Trapezoid Cuckoo Clock Bellow-Tops

Regula Cuckoo Movement Identification

Most cuckoo clocks made after 1950 have movements that are made by the Regula cuckoo clock movement company. Any cuckoo clock made after this time has an 80 percent chance of being a Regula.

Most of the time there will be identification markings that will reveal if it is a Regula cuckoo clock movement. But to be certain use these methods for identification.

Regula Cuckoo Conversions

Here are some common measurements conversions for the pendulum length. The pendulum on a Regula cuckoo is from the top of the movement to the center of the leaf. The movement will be stamped with this number usually. It will have a stamp with a CM length usually on the left side of the back plate.

• 19.5cm = 7 3/4 Drop
• 23.5cm = 9 1/4 Drop
• 28.5cm = 10 1/2 Drop
• 40cm = 15 3/4 Drop

Two train or three train movements

If the clock has two weights that run the movement, identifying it as a Regula is simple. When we say two weights, it means on the movement only.

There may be three weights on the clock, but only two weights are on the movement itself. In other words, there are three train movements that take three weights. A three train movement would have three weights on the movement itself.

However, we are talking about two weights on the movement regardless if the clock has three weights on it. One could be for the music box. This is separate from the movement itself. If the movement alone takes two weights, we call this a two train movement.

This means the movement has two sides of gears from big to little inside the plates. One for the cuckoo and one for the time. If the clock movement itself takes three weights, this of course is a three train movement.

Two train, two weight Regula Identification

See if the cuckoo movement says 25 or 34 on it. This would be above the wheel with the spikes that make the bellows go up and down. Above this wheel and to the right a little, there will be numbers that are in a stamp right in the brass.

It may have more numbers or letters after the 25 or 34 but don't pay attention to anything but the a href="/product/regula-25-cuckoo-movement">25 or 34 for now. The 25 means it is a one day clock that takes two weights. A 34 means it is an eight day clock movement that runs on two weights.

Both of these are the most common cuckoo clock movements made in the world. The 25 or 34 identification stamp alone means it was made by the Regula factory in Germany.

The two styles of the two weight movements

The two train, two weight movements come in two styles. One with a dancer platform and one without the dancer platform. Keep in mind just because there are dancers on the cuckoo clock, it does not mean there is an attachment. This is an important distinction when ordering a new cuckoo clock movement.

The two weight cuckoo movements with the dancer platform comes with the platform already on it. The platform is available in a few heights. This measurement, or height, needs to be known if purchasing a new movement. The dancer platform height is the distance from the top of the movement to the platform base itself.

The clock may say 25 on it for one day and 34 for an eight day. However, with these same identification marks they have either the platform or no platform. Therefore, these same numbers may be on the movement regardless if there are dancers or not.

To sum Up

• Figure out if it is a 2 or 3 train movement
• Determine if there is a a dancer platform and if so, is it already on the movement itself.
• On the brass back plate look for identification markings of a 25 or 34
• Order the dancer or non dancer Regula in the 25 for a one day or a 34 for an eight day movement

Ordering The Cuckoo Movement

Offering post WW2 German made cuckoo clock movements, prior to this would be an antique. Antique cuckoo clocks made during and before the second war have movements that are no longer made. The only thing to do is get an overhaul on the movement by a clock maker.

Email us for more specific information on these types of movements. As for the post 1950 clocks, the Regula company of Germany made way more cuckoo clock movements than anyone else in history. If the cuckoo clock is post 1950, the movement is most likely a Regula. Moreover, a replacement will be available for purchase.

So the movements for sale, and the information that is sent, is for Regula cuckoo clock movements. If working with an antique cuckoo movement, please email Clockworks to see if there is something we can do for it.

In addition, pictures of the movement are always helpful when emailing. It is always helpful to see what the movement looks like. That way we can be sure what the situation is and reply with the best solution. Clockworks email address is [email protected]

Cuckoo movement number stamp

On the back plate of the cuckoo clock movement there will be some numbers that are in a stamp that is in the brass. It will certainly not be on any paperwork that came with the clock.

