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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Singer 403 tension assembly

I have read on some of the sewing machine repair forums that taking the tension assembly apart is rarely necessary.  I then read on Jenny's Sew Classic blog that she always takes the tension assembly apart. I like that.  For me it is fun and challenging to dis-assemble the tension assembly, clean it all up, polish the discs  and re-assemble it.



All clean and shiny and tightened way down. 

If you want a very good, one picture description of how to re-assemble this, go to the files in http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vintagesingers/  and look under 401 tension assembly.  Very nicely done.  I did not take the stud and the tension release pin out when I cleaned these parts.  Probably I should have.....

Do you wonder what the blue tape is all about?  At first I did not realize that the face plate simply lifted off. 
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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 31, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    I have a 403A, that the wheel keeps coming loose when it hits a seam or something a little thicker. What causes this and how can I fix it?

    ReplyDelete
  2. ElizabethDecember 31, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    I don't know what causes this. Perhaps the stop motion washer is in backwards. More help for you at vintgesingers yahoo group, I'll bet. Good luck

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa AJune 8, 2012 at 8:43 AM

    Hi,
    My new-to-me 403a tension dial with numbers just spins. The nut does not have any pin to fit in the holes on the dial. Is there a pin on the nut on your machine, to hold the numbered dial in place? I wonder if mine has a broken or wrong part.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ElizabethJune 10, 2012 at 6:51 PM

      Hi Lisa
      Your part is NOT broken. The 403 tension has a set screw in the nut which holds the chrome collar in place. Later today I will post a blog post about it. Hope this helps

      Delete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2013 at 11:02 AM

    Hey! I am looking for the tension assembly photos in the yahoo group and cannot find them. Do you know where to find them again, exactly? Thanks for your time! Great blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ElizabethSeptember 17, 2013 at 9:45 PM

      http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/vintagesingers/files/401%20403%20404%20500%20503%20Information

      Go to Vintage Singers Yahoo Group. Click on "More" Click on Files. Scroll through the files to "401,403, 404 ets information" It is in there as a PDF from wghmch

      Delete