Operating and setup instructions for mechanical cuckoo clocks
April 9, 2024
Blog
With each cuckoo clock, you will receive a detailed guide for
installation and maintenance. The cuckoo clocks have been carefully
packaged and secured in various ways to ensure they arrive undamaged
in all parts of the world. Some of the transport protections need to
be removed before you can set up your new cuckoo clock.
In general, most cuckoo clocks with a mechanical movement are set up in the same way. There are slight differences between cuckoo clocks with music and without music, as well as regarding the position of the night shut-off and the style of the cuckoo clock (Chalet cuckoo clock or carved cuckoo clock). There are also small differences between different manufacturers.
As a basis, we have taken the instructions from the Anton Schneider cuckoo clocks.
A. Now that you have received your new cuckoo clock, open the box and inspect your beautiful new timepiece from the Black Forest.
B. Depending on the type of cuckoo clock you have chosen (Chalet-style cuckoo clock; or carved style/hunter-style cuckoo clock), your cuckoo clock will require a slightly different setup.
C. The cuckoo clock box contains the clock, and all other carvings/attachments such as antlers and deer. These, as well as pendulums and weights - wrapped separately with paper or secured with cardboard - are in a separate place in the box, or even in an extra box, to avoid transport damage. Clocks with music have 3 weights and clocks without music have 2 weights. Please check the shipping box if it seems that the weights of your cuckoo clock are missing.
D. Carefully remove the cuckoo clock from the box by holding the clock frame. Do not pull on the figures or other decorative accessories.
Now that you have unpacked your cuckoo clock, there are some things to do to get your clock running.
1. Open the flaps on the back.
2. Remove the back of the cuckoo clock.
3. Now pull out the wire clips securing the two bellows.
Do not bend any of the wire connections. This could damage the movement.
4. Remove the paper strip under the strike gong of the cuckoo clock.
5. Check if the pendulum extension protrudes through the slot in the cuckoo clock case.
6. Replace the back and close the latches.
Congratulations, you have completed most of the necessary steps to get your cuckoo clock running!
7. If you have purchased a carved cuckoo clock/hunter-style cuckoo clock or with other additional attachments, then attach the deer head/carved attachment to the front of the roof of the carved cuckoo clock.
8. You have probably already chosen a place for your new cuckoo clock. Please note that a cuckoo clock should hang 1.8 to 2.0 meters above the ground due to the chains. This height is necessary to give the chains the maximum length so that your clock can run for a day or a week without winding. If you want to hang your clock lower for certain reasons, it is also possible - the clock just needs to be wound a bit more frequently.
9. Use a strong screw with a wider head and a dowel and secure it with a small bracket on the wall. Position the screw head far enough from the wall to securely attach the cuckoo clock. Make sure the clock hangs 100% level, straight, and flush against the wall so that the pendulum does not touch the case. The cuckoo clock must be vertical. There are certain places in the house that are not suitable for cuckoo clocks. More information on this can be found in the last paragraph.
10. Turn the locking tab on the cuckoo door to the side so it can open freely. The clock is now securely hanging on the wall. Please make sure that the cuckoo clock is not turned upside down during the next steps after removing the chain lock.
11. Unwind the chain holding wire at the bottom of the cuckoo clock and let the chains fall to the floor. Remove any knots in the chains and pull the holding wire out directly under the clock.
12. Hang the pendulum on the wire loop and hang the weights on the weight hooks.
13. Start the clock by pulling the pendulum to one side and then releasing it to swing. Align the clock on the wall to achieve a consistent tick-tock. To do this, gently move the case from side to side (i.e., horizontally) until the ticking has a consistent sound and beat.
Very important: After removing the chain holding wire, do not turn the cuckoo clock on its side or upside down!
Now onto the final steps.
14. The clock is set to 12 noon. To set the correct time, slowly move the minute hand (long hand) forward until the hour and minute hands show the correct time. Never turn the hour hand!
If you have turned the hand over the full hour, all sounds (cuckoo call and music) must have fully completed before adjusting the hand further.
15. If the clock runs fast or slow, this can be corrected by moving the pendulum bob up to make the cuckoo clock run faster, or down to make it run slower. Some cuckoo clocks have an adjustment screw instead, which can move the pendulum disc up and down. The pendulum movement has the following effect: + or - 2 mm = + or - 10 minutes per day.
16. Now you can fully wind your clock. If you have a 1-day clock, slowly pull down each chain to raise the weight. When winding an 8-day clock, support the weight with your hand while lifting it. Always pull on the chains, never on the weights of your cuckoo clock. Pulling on the weights can cause serious damage to the pulleys.
If you have purchased a cuckoo clock with manual or automatic night shut-off for strike, cuckoo call, and music, you will find the control lever on the left side of the cuckoo clock or below the clock case.
Cuckoo clocks with manual night shut-off have 2 options. Position I is off, and Position III is on.
For cuckoo clocks with automatic night shut-off, there are 3 options. Position I is permanently on, Position 2 is the automatic night shut-off from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, and Position 3 is permanently off.
We wish you a wonderful time with your new Original Black Forest cuckoo clock for many years. Cuckoo clocks do not require much regular maintenance. The modern movements are sophisticated, easy to care for, and durable. To clean the clock, please use a soft, dry brush. Please have the movement checked and oiled at regular intervals by a watchmaker near you to achieve the longest possible lifespan. To avoid shortening the lifespan of your cuckoo clock, please use the clock only at normal room temperatures. Temperatures below 5°C (40°F), high humidity, a lot of dust, or moisture can damage the cuckoo clock. Also, do not hang the cuckoo clock above a heater or fireplace, as the very dry and warm air can cause the wooden parts to warp and the oil in the clock movement bearings to run "dry." Please note that some 8-day clocks may run inaccurately when placed near drafts (windows, etc.).