It has to be off of the actual brass plate. Regula puts their mark above and slightly to the right of the wheel that lifts the bellow wires.

The bellows are the things that make the cuckoo sound. It will have a stamp of 25L, 34XL, 72 and so forth with the Regula 25 being the most common movement made. The Regula 25 accounts for about 75% of the post war cuckoo clock movements in the world.

It is the most popular two weight movement. It also runs for one day per wind up. Subsequently, the Regula 34 is the second most popular movement. That one runs for 8 days on a single wind.

How many weights

Regula 25 indicates a two weight movement. This two weight movement will last one day on a full wind. You can install a two weight movement on a clock with three weights on it. When looking in the back sometimes there are three weights on the clock.

However, if you notice only two weights will go to the movement itself. The other third weight drives the music or a dancer platform up on the top. But even if there are three weights on the clock, it would usually take only a two weight movement. So when purchasing a new movement, be sure to pay attention to how many weights are going to the movement.

Dancing People Platform

It may or may not have dancers on a spinning platform on top of the movement. We need to figure out if the dancer platform is separate or part of the clock movement. If the platform is already part of the movement, it will come out with the movement. It will be one whole unit.

The movement and the platform, once taken out, will be a complete unit. If this is the case, the replacement will also need to have the dancer platform already on it. If it does not come out as one unit, then it will be clear that the movement and platform are separate entities. So this is an important step in knowing which movement to get.

The dancers are only a friction fit onto the platform. The exception to this is if someone made the decision to glue them on over the years. This is a possibility, especially if they were prone to pop off from wear. If they do not have glue on them then removal is easy. Just twist and pull up to take them off. By twisting and pulling up, the dancers should come right out.

If they break, we do sell the common dancing people. However, if they have a special design on them that is not something we carry. These types of dancers would be more difficult to find. So be extra careful when removing these types of dancers. To get a new movement with the dancer platform, you will need to know the dancer height. This measurement is from the top of the movement to the top of the platform where the dancer feet are.

Measuring the pendulum drop

The measurement from the suspension post down to the center of the pendulum leaf is known as a drop. The pendulum drop is the measurement from the top of the clock movement to the center of the pendulum leaf. This measurement is very approximate and it does not have to be exact.

Please do not worry about get a precise measurement on this. An approximation is okay. The pendulum leaf can slide up or down but we want the measurement to the center where it keeps approximate time. So before you measure, make sure the leaf is set.

The leaf goes up and down to adjust the time. To speed up time slide the leaf up on the pendulum stick. Slide the leaf down to slow down the time. It is as easy as that.

Ordering The Cuckoo Movement

In review, the information you need to obtain a new cuckoo clock movement. First, you need the movement numbers off of the backplate of the movement itself. Second, determine how many weights are on the movement. Finally, determine if there is a dancer table and know what the height is.

After that, combine all of this information and match it up to the information on the web page. As a result, you will be able to find your correct cuckoo clock movement replacement.

If there is an issue getting any of these pieces of information please do not hesitate to email us. Of course, we will be happy to help you! It is better to ask questions beforehand than to have to purchase an item that will not work for the clock.

The point of no return

It does require a lot of patience and a bit of skill. It is not uncommon for a customer to order a cuckoo clock movement and insist the movement is not working. Often enough, this is not the case. The problem usually lies with the customer not understanding how to manipulate the movement or not ordering the correct movement.

This is why we try to explain the procedure as thoroughly as possible. We also highly encourage individuals to email us with questions before ordering. If need be, email pictures of the movement prior to purchasing a new one. That way, we will have a visual on what you are working with and can proceed accordingly.

Unfortunately, we cannot take cuckoo clock movement back because we customize them to fit the customer's clock. The movement cannot be resold once this customization is done. Thus, we cannot refund the cost of the movement and shipping costs.

This is the reason we no longer take returns on these movements. A cuckoo clock movement installation is done at your own risk. The factory will test these units and are brand new. They are in perfect working condition and will work well for you as long as the installation is done correctly. Please do not feel you are alone in this adventure.

