when the hole on the cylinder pulls the hook that rides on the end of the cylinder. When the hole catches the hook, it pulls the lever downward, moving the plastic tube in front of the fan, stopping the music box. The lever should not be "fully pulled down" or the hook will be so tightly held in the hole that it cannot be released at the next strike cycle and the music will fail to play. The plastic tube is moved upward away from the fan by the action of the lever on the cuckoo clock movement, but another lever (black) must move in front of the fan before the plastic tube releases the fan. It is a delicate adjustment to get just right by slightly moving the plastic tube and by bending the other parts of the lever (both from the cuckoo movement and on the music movement). If adjusted properly, the cuckoo movement will lift a lever in front of the fan just before the plastic tube moves up enough to release the fan. That also releases the hook from the hole in the end of the pin cylinder. When the cuckoo is finished, the lever from the cuckoo movement drops and releases the black lever holding the fan and the music plays. When the hole in the cylinder pulls down on the brass hook, the plastic tube also pulls down enough to stop the fan. Just make sure that the hole doesn't pull the brass lever too far or it will take too much force to release the hook from the hole on the next strike cycle and the music will not play.
@@dperry428 Thanks, I was thinking that white plastic stop was to mitigate tension from the pin in the hole of roller. I noted if white sleeve was pulled down too much, the last couple notes of song would not play. I set it to catch right after last note, and swear if I raised it a 32nd inch, it would no longer contact fanfly.
Hi Mr Perry how are you doing? How is your hip? Are the shots working? Anything scheduled for a replacement?
Hope you will be doing a video soon. It must be cold outside so I hope you can get back to your repair work.
Hope you have a vey happy New Year.
Happy New Year and thanks for the concern. I'm scheduled for February 16 for left hip replacement, though I will believe it when it actually happens. Just in time for my 78th birthday on February 17. I found a few old cuckoo clocks of the junker variety in my storage and am going to fix one up for a young lady who likes cuckoo clocks but needs one with a more contemporary look, so it will make the purists go nuts when I paint it black with silver trim. Getting started on it in the next few days.
Great, Hope the hip replacement goes well.
I will be watching for your next cuckoo video.
Hi; I have a farmers daughter cuckoo clock that keeps perfect time but does not cuckoo. Checked to make sure there were no obstructions . The spring on the cuckoo bird perch is doing its job. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks;
Bill
Check the position of the bellows. Are they both down, or is one stuck up? Are bellow lift levers interfering with each other? To check other possibilities, you'll have to remove the movement from the case and check the front-mounted levers for them sticking. Anything jamming the wheel teeth, such as a dead spider (not kidding)? Any badly worn pivot holes? Bent teeth on a wheel or a bent pivot? Too many possibilities without actually examining.
You made me laugh when you said, "i wished they kept the quality and charged more", lol.
Well they made them cheaper and still they charged more, customers lost twice !. but thanks an excellent video.
I sure could use your help on a cuckoo clock. I have several after being stationed in Europe many years. The one troubling me is an old traditional hunter theme clock; large, deer head on top, birds, rabbits, etc., no problem with the case. It is an 8 day clock with music. Cannot get the music part to trigger on. Your help please. Glad to pay you for your work.
Leave an email address in a comment. I'll contact you and delete the comment.
Thanks for the quick response Sir.some of the link have many choices.How do I get the right ones? Thank
Choose the sizes and size ranges that suit your needs. Sorry, I can't do all the shopping for you. I have no idea what you can afford or how extensive you want to make your tool and supply inventory.
look at the water wheel chain, there are a few links pulled apart, I could see jamming on the gears once in awhile
Look at the whole video before you comment. I replaced the chain with new chain. There aren't even any "gears" involved in the water wheel; it's a rubber wheel.
Cool video, I really liked how you made it play music on the half hour and hour instead I found it very interesting and never seen someone do that before.
Some only play on the hour. This one was designed to play on the hour and half-hour, hence two melodies. Also, if is playing only on the hour and the weight on the music box is going down half the distance of the other two weights, it's a clue that it's meant to play on the half-hour as well as the hour. Nothing tricky or unusual at all. Not all cuckoo clocks with music boxes play only on the hour.