In general, most cuckoo clocks with a mechanical movement are set up in the same way. There are slight differences between cuckoo clocks with music and without music, as well as regarding the position of the night shut-off and the style of the cuckoo clock (Chalet cuckoo clock or carved cuckoo clock). There are also small differences between different manufacturers.
As a basis, we have taken the instructions from the Anton Schneider cuckoo clocks.
A. Now that you have received your new cuckoo clock, open the box and inspect your beautiful new timepiece from the Black Forest.
B. Depending on the type of cuckoo clock you have chosen (Chalet-style cuckoo clock; or carved style/hunter-style cuckoo clock), your cuckoo clock will require a slightly different setup.
C. The cuckoo clock box contains the clock, and all other carvings/attachments such as antlers and deer. These, as well as pendulums and weights - wrapped separately with paper or secured with cardboard - are in a separate place in the box, or even in an extra box, to avoid transport damage. Clocks with music have 3 weights and clocks without music have 2 weights. Please check the shipping box if it seems that the weights of your cuckoo clock are missing.
D. Carefully remove the cuckoo clock from the box by holding the clock frame. Do not pull on the figures or other decorative accessories.
Now that you have unpacked your cuckoo clock, there are some things to do to get your clock running.
1. Open the flaps on the back.
2. Remove the back of the cuckoo clock.
3. Now pull out the wire clips securing the two bellows.
Do not bend any of the wire connections. This could damage the movement.
4. Remove the paper strip under the strike gong of the cuckoo clock.
5. Check if the pendulum extension protrudes through the slot in the cuckoo clock case.
6. Replace the back and close the latches.
Congratulations, you have completed most of the necessary steps to get your cuckoo clock running!
7. If you have purchased a carved cuckoo clock/hunter-style cuckoo clock or with other additional attachments, then attach the deer head/carved attachment to the front of the roof of the carved cuckoo clock.
8. You have probably already chosen a place for your new cuckoo clock. Please note that a cuckoo clock should hang 1.8 to 2.0 meters above the ground due to the chains. This height is necessary to give the chains the maximum length so that your clock can run for a day or a week without winding. If you want to hang your clock lower for certain reasons, it is also possible - the clock just needs to be wound a bit more frequently.
9. Use a strong screw with a wider head and a dowel and secure it with a small bracket on the wall. Position the screw head far enough from the wall to securely attach the cuckoo clock. Make sure the clock hangs 100% level, straight, and flush against the wall so that the pendulum does not touch the case. The cuckoo clock must be vertical. There are certain places in the house that are not suitable for cuckoo clocks. More information on this can be found in the last paragraph.
10. Turn the locking tab on the cuckoo door to the side so it can open freely. The clock is now securely hanging on the wall. Please make sure that the cuckoo clock is not turned upside down during the next steps after removing the chain lock.
11. Unwind the chain holding wire at the bottom of the cuckoo clock and let the chains fall to the floor. Remove any knots in the chains and pull the holding wire out directly under the clock.
12. Hang the pendulum on the wire loop and hang the weights on the weight hooks.
13. Start the clock by pulling the pendulum to one side and then releasing it to swing. Align the clock on the wall to achieve a consistent tick-tock. To do this, gently move the case from side to side (i.e., horizontally) until the ticking has a consistent sound and beat.
Very important: After removing the chain holding wire, do not turn the cuckoo clock on its side or upside down!
Now onto the final steps.
14. The clock is set to 12 noon. To set the correct time, slowly move the minute hand (long hand) forward until the hour and minute hands show the correct time. Never turn the hour hand!
If you have turned the hand over the full hour, all sounds (cuckoo call and music) must have fully completed before adjusting the hand further.
15. If the clock runs fast or slow, this can be corrected by moving the pendulum bob up to make the cuckoo clock run faster, or down to make it run slower. Some cuckoo clocks have an adjustment screw instead, which can move the pendulum disc up and down. The pendulum movement has the following effect: + or - 2 mm = + or - 10 minutes per day.
16. Now you can fully wind your clock. If you have a 1-day clock, slowly pull down each chain to raise the weight. When winding an 8-day clock, support the weight with your hand while lifting it. Always pull on the chains, never on the weights of your cuckoo clock. Pulling on the weights can cause serious damage to the pulleys.
If you have purchased a cuckoo clock with manual or automatic night shut-off for strike, cuckoo call, and music, you will find the control lever on the left side of the cuckoo clock or below the clock case.
Cuckoo clocks with manual night shut-off have 2 options. Position I is off, and Position III is on.
For cuckoo clocks with automatic night shut-off, there are 3 options. Position I is permanently on, Position 2 is the automatic night shut-off from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, and Position 3 is permanently off.
We wish you a wonderful time with your new Original Black Forest cuckoo clock for many years. Cuckoo clocks do not require much regular maintenance. The modern movements are sophisticated, easy to care for, and durable. To clean the clock, please use a soft, dry brush. Please have the movement checked and oiled at regular intervals by a watchmaker near you to achieve the longest possible lifespan. To avoid shortening the lifespan of your cuckoo clock, please use the clock only at normal room temperatures. Temperatures below 5°C (40°F), high humidity, a lot of dust, or moisture can damage the cuckoo clock. Also, do not hang the cuckoo clock above a heater or fireplace, as the very dry and warm air can cause the wooden parts to warp and the oil in the clock movement bearings to run "dry." Please note that some 8-day clocks may run inaccurately when placed near drafts (windows, etc.).