We are here to help you along the way. Please feel free to email us if you encounter problems during the installation. We will do our best to help you along and make the installation as painless as possible.

Why a new cuckoo movement

A new cuckoo clock movement will be a fraction of the price of an overhaul on the old one. This is due to the time it takes to separate the plates, work on the movement, and then put it all back together again. This process is very time consuming.

Then, if the movement fails the testing process, it all has to come apart again and redone. Why service an old cuckoo clock movement when a brand new movement would cost less? Even the best clockmaker can't make a cuckoo movement better than a brand new one.

How the cuckoo movements come

A new cuckoo clock movement comes from the factory with lubrication and has testing has been done. The movement is still being made so the cost is less and availability is high. How long will the new one last? Well think about the length of time the old one ran perfectly. Was it 20 or 30 years? Well it would make sense the new one would last that much longer. Many people appreciate this when handing down the clock as an heirloom.

The new movement comes with

The movement comes with the chains, the hooks and rings for the chains and the hand hardware.

Replace instead of repair

Repairs are very time consuming and therefore costly. In addition to this, you need to ship the entire clock and the case usually incurs extensive damage. Most of the time this is irreparable.

This is the reason we no longer accept cuckoo clocks for repair. Moreover, a cuckoo clock movement repair will not last as long as a new movement would. So it simply makes more sense to go for a new movement instead of a repair.

To replace or not to replace

It's best to look in the back of the clock and see what needs to be done. This way we can determine if it's something to swap out. If it all goes south we can bail it out for a fee if chosen to send it in.

Cuckoo clocks can be difficult to work on, however we are here to help. Please email us with questions. We will do our best to talk through any issues encountered. Our email address is [email protected]

Conclusion

A new movement will cost less, last longer, and have the clock back up and running quickly. If the cuckoo has multiple functions, it will be challenging. Items such as music, water wheels or people dancing make it harder to work on.

To make this project even more challenging, these do not come with instructions. There are just too many cuckoo variations available. It is impossible to cover all the variations of cuckoo clocks on the market.

Cuckoo Clock Movement Installation

There is a lot going on in a tight area with cuckoo clocks. Above all, it takes some patience to get these right. The thing with cuckoo clocks is the more stuff going on, the harder it is to swap the cuckoo clock movement. Things like dancers, wood chopper, bell ringers, water wheels and the sort can complicate things.

Cuckoo Clock Movement Installation

• Take off the hands. Unhook the bird from the door and remove the hooks and rings from the chains. Then flip the clock over.
• Take off the back. Remove the bellow wires off of their lifters. Open the loop that lifts the bellow wires up and down. Use a small flat screwdriver to do so. Twist the screwdriver inside the loop to open it up.
• Next, take out the bellows. There is a screw on the outside of the case on the side panel. Unscrew this screw. The bellows will now come out. Subsequently, the movement can come out by removing the four screws that hold it in.
• As a result of getting a new cuckoo clock movement, you will need to adjust the arm. This arm the bird sits on has to be bent and cut to size. Loosen the set screw on the bird and put it on the new unit.
• Installation is then the reverse to remove the movement.

Bending the bird arm into position

The cuckoo movements have a bird arm that needs adjusting. This is the bar or wire that the bird sits on and secures with a set screw. It comes way too long and you must shorten it and then bend it.

After cutting it to size, it must be bent into a 90 degree angle. To clarify, this bend must be done right the first time or it is difficult to correct. The correct way to do adjust this bird arm wire is as follows:

• First, measure the complete bird arm wire on the old unit. Include the right angle section in the measurement.
• Second, cut the bird wire on the new unit to the same size.

Matching the bird arm with the old movement

Take note of the old unit if the arm is forward or backwards. The arm needs to be forward on the old and new movements. This is to avoid an improper 90 degree bend. A proper bend will be when both movements are set the same with the bird arm. They are set so the bird is coming out in the forward position to the front of the movement.