Дякую вам за працю,ви є майстер
Thank you
Do you have a video that shows what to do if the weight is pulled all the way up on the left but it won't tick tock or stay running? I noticed on my cuckoo clock.the left weight is pulled completely up to the hole in the bottom of the wood and it does not seem to move down at all.
The hook on which the weight is hung has a circular piece that attaches to the chain and is quite thin and sharp enough that, if the chain is pulled forcefully, the circle can actually cut into the wood hole and be wedge enough to make the clock not work. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen. Otherwise, does the clock run at all, even for a few seconds? The clock might just be out-of-beat. OR, damage may have been done to gear teeth if the chain was pulled too forcefully. Without actually examining the clock, I can't give a definitive answer.
@@dperry428 it runs for a few seconds. It does need to be cleaned and oiled. The seller doesn't know if it's a 1 day clock or an 8 day clock. The weights say 1500 et on them.
@@dperry428 the round circle on the hook isn't touching the hole in the wood.
If the weights are 1500 grams, it's an 8-day clock, which means it is much more sensitive to wear. If there is any wear in the pivot holes, or if the clock is in need of cleaning and oiling, it will be less likely to run than a one-day clock.
Thanks a lot - Merci beaucoup
I have something i need your advice on and hopefully you will see this comment. I have a clock i am assembling that my brother took apart, and i did not see it being taken apart. It is an open mainspring 31 day korean time and strike movement with rack and snail. I have figured out where every gear except the 2nd wheels go. One is slightly larger, which side does the larger 2nd wheel go to, the time or strike train?
I don't know. Just try placing one or the other in one of the gear trains. One will mesh correctly and the other will not. The one that doesn't mesh with the main wheel and third wheel goes in the other train. It is a truism that they only go together one way.
@@dperry428 ok thanks
Just curious if you could use a 5 sided broach to ream the hole in the plate for the bushing. Seems that with the taper the reamer has, it would only start to cut on the unworn side, thus there would be no need to file the unworn side. What do you thnk of this idea?
It's not a new idea; in fact, many do use a broach to even out the wear by putting pressure with the broach to the unworn side with the broach only partially inserted. After determining that the unworn side is now cut out to the extent of wear, the broach is then used to cut the hole for the bushing. Simply using the broach without evening out the wear will likely cause an off-center hole.
I just stumbled onto your Channel. I am a watchmaker tinkerer. I think I picked the wrong one LOL your parts are much larger and easy to work with. But you are a Craftsman
Dealing with watch parts also gets more difficult as one gets older -- eyesight and hand shake.
Hi Mr Perry. Are you still going to do a hip replacement? I hope all goes well if you do. Hope you will be able to do a cuckoo repair soon. I know you use piano wire to make loops. Can you tell me the gauge of the wire you use? As that the same gauge you can make a pivot with?
I had a visit with the orthopedic surgeon, who said the only solution to the hip problem is replacement. It's definitely bone on bone. Problem is that, because these surgeries were declared by morons to be "non-essential" during the Covid lockdown, there is a major backup of surgeries. He can't schedule me for the replacement until "well after the first of the year". In the meantime, he prescribed an anti-inflammatory (Meloxicam) that has given me significant relief. Weather is changing quickly, I've put the pond to sleep for the winter and I'm ready to get back to fixing clocks. I have a number of sizes of wire coils I keep for repairs and try to match the original. As I recall, they are around .022 to .025 inch. Pivot wire is general too heavy to bend and also much more brittle.
@@dperry428 Sorry about the delay with your hip. Can't wait to watch your videos.I see Timesavers has wire.
Thank you for your informative videos, just one question I have some broken timber pieces on an old 8 day cuckoo clock I just purchased could you please give me some advice on what glue would be best to glue these pieces back together. Thank you so much. Tricia from Australia.
I use mainly yellow wood glue. The brand I use is Titebond. I like to put a little in a small container, like a plastic bottle top, and add a little water. Then, I apply that to both broken surfaces with a small artist paint brush in a thin layer. Try to keep the glue from oozing out by not using too much glue. Wipe off excess with a damp rag or paper towel. Clamp or hold the pieces together until set and don't disturb the glued pieces for a couple hours. The glue won't accept wood stain, so I use acrylic artist paints to mix a color that matches the finish on the case and paint the glue line with a fine artist brush.
