How to Install Cuckoo Clock Hands

Installing cuckoo clock hands

Installing the cuckoo clock hands bought from clockworks.com starts with removing the old hands.

Removing the old cuckoo hands

To remove the cuckoo hands you will only need a pair of needle nose pliers.

While holding the minute hand still (longer of the two hands) loosen the minute hand nut with the pliers. Turn the hand nut in a counter clockwise direction while holding the hand still will loosen it up. Now you can turn it with your fingers and it will come right off.

The cuckoo minute hand bushing

With the minute hand off it will expose a round bushing that has a square hole in it. This bushing may or may not come off with the minute hand. In fact it maybe stuck in the hand itself.

If the bushing is stuck in the hand just remove it by prying up and off with a flat screwdriver. The hour hand is next and is only a friction fit. Twist it and pull at the same time and it will come off.

Install the hour hand

The hour hand is first. Simply twist and push at the same time as it is only a friction fit. The tube it goes on tapers although it may not be noticeable. So the more you twist the hour hand and push down at the same time, the tighter it will be on the clock. Do not worry about having it point to the right time yet, we will do that later.

Now put the minute hand on (the longer of the two hands). Put this on the bushing and the ridges will somewhat lock it into place in the hole of the hand. Next is the hand nut which goes onto the hand shaft where the threads are on the tip.

This will sandwich the minute hand between the bushing and its nut. Now it’s time to set the hands to point to the correct time when the clock cuckoo’s.

Install the minute hand

Next put the brass bushing with the square hole in it, on the clocks hand shaft arbor’s square portion. The flat side of the hand bushing will go toward the clock dial. The side with the ridge on it will point outward.

Setting the cuckoo strike

After the install of the cuckoo clock minute hand we need them to point to the right place. Putting the hands in a position to point to the right place when it cuckoos the hour. Put the clock up on the wall and turn the minute hand to make the clock cuckoo out the top of the hour.

Count the number of cuckoo’s the clock sounds out and point the hour hand to that number. For example, if there were 6 cuckoos point the hour hand to the six. Loosen the minute hand some so you can turn it to the 12 to represent the top of the hour.

Tighten the minute hand nut while holding it still at the 12. Now just check the next hour and see if it will point to the correct spot when it cuckoos again.