Mechanical cuckoo installation instructions

1. Unpacking and installing the cuckoo

• On the back of the cuckoo, turn the small metal latch so that the panel can be opened.

• Use a pen or pencil as a lever to remove the panel. With the clock open, be careful not to touch the movement mechanism!

• Remove the paper across the metal spiral.

• Inside the cuckoo, remove the 2 metal clips which block the bellows. • Check in passing that the hook used to hold the balance stick protrudes from the lower slot.

• You can now close the back panel, and reposition the latch on the panel.

• If the cuckoo has a pediment, secure it with the two clips at the top of the clock. There is only one possible direction: thread first on the right, then on the left.

• The cuckoo is ready to hang on the wall, about two meters above the ground. Secure a nail or a screw that you will not plant horizontally, but in a little upward direction so that the cuckoo clock does not lean forward once you have set the weights. It is not recommended to use a hook, because depending on the type and length of the hook the cuckoo will tend to go forward!

• On the front of the cuckoo, turn the lock that closes the bird's door.

• Now undo the chains wrapped under the cuckoo (removing the plastic bag and the steel wire) and let them hang down. • Hang the balance on the ring protruding slightly from the lower slot of the cuckoo, behind the chains. • Hang a weight on each chain hook provided for this purpose.

2. Setting the cuckoo clock

Simply turn the minute hand (the large one) counterclockwise, without being too abrupt, until the cuckoo is on time. Never turn the hour hand (the small one).

Your cuckoo clock is ready to operate: to start it, push the balance slightly to the right or to the left. The ticking should be regular. For a good result, make sure that the cuckoo is leaning upright against the wall. (See below for setting the time, if the clock starts to lag or go too fast)

To raise the cuckoo: simply pull the chains gently down. In the case of an 8 day cuckoo clock, be sure to support the weights.
Never pull on the weights to avoid damaging the pulleys.

The installation of the cuckoo in video

Adjust the time precisely

The speed of the clock is punctuated by the balance: - If the cuckoo hour advance, slide the pendulum pattern slightly towards the bottom. - If the hour delays, make him slide towards the top. (+/- 2mm = 10 minutes per day, sometimes it takes one to two weeks to precisely adjust his cuckoo)

Important notice if you move your cuckoo

If you are moving your cuckoo, before unhooking it from the wall, raise the weights to the top, then remove the weights. To prevent the chains from coming out of their gears: pass a wire or a string at the top through the chains so that they cannot move! You can then wrap the strings around the cuckoo clock.
Also close the bird door by rotating the hook.

Official instructions

For more tuning and troubleshooting information, see article: Support and troubleshooting of a mechanical cuckoo clock

Official instructions are available here: Download official instructions of mechanical cuckoo