@@dperry428 Thank you so much will give it a go.
fantastic work
Many thanks!
Hello Sir
Hope you're doing well and safe .Happy to write to you because you are my best guide and the horologist master.
It's for Regula 34 and its music box both are in good working order but the synchronizing way a little bit far on 30's they perform well but on the hours the music lever of the movement presses hard on the control of the music box and remains until the weight arrives at the floor. It returns up after 10 minutes when the bellows inter in action . I tried many music levels over the music bar but no success please could help me solve this problem and thanks.
Without actually seeing and watching the action, I really can't be of much help. There are too many different ways that the music box is controlled. All I can tell you is to study how it is supposed to work and then keep adjusting it until it works properly. You're finding why it is that many clock repair people just won't try to fix cuckoos with music boxes and animations. They can be a pain to deal with.
Love your videos, my cuckoo clock needs a repair wondering if you can help with it.
Not at the present time. Perhaps when winter comes.
Okay , thanks
Hello my colonel, where can i buy the gear or crown that make 90 degrees from the music box to the dancers platform?
timesavers.com/c-325606-clock-repair-replacement-parts-cuckoo-clock-parts-cuckoo-clock-dancing-platform-drive-gear.html or watch ebay for parts only clocks.
The video was great. Do you have a source for assembly drawings for cuckoo clocks, particularly a Regula 34?
Not sure what you mean by assembly drawings. Do you mean like this: www.ronellclock.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Regula-34-Cuckoo-Clock-Movement-Cannon-Pinion-CLOSEOUT-3-768x552.jpg
Perfect. Thank you.
Hi, where they sell the replacement of the music box
blackforestimports.com/category/Parts-Accessories/Cuckoo-Parts-Accessories/Music-Boxes-Related-Parts-Cuckoo/
Hello... What liquid do you use to clean the machine?
www.esslinger.com/zenith-watch-and-clock-cleaning-solution-concentrate-251na-1-gallon/
Where can I find broaches like yours? I'm having such a hard time figuring out what I need. I only want to work on cuckoo clocks for myself so I don't think I need many. A lot of the main suppliers have pretty poor websites and it's just hard to know what kinds/sizes I need. I am seeing a lot of the "stub" style. They don't look like they taper. I assume I want to avoid them? Some of the sets have plastic handles, I don't know if that comes recommended or not. If they do require a pin vise how can you figure out what size you need? Thanks for your videos!
Go to Timesavers and search for broach sets. Here's one that would include sizes for cuckoo clocks. timesavers.com/i-8944714-10-piece-cutting-broach-set-for-large-clocks-035-157.html "Stub" refers to sizes. I'm not familiar with that system. I go by the largest diameter they will cut. Since I use metric measurements for pivots, I have to convert the advertised inch size to millimeters to know what sizes I need. They all taper by a few tenths of a millimeter. Here's a set on Amazon. www.amazon.com/Galapagoz-Repair-Cutting-Broaches-Germany/dp/B084G96P1R/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=clock+cutting+broach&qid=1614825183&sr=8-8 Use a caliper to measure the sizes of the pivots you'll be working with and order sets or individual broaches that fit those sized holes.
What if any is the difference between the time side ratchet wheel and the cuckoo side wheel. Thanks
Depends on the movement but, in some cases, they turn in opposite directions, the wheel is in a different location on the arbor or, in the case of the time side, sometimes has another gear on the arbor that runs the motion works.
@@dperry428 thanks
Such a fantastic and educative video with intricate detail! Learned a lot from you sir. Working on an old count wheel movement here in Canada. Strangely without any pivot wear, but with anchor wear! Time side needs 1kg to function but strike works with 875 gms. i.e a difference of 125 gms with the time needing more! Have you experienced anything like this? Also where is your shop located and do you have a website or email address?
Having to use more weight to make it run is a sure sign of excessive friction. Did you replace/repair the anchor? A worn groove will make the sides of the escape wheel teeth drag. Also, recheck all pivots and holes. Some of these older movements had short pivots that did not extend through the plate and the wear is only on the inside of the pivot hole, so from the outside, it looks as if there is no wear. Also check for one or more bent pivots. I don't have a shop; just my basement workshop. This is simply a hobby for me that I've been doing since 1968. If you want further contact, you can leave an email address in a comment and I'll contact you. I hold comments for review and will simply delete the comment so it is not seen by others.
