How do you remove the main shaft from cuckoo plate?

[mckpaul]

Hey folks, took the movement apart for my cuckoo (One day BADUFA by Cuckoo Clock Mfg. Co.)
Took pictures, made notes, even got the gathering pallet off noting the relationship beteen the pin on the bean shaped plate on the front and the thick pin on the gear inside. The only thing left is removing the main shaft out of the plate. It has the small gear with the boat propeller looking two prong gear on the front of the plate, and a larger gear with a coil spring arond the shaft on what would be the 'inside of the movement' end of the shaft. This larger gear inside (by the spring)spins on the shaft, it's kind of tight or snug on the shaft, but will turn. After the coil spring is what looks like a brass coller on the shaft near the end.

Don't want to force it off or break anything. I'm sure one of these gears has to come off the shaft to get it out of the plate.

I'm going to start cleaning the parts now and will check back shortly in hopes that SOMEONE is out there today on this lazy Sunday looking at the board.

Thanks

[mckpaul]

Hey folks, took the movement apart for my cuckoo (One day BADUFA by Cuckoo Clock Mfg. Co.)
Took pictures, made notes, even got the gathering pallet off noting the relationship beteen the pin on the bean shaped plate on the front and the thick pin on the gear inside. The only thing left is removing the main shaft out of the plate. It has the small gear with the boat propeller looking two prong gear on the front of the plate, and a larger gear with a coil spring arond the shaft on what would be the 'inside of the movement' end of the shaft. This larger gear inside (by the spring)spins on the shaft, it's kind of tight or snug on the shaft, but will turn. After the coil spring is what looks like a brass coller on the shaft near the end.

Don't want to force it off or break anything. I'm sure one of these gears has to come off the shaft to get it out of the plate.

I'm going to start cleaning the parts now and will check back shortly in hopes that SOMEONE is out there today on this lazy Sunday looking at the board.

Thanks

[LaBounty]

Hey Paul-

It generally isn't necessary, or recommended, to remove the center shaft. The only time you'd want to consider removing the center shaft is if there is a considerable amount of wear in the front bearing. Then, you'd have to either drive off the strike release cam on the outside or the brass collar on the inside. And the center shaft is so soft there's really no easy way of doing it without causing damage which will have to be repaired.

Others may have a better suggestion, but I'd say leave it attached.

[Richard T.]

Hello David!

I had a PM from Paul and had just sent the following reply. You are the one I was referring to when I said wait and see what someone else has to say.

Hello Paul,

Would you believe that I was just reading your post about your cuckoo clock!

The part that you are talking about is called "motion work". This the wheels and pinions used to make the hour hand go once around the dial while the minute hand goes twelve times. The cannon pinion is loose on the center arbor and behind it is a spring, called the center spring, or "friction", which is a disc that is squared on the arbor at its center and presses at three points on its outer edge against the side of the cannon pinion; or it may be two or three coils of brass spring wire. This center spring thus produces friction enough on the cannon to drive it and the hour hand, while permitting the hands to be turned backward or forward without interfering with the train.

As far as I know this "gear with the propeller looking blades" is friction fitted to the center arbor. It doesn't really have to be removed and most times I leave it as it is. In order to remove it properly you need a "cannon Pinion" puller, Timesavers No. 20878, $105.00. I do not have one and there are probably other safe ways to remove the cam.

I would just leave it like it is and go ahead and clean the movement. Also, let's see what others (more expert than I) have to say about this subject.

Regards,

Richard T.

[mckpaul]

Hello Richard and David,

Thanks for the replies. Realizing the minute hand is what goes on the end of this shaft turned the light on in my head that this shaft only makes one revolution per hour, not like it's a high speed rotation or anything. At the moment, with it being the only thing hanging off the plate, it wobbles some, but it's not 'loose' in the hole. If you grab the strike release cam gear and try to move the shaft straight up and down or left and right in the hole (or front bushing or bearing if there's one in there) feeling for play, it's almost not detectable, so Ill just leave it in place and, clean it the best I can. Is this a point I should lubricate? Should I put a drop of clock oil on the shaft near the hole and turn the shaft working the oil into the hole (or bushing or bearing)?

One other question, while I have your attention, what about the chain pulleys/ratched mechanisms? I realize these have nothing to do with the running of the movement, and only get moved when the chains are pulled for winding. They seem to be well put together little assemblies too. Should I put a drop of clock oil in these too after cleaning?

Other than that, I think I'll be able to do this.

Thanks again!

[LaBounty]

Hello back at you Richard!

If you had posted your reply before mine, there would have been no reason for me to post :smile:. Thanks for not keeping it private since you've given very good, expert information.

And Paul...

Yes, the front pivot of the center shaft should get oil. If you are going to leave it assembled to the plate, you need to be sure you've gotten all of the old oil and dirt out of the bearing before you oil it though. Sometimes it is necessary to repeatedly wick fresh oil in there to soften and aid in cleaning out the old, dry oil.

And yes, you should apply a bit of oil on the main wheels where the ratchet rotates about the shaft. If you don't, or you forget, the ratchet will eventually make an ugly, schruntching, grinding noise when the weights are pulled up...kind of like fingernails on a chalk board.

Good luck with it!