how do i unwind a kern german carriage clock?

Please Please listern to what Wirecutterman says regarding releasing spring, on mine is a little arm with a spring on it I turned the key slightley and pushed the little arm with the spring upwards i felt a little movement on the tension of the spring, i did this three times and wham the key which has large butterfly wings went berserk and spun at the speed of light and you have got it my fingers were in range it hit my thumb and the whole of the thumb nail is now black and its still hurting ( I did it Twenty Minuts ago) these guys no what they are talking about mine is not a westminster just a small domed west german Kerts.

Mike Burke, East London
October 2009

WARNING THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE POWER IN THE COILED UP SPRING broken fingers are possible westminster springs are the worst (two people needed) one holding the clock very firmly other person puts the key on the spindle some where around the key area you will see a ratchet you now need a flat bladed screwdriver
HOLD THE KEY VERY VERY TIGHT AT THIS POINT
turn the key slightly clockwise at the same time as the tension comes off the ratchet insert the screwdriver into the gap YOU HAVE NOW GOT THE TENSION IN YOUR HAND RELEASE TENSION ABOUT QUARTER TURN REMOVE SCREWDRIVER AND ALLOW RATCHET TO PICK UP .This needs to done 3 or 4 times eventually the resistance will decrease as spring unwinds

wirecutterman
August 2008