@@dperry428 I suspect the original weights were missing and a previous repairman had substituted two 1260 gm weights. When I initially cleaned and lubed the movement, I overlooked one pivot hole which had a bushing inserted during a previous repair. The anchor is still as is as that type of replacement anchor assembly is not available. However perhaps you might be able to share the best way to repair that anchor. The cuckoo would run excessively fast with the 1260 gms weights and bend the warning/lock pin on the warning wheel causing it to ultimately not stop cukooing. Bringing the cuckoo weight down to 875 gms stopped that problem. But I overlooked something else. I just found there was excessive play between the fly blade and the fly arbour and tightened it. Now I am sure I will have to use a 1 kg weight on the strike train as well as the fly will now offer proper air resistance. But I need to test it. If it works, I expect both trains should then run on 1 kg.
If it's a strip anchor, you can fashion one from strip metal, you can buy one like this and bend it to shape timesavers.com/i-8948707-fits-all-verge.html
My method would be to grind the worn surface flat, cut a piece of spring steel and silver solder it in place. Then file to the original contour. Use the old one as a pattern in either case.
Is the movement you're working with a one-day or eight-day? That style movement, if it's a stamped movement, should run on about 500 grams if it's a one-day. If it's a cast brass movement, a one-day takes somewhere around 800 to 1000 grams. The most weight I've seen on a cuckoo is 1750 grams and that's for a very large, three-weight, 8-day movement.
@@dperry428 The movement is a 2-weight cast brass cuckoo movement with no quail or music.
Those cast brass movements are one-day and take a heavier weight 750 to 800 g. Those movements also have relatively thick plates that twice as thick as more modern pressed plates. These are the movements that often have pivots that are so short they don't go all the way through the plate and wear the pivot hole only on the inside of the plate, leaving the hole on the outside of the plate looking to be unworn when, in fact, are badly worn. The pivot hole appears round from the outside of the plate and oval from the inside of the plate.
Outstanding!!!
Hello, Mr. Perry! I have a question for you. Right now I am waiting for a backordered Bergeon reamer/chamfering kit. I've been waiting for a few months now, and the KWM system is tempting me with its availability. I believe you use Bergeon reamers if I'm not wrong. Is it worth waiting for the Bergeon set or am I better off getting a KWM set so I can re-bush the clocks I have? I've read through a lot of NAWCC threads about the subject, and I still can't come to a conclusion. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated!
The reason I like the Bergeon sizes in reamers and bushings is that they come in 1/2 mm outside diameter instead of the many sizes of KWM. With the KWM, you'll have a significantly larger investment to make. Where did you order your reamers. There are many vendors that carry them. If someone is not providing them on a timely basis, cancel the order and get them somewhere else. You can even find them on eBay.
@@dperry428 I ordered them from Timesavers. I checked Ronell Clock Co and they were out of stock as well. I emailed Justin at Timesavers and he said the vendor might be having troubles sourcing them. I'll keep my eyes peeled on ebay for any. Thank you for your advice! Nobody on the nawcc threads mentioned the outer diameter as a positive; they actually used that as a pro on KWM's side, but your logic makes more sense to me. Less od's, less reamers! I appreciate your help!
You might also check with Butterworthclocks.com User name and password both butterworth. Mark Butterworth also has drills sized to bushings at, as I recall, $5 apiece. Also: www.ebay.com/itm/New-American-Made-Reamers-for-Bergeon-or-KWM-Machines-Hand-Tools-19-Choices/292716834075?hash=item4427486d1b:g:XakAAOSwnXpbkug7
@@dperry428 Thank you so much for your help! I wish you health until you can get your hip replacement done. Stay safe!
How many day clock do 1500 et weights go to?
8
Hice work friend!, do you recomend buy a News cockoo cloks or a used? I like have one
Personally, I'd buy a new one if it is a simple cuckoo with no dancers or music box. The newer Regula movement is just as good as an older one, with the exception of some manufacturing techniques that make repair more difficult. An older clock, however, will likely need repairs, which can be expensive.
I just got a new clock from adolf herr with this movement in it and there is a grinding noise just when the music and the dancers stop moving. Any thoughts on that?