Both units are set the same way so the bird is forward, then make the bend nice and straight. As a result, it would be hard to correct as one 90 degree will not be forward when the other one is. Put the clock in strike mode to make the arm go forward. In other words, cuckoo mode, when the bird is forward toward the front.

Measure where the bend is on the old movement and then go ahead and bend the new units bird arm to a right angle. At the same location as the old one (where the arm is even with the front of the movement, not back)

Repair Parts

The most common Cuckoo Clock Repair Parts sold are the bellow tops and the hands.

The bellow tubes are usually good to reuse on the clock, just the bellow tops have cloth that rip over time and therefore the clock will not cuckoo the time out.

Repairing cuckoo bellows

If the cloth is torn, you do not need to replace the entire cuckoo bellows. You can use only the bellow tops instead.

If replacing just the bellow tops it makes things easier to get the correct size for the clock.

To get the proper bellow tops measure the length and width of the top only. Snap off the old tops off of the bellow tubes and clean the surface with a knife, then epoxy the new tops on the same way. Then transfer the cuckoo lift rings from the old tops to the new ones and its done.

Cuckoo Clock Repair

• Fix Common Issues
• Find a New Movement
• Cuckoo Clock Parts
• Cuckoo Repair Kit

The help section can help with many of the most common issues the clock may have. We also have the cuckoo clock movements for post 1950 German made units. This is about 80 percent of the cuckoos out in the world so chances are we have the movement you need.

If the movement is worn out and is post 1950 its just as well to get the new one instead of restoring the old one.

The process of the movement restoration is time consuming and therefore expensive.

When the new movement is 100-200 dollars and will last a lot longer than the best restoration.

Disconnecting the bellows

The lift wires travel from the movement up to the flaps of the old bellow tops.

Furthermore, these wires are taken off in order to remove the cuckoo bellows.

Usually this is done by opening the loop on the lower end of the lift wire. This is where it connects to the movement's lift arm.

Use a small flat head screwdriver to twist open the loop on the wire.

Removing the cuckoo bellows

Usually, one flat head screw holds the bellow tops in the clock. The screw goes into the bellow tube. This would be on the side of the cuckoo clock case.

Subsequently, each side has a bellow tube and therefore each side has a screw. This is providing the bellows do not have adhesive on them.

Once the screw is out of the tube, pry it off with a small screwdriver. Generally speaking, use the screwdriver because there is still one small nail holding it in place.

It is most certainly small enough so it simply pops off. As always, be careful not to damage the clock case when doing these things.

Installing the cuckoo wires

The first step is to install the eye loop wire into the new bellow tops. In essence, in the same manner as the old ones.

Second, drill a small pilot hole into the Cuckoo Clock Bellow Tops. Shove the eye loop into the hole with needle nose pliers.

Next work on the bird tail lift wire. Mount the bird tail lift wire the exact same way.

It is best to get the cuckoo clock wire assortment with the tops. This way, there will be extra wires in case one breaks or twists.

Removing old cuckoo bellow tops

The old cuckoo bellow tops will just snap off the tubes. The top of the tube will have some old glue stuck which has to be carefully taken off with a knife.

Just carefully scrape it off until it is smooth. This way it has a nice, flat surface for the new tops. You will new epoxy as well for the installation of the new tops.

Clear 5 minute epoxy mixes A with B and is great for this project. The regular epoxy is also fine. Any epoxy that dries fast will do the job. After all, it doesn't have to be anything fancy.

After scraping the tops smooth, the epoxy will adhere well. If old epoxy is leftover, the bumps will make the new tops not stick as well.

Installing new cuckoo bellow tops

Once the epoxy is on the tops, either place them upside down to dry or clamp them. Clamping them is the best, however if you do not have them then turning them upside down is the next option.

Most importantly, the bellows have to be able to open without resistance.

This means there needs to be a gap between the flap that closes of the bellow top and the front of the tube. If this small gap is not there, the bellow will jam on the side of the clock case upon opening.

The top needs to be in the exact position as the old one was. As a result, it will be able to blow air into the hole that is in the top of the tube. This is so it will not rub anything.