Cuckoo, Farmers Daughter Repair Question. Gear slips.

[Fred714]

My first post. I am attempting my first clock repair. I bought a farmers daughter cuckoo at a garage sale. I purchased the missing parts I needed and this is the first problem I ran into.

When I attach the weight to the chain that controlls the bellows the weight just drops. The chain seems to be on the gear, the gear moves a little then it seems like the chain just slides.

I am sure this is a very basic question to most. Help is greatly appreciated.

I can see how clock repair can be addictive. Lot's of pieces gears and wires and lots of grime to clean off this old clock.

[Willie X]

Bad chain wheel. Old ones can often be repaired, newer ones can be replaced.

Willie X

[bangster]

Yep, best to replace it. Go to Timesavers, search on "cuckoo wheels".

Good luck, mate. And welcome to the MB,

[Kevin W.]

If you are new to clock repair this cuckoo may drive you cuckoo, they are not the easiest to repair or to learn clock repairs on, i wish you good luck.

[Fred714]

Thanks all. I will order up a new gear. It will take a couple of weeks to get to it but I'll reoport back with the results. Or more likely more questions on the next issue.

[harold bain]

Fred, we really need a picture of the movement to be sure what you order will fit. Is it a Regula movement? Never seen a farmers daughter cuckoo, so a picture would be welcome.

[Fred714]

Hi Harold,
It has a Regula movement. I have photos of the movement and clock I took off the net as reference material so I would know how to attach the movement to the bellows etc. So, these aren't photos of my clock but one of the same type and movement. The wires on mine were detached or missing, the bellows tops were detached, the weights and pendulum were missing. I found a couple of weights at another yard sale and ordered the rest of the missing material thru Frankenmuth Clock Co. At the time I ordered I didn't know there was an issue with the gear. The gear that is slipping is associated witht the center set of chains and is located behind the black star wheel. Hope this helps. I'll dig out the camera when I complete the repair.

[harold bain]

Fred, Timesavers part # 10663 should work then. But you will have to strip down the movement to replace it. Interesting theme for a cuckoo.

[Patch]

Just remember to take a photo of the lever, and wheel that make the "little dude", climb the ladder. I got mine, dis-assembled. It was a nerve wracking, trial by fire, to make it work reliably. Nice Find!

[shutterbug]

I'm curious about one thing. when you pull the other side of the chain does the weight go up? I'm just wondering if someone put the weight hook on the wrong end of the chain
You'd be money and time ahead just replacing the movement in that one. $55.00 will buy the whole movement

[Fred714]

Shutterbug:
When I pull the chain from the other side it does go up but it just kinda slides up in the same way it slides down. The time chain makes a nice clicking sound when pulled. Not the case with this chain. Good to know I can just buy a new movment if I I can't get it working but I'll keep trying. I think half the fun of this project will be learing something new and the satisfaction of fixing what is broken. Of course I am still optimistic at this point!

Patch, thanks for the tip. I'll take pics of everything before I pull things apart. Im not sure what makes the guy climb the ladder, it looks like that movemet is tied into the music box somehow?

Another question. Are there such things as assembly instructions for the movement? When changing the gear does it come apart and go back together in a logical way or will I be dealing with a spring loaded assembly that explodes when the first screw comes out?

[harold bain]

There are no springs to worry about on this movement. Best to take lots of pictures to help put it back together. I don't know of any assembly instructions, but a couple of good clock repair for beginners books, Phillip Balcomb's The Clock Repair Primer and The Clock Repair First Reader are recommended to assist you. The second book has a good chapter on cuckoo clock repairing.

[bangster]

It has a couple of small "helper" springs. Notice how they go so you can reattach them later. You might also want to check out The Cuckoo Music Box.

[Heritage-Clocks]

These are thought after cuckoo clocks. The animated series came out during the 70d's and I sold allot of them. There is about 5 or 6 different styles. I like the Woodman's and the Weaving Woman ones. This is a great find, you'll have fun fixing it.

H/C