It's the stop pin hitting the governor fan. I'd bet it used to have a piece of plastic tubing on it to silence the sound. You might try putting a bit of electrical tape on the brass pin that stops the fan. A piece of heat-shrink tubing might also work.
@@dperry428 Holy hat thank you! I was worried that there was something truly broken with it but this sounds very fixable.
I just left Triberg, Germany yesterday (where the cuckoo clock comes from). The standard for ones that play music is music only on the hour. The half hour typicality gets one cuckoo chirp. That clock was fully functioning as designed prior to your ‘repair’. You in fact did not repair it, but rather re-engineered it.
So, your position is that the clocks made today are made exactly as they were 25, 50 or 100 years ago? Nonsense! Today's "standards" are often not what was done yesterday. The way to tell if a music box should run on just the hour or on both the hour and half-hour is to look at the position of the weights at the end of an extended period of time. Say, for example, the music box is set to run on both the hour and half-hour and the weight runs way ahead of the weights for time and cuckoo, it is designed to play only on the hour. If, on the other hand, it is set to play only on the hour and the weight falls far behind the other two, it is designed to play on both hour and half-hour. Another clue is whether the music box has one or two tunes. A one-tune music box is usually made to play just on the hour. A two-tune box is designed to run on both hour and half-hour. You other line of reasoning is equally false. Just because you went to Triberg does not make you an expert in cuckoo clock design. I've been doing this for 56 years. Give me some credit for knowing what I am doing. By the way, where on YOUR channel do I find your videos of clock repair? For that matter, you've had a channel since 2011 and have NO videos whatever. You know what that makes you -- a viewer who makes no contributions to the UA-cam community other than to comment on other videos. Probably, as here, just negatively. That's called being a TROLL.
I have 3 clocks with music box. All play on the hour and half hour. Keep up the good work!
Where did you get your clock tools from?
Most of the tools used are common household tools like screwdrivers and pliers, available at hardware stores. Specialty tools, like spring winder, reamers and broaches are available from clock suppliers such as Timesavers timesavers.com/ Ronell www.ronellclock.com/ Black Forest Imports blackforestimports.com/ Merrits Antiques www.merritts.com/merritts/public/default.aspx or jewelry suppliers.
@@dperry428 thank you for sharing your knowlege.
I learned a lot from this video. Especially the music box, dancers and waterwheel. How did you clean the music drum? Will you be doing any more videos before your hip replacement in November?
I cleaned the drum with a toothbrush and the acrylic cleaner/polish I use on gears. Scrub, let polish dry and polish with clean brush. This one was a frustrating challenge. Combination of cheap, poor design and messes made by someone in the past. The owner got this from a thrift shop for $5, so there had to be a reason someone dumped it. I found all the reasons. I have a cuckoo movement and an electric clock movement to do. A lot depends on what I can do outside. If I can work, I''ll take advantage of the weather. I know I have to fix a leak that's developed in my pond. It has to be fixed before winter.
Thanks. I will watch for your cuckoo video.
So glad you did another cuckoo! What kind of magnifying lamp do you have? I would like to get one. What is the size of the lens?
I got it at Office Max. The lens is about 6 inches across and has a circular fluorescent lamp around it. Here is a link to a picture of it: www.officedepot.com/a/products/326381/Realspace-Space-Saver-Desktop-Magnifier-Lamp/ I sometimes have difficulty with it staying in place and have to tighten the "joints" on it to make it stay where I want it. I've had it a few years and it's served me well. Often use it to get real closeups by putting the lens in front of my video camera.
@@dperry428 Thanks
Hello, I found a box of cuckoo clocks that was going to be thrown out. The owners let me take them to try to fix them. I got a couple working, but I can’t keep the pendulum swinging. I was wondering if you would be able to help me out. Thank you
First, clean, then oil, then make sure the clock is "in beat", that is, it is level and the sound is even: tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock, not ticktock--ticktock--ticktock. Bend the pendulum leader or crutch until it ticks evenly. Do a simple cleaning with soap and water, scrub with a toothbrush, rinse thoroughly and dry with a hair dryer. Oil each pivot hole and nothing else. If it's cleaned, oiled and in beat and still doesn't run, there is likely enough wear to require bushing. I'll be happy to answer questions.
@@dperry428 thank you! I will try that and let you know how it goes.
