To set the time, turn the minute hand backward (counter-clockwise) until the clock shows the correct time. Do not move the smaller (hour hand). After the first hour, the cuckoo should call the proper time. If you move the minute hand clockwise, you must wait each time for it to finish its call and music before you continue.
After setting the clock's hands, make sure the cuckoo shut off switch is to the ON position. (figure 7)
To wind the clock, pull the chain without the weight hanging on it (the end with the brass ring) directly towards the floor. Do not help the weight up by touching it or lifting it.
To regulate the time: If the clock is running fast, gently slide the pendulum leaf or disc downwards. LOWER IS SLOWER. If the clock is running slowly, gently slide the pendulum leaf or disc upwards.
How to Set Your Quartz Cuckoo Clock
To properly set up your new quartz cuckoo clock, there are a few things to take note of: The proper set-up procedure is already in your printed instructions, but please also reference this article to troubleshoot.
The point of the setup procedure is FIRST correctly to align the chiming computer mechanism with the clock hands, and SECOND to set the correct time on your clock hands. To do this, you'll need to find out what time your bird thinks it is. Once you have the batteries installed, move the more extended minute hand only (don't touch the shorter hour hand) clockwise until the hour is reached. Please make sure you have the cuckoo switched on before taking this step.
Once the hour is reached, count the number of times the cuckoo calls. Keep in mind, that each cuckoo call is followed by an echo - in other words: you should only count the first LOUDER "cuckoo" of each set. The softer echo call is not meant to be counted.
If you did not hear any cuckoo call, you are probably in the nighttime or PM setting. Keep going around with the minute hand until the cuckoo will call again. You need to get back on to the AM setting so that you can hear the bird.
Once you have counted the number of calls, compare it to what the hands say. If, for example, the clock cuckooed nine times and the hands show 7:00 you'll need to push the setting button twice to realign the movement with the hands. If your clock is calling 11 times, and your hands show 6:00, then press the button once (7:00) twice (8:00) three times (9:00) four times (10:00) and finally five times to reset the computer to synchronize the chime with the hands. In other words, you'll have to tell the computer to catch up to the hands.
If your clock calls six times, and your hands show 5:00, you'll need to push the button 11 times.
An alternative method of aligning the computer with the hands would be to move the hour (shorter) hand independently to match the number of calls counted. This is the same procedure used on mechanical clocks.
Remember, you can only make this synchronization when the clock is in the daytime hours. If, at any time during this phase of the setup, your clock does not make any cuckoo calls DON'T PANIC. You are probably in the PM time range and will have to advance the minute hand a few hours so that the clock will cuckoo again.
Once your computer and hands are synced up, you can set the time as usual. Move the minute hand around until the correct time is reached. NOTE: You don't have to wait at each hour for the music to finish. Once the bird and hands are synchronized, they will remember where the hands are pointing.
You will probably have to realign using this simple procedure every time you change the batteries.