Are you still working on clocks
Yes. I just haven't had time to edit the videos for them. I have 3 videos that need to be done and uploaded.
awesome !!
Thanks for your video, we have this exact clock for repair but the music box is broken - would you know where to source a music box from?
timesavers.com/i-8944886-22-tooth-2-tune-cuckoo-music-movement.html
I watched this video to see if I could learn to fix my cuckoo clock that is very similar to this one. What I have found is that I really want you to fix my clock! I am pretty handy, but I don't know if I have the skill or patience to take on a task such as this. Anyway I can find you?
I'm not taking on any repairs at the present time. I have enough from local people to keep me very busy. Maybe sometime after the first of the year. Just leave an email in a comment. I hold all comments for review and can then delete it without publication.
Hi my cuckoo clock is broken and I was wondering if you can help fix it but I don't know if you have a shop or not or where it is. It would be nice if you could help me.
No, I don't have a shop. I am a retired science teacher and have been fixing clocks for more than 50 years as a hobby. I do sometimes take clocks to fix by mail, but I only do that during the winter. I can't currently commit to any repairs at all because of continuing health concerns. After I get my hip replaced, probably in November, I may be able to take on more repairs.
I have a Hubert Herr that my grandmother left me. She meant the world to me and so does her clock. Unfortunately my teenage son knocked it off the wall last night. It needs someone with knowledge and love to put her back together again. Which has brought me to your channel. Thank you for posting these videos of your talent. I'm sorry to hear you're having some health issues. I will say a prayer for you sir and your health. Many blessing.
If you don't find someone to fix it for you, contact me again after Thanksgiving.
@@dperry428 Thank you so very much. 💛
@@dperry428 Mr. Perry I watched your video on fixing the 1 day Hubert Herr for Kayla. And I took my clock apart step by step. I also examined it and put it all back together following you. ( loved seeing your granddaughter in there too. So precious!) Thank you so much. Because of your video, I now have a working clock. All I have left to do is find some wood glue and glue some details back on. I couldn't be happier! Thanks again!
Do you have any suggestions on how to align the gong? I think my striker is hitting directly on the gong. Making an awful "bong" sound with no reverberation.
Hi, how can I message you for repair of my cuckoo clock?
You can leave an email address in a comment.
I thought 8-day musical cuckoo clocks weren't supposed to play music on the half hour. Is this some really rare exception?
Nothing rare about it to my knowledge. That's why there are two tunes; to differentiate between hour and half-hour. There are some modern clocks that do as you suggest, but not in this case. The clue is that the weights should all fall, over the week, the same distance. When the music weight fell only half of what the others fell, it was because it was only playing half of what it should. When the adjustment was made in the trip wire, the music played on both half and full hour. The weight then fell, over the week, the same distance as the other two weights.
I have seen nearly all your videos and enjoyed your work, thank you! I do have a question about the cuckoo, did I miss what the little guy on the bottom right does? Isn’t he supposed to ring a bell or something, and when? Maybe I fell asleep during that part? Thanks from Texas.
@@lesliebooth2833 The bell-ringer's arm has a wire that is attached to one of the cuckoo bellows, so the arm moves when the bellows goes up and down during the strike. You only notice it when the cuckoo is striking a large number of hours. In reality the movement is very small, anyway. There is no real bell to ring and I think the action is frivolous.
Are you self-taught? How did you come to learn all you know about both cement/concrete and clock repair? Did you grow up at the knee of a handy and knowledgeable dad? It’s heartbreaking that this kind of knowledge is almost unheard of in our present day, and most certainly the pride of doing a job well and right. I’m sure there are some young folks who do take pride and have a propensity for learning all they can about their profession but I just don’t see it, not like it used to be. Guess nothing’s like it used to be. Or maybe I’m just grumpy. Or both.
@@lesliebooth2833 Yes, for the most part, you might say I'm "self-taught", but that's really not accurate. I rely heavily on the knowledge developed by others and not so much on what I develop myself. I learned about clock repair by watching and listening to, initially, my father-in-law as he repaired clock mechanisms for a collector-neighbor, then by becoming a member of the NAWCC, reading it's publications and through practice. What you see now in my videos is the result of over 50 years of reading, learning, application and practice. With concrete, it was the same thing. When I retired in 2004, I knew little about concrete. I bought a video series on decorative concrete, read a multitude of PhD theses from engineering schools, tried recipes, applied what I had read to experimenting with new recipes and, over the course of 16 years, continued reading and applying what I had learned from the works of others. Reading, listening, watching, learning, application and practicing are the keys to development of most any skill. As to the rest of your comment, I agree that things are not like they used to be. I was a science teacher for over 30 years and watched the changes that took place in parent/student attitudes toward learning. There are still many hard-working young people, but far too many who spend too much time mindlessly affixed to their "smart" phones or engaged in too many video games. Without getting too political, I'm glad I'm old and won't be around to see the result of what is to come as a result. Perhaps I'm just grumpy, too.
The German and Swiss craftsman are disappearing. Brand new four figure clock, music box won't start. Clockwork is releasing the pin on roller and it comes out of warning fine after bird call, no impediments there. The music box drive itself just wont start without a considerable pull to get it started, the mechanism is very noisy. I find the older clocks much nicer built.
Just like most other industries, the search to increase profits leads to the use of inferior materials and engineers that look to cut production costs. Same old story -- greedy people. End result -- crappy products. One of the classic examples of this was the German clock movement manufacturers in the 1970's decided to save tooling costs by using soft steel arbors and then chrome plating the pivots. Result was that when the chrome plating failed, the resulting hard powder created a grinding paste that destroyed the pivot holes. Then, with no plating on the pivots, rebushing the holes was futile; the soft pivots would wear quickly. Final result was that thousands of people paid for expensive mantel, wall and tall case clocks that were essentially garbage. Repair costs to replace pivots were more than the movement was worth. The manufacturers finally went back to using hard steel for the pivots. Did create a big market, though, for replacement movements.
i love your videos
Is your hip replacement still scheduled for the 16TH? Hope all goes well. Happy Birthday on the 17TH.
Get well soon. We love your videos!
Still on schedule. I've had my pre-op blood tests and have a meeting with the surgeon on Feb 11. Thanks for the birthday greeting.
Love your work . can you please replace my chains on my cuckoo clock?
You really can do that yourself. Do you mean by replace, do you mean with new chains or just to get them back on the chain wheels? Either way, I can walk you through it.
@@dperry428 Hi Sir Hope you are fine safe and healthy.
after assembling my regula34 -86 it has a good running condition on the testing holder , but on the other side the bird support being moving fwd doesn't go back and remain fix there until i put my finger on the release lever arm or turn the fly one turn or press on the star wheel a little to activate striking to retract back completly .
at this time the strike seconde wheel cam pointing to the fallen lever
the striking third wheel pin is in the top 12 oclock movement
on the other side the pin is in the middle of the gathering pallet
what could be unadjusted to perform as proper the system please; thanks for your patience and waiting for your advise.
The arbor that contains the gathering pallet also has two black tabs that control the door opening. Check to make sure they are not interfering . If you adjust their position, you'll also have to adjust the gathering pallet position and the warning pin position.
@@dperry428 Hi Sir
thank you so much its exactly what you expect the two black tabs was on upright position and the down end was sitting on a black pin so i took off the upper left nut and i remove the flay to adjust that wheel it was easy trial and the movement is running now thanks again . so proud of knowing you.
@@eliekheirallah5565 Glad you got it working.
THAT, is one bitchin' cuckoo clock repair! 🐣
Thanks for sharing.
However, this gives me little hope for the proper cleaning/repair of my cheapie little one-day cuckoo clock.
Why? One-day cuckoos are a piece of cake actually.
@@dperry428
Thanks for giving me hope.
If for nothing else, this teaches me to stay away from the newer clocks!
They definitely are inferior quality to that produced years ago.
yes good day my clock only one of the weights works the cuckoo weight don't move only the clock weight the cuckoo weight is lock what could that be
Could be any one of a dozen different causes. Could be as simple as needing cleaned and oiled or could be as bad as a damaged gear. Without inspection, there is no way for me to know.
When I was setting up my cukoo clock my dad pulled the Chan the
clock
Chan can't come down and I can't
Wind
Either the chain came off the wheel or, if he pulled on the weight side, the click was bent and jammed the wheel. You'll have to try putting the chain back on track. If the click is bent, it will need repaired or replaced.