MORE AND MORE TENSION

I belong to a Vintage Sewing Machine Facebook Group.  I am conflicted about my membership.  That is another story.  I was lurking there a few days ago.  One of the members was having tension trouble with a Generic HA-1 Class 15 machine.  She posted one of my photos on the post. (http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2013/04/singer-201-2-tension-assembly.html)  That's ok with me.  I have almost all of my photos stamped in one way or another so I know it's mine.   The tension parts in the photo were from a 201 and not from a 15.  The parts are a bit different.  There is no thread guard on the 15 but there is one for the 201.  The check springs are different as well.

So here are some photos of the parts as they come apart from thumb nut to stud.  I did not take out the stud or the check spring.  I was not in the mood to take the whole thing apart.  I should, though, and replace the check spring.

Push the numbered dial in and release the thumb nut. Screw the nut off completely and the numbered dial slips off.

to reveal the stop washer.  Note the position of the stop washer.

I was surprised to see another stop washer.

To remove the whole assembly with the stud and the check spring attached, you loosen the set screw.  The other larger screw is used to move  the whole assembly within its housing, thus adjusting the check spring. 

I believe that second stop washer is the Tension Release Pin cross piece that releases the discs when the presser foot is lifted.  

That's it.  Not all HA-1s are alike .  I have a Brother that is different from this one.  I believe the Genuine Singer is different as well.  

The problem with this little project is that now I remember how much I like this cute little green machine.  I may have to put it in the treadle stand.  Sigh.

Class 15 Clone, contd

When I was working on Herald (The class 15 Clone) last week the knob would not release.  I thought that perhaps the stop motion washer was in backwards, so I changed it around.  Nope, that wasn't the problem.  So then I turned it 180 degrees.  Still no better.  So then I concluded that the shaft was gummed up.  Today I found out that that was not the case, either.  I took the handwheel off, again, and examined the shaft, it looked fine.  Then I examined the bushing.  It looked soiled so I cleaned and oiled it,  as I did the washer.  Still not much better.  So then I sanded the bushing with very fine emery cloth again and again and again.   Each time it felt a bit better until I finally declared it done when the handwheel spun smoothly when not constrained by the washer or the motor.  Every time I would put the belt on the handwheel and the motor and tried it by hand , the needle would go up and down when the clutch was released.     I gave up,  plugged the sucker in and, voila it worked.  Who knows what was going on.  As Ray White would say "Magic"

When I tested the machine last week it would  suddenly slow right down when I had it up to full power.  It does not do that now.  I think this machine will be a keeper.  I really like the cabinet, which, for the holidays, is in the upstairs bathroom.  I like the stitch and I have a feeling it will sail through many layers of quilted fabric.  If I ever get back to machine quilting, I will need a good strong machine like that.

My sewing loft does not look like this now, at all.  I wish it did.  I am itching to get back to quilting.  I have been having fun this year with the find, fetch and fix.  But the whole idea is to sew, right?  The problem, as Betsy points out, is that when I sew, I miss wrenching on the machines.  When I work on machines, I miss sewing.  It could be worse.  I could be bored.

Class 15 clone (contd)

About a year ago I trekked over to Schoharie to get this machine.  I bought it because I love the cabinet.  Today I replaced the check spring in the tension assembly.  Despite my recent education and subsequent certification, I am such a NOVICE.  I did not take photos first.  I put the spring in upside down.  Then I forgot to put in the tension release pin .  I now have lots of experience in this task.  The following photos are not the best, but you get the idea.  I finally got it right after the fourth time.  It worked after the third time I put it together but the tension release pin fell out when I took the face plate off.  I had put the pin in backwards so it had no chance of staying put.  I can't quit my day job, yet.

If you can tell in this fuzzy photo, the pin has a head on it.  That needs to be placed so that the head is inside the tension assembly.  You can put it in from behind but it won't stay.

tension release pin and tension assembly

Someone obviously has been mucking around with this set screw.  Honestly, I am not responsible for the condition of that screw. Not with my wonderful Brownell hollow ground bits.

to remove the tension assembly from the face plate, loosen this set screw.

In order to dis-assemble this you have to push in on the numbered dial to release the pin in the knob.
Once you have released the pin you can remove the knob totally (lefty loosie).

Take the pieces off one by one and lay them out in the order that you removed them  I did  not do that when I took these photos.  I was on the fourth attempt to get it right.....

The pin goes into the center of the tension assembly with the head inside of the assembly

To remove the check spring you must loosen this set screw.  The center pin comes out and the check spring is freed up.  Then you merely replace it with a new one.  Be sure that you have some spring and that the base of the spring is positioned at the top of the cut out.  Then tighten the set screw to hold the spring in place. ( I guess the check spring has been replaced before, more evidence of screw damage)

Next place the tension discs on the post.  I had to "hone" these discs; they were a bit rusty.  I used some fine emery cloth to shine them up.  Then I put just a drop of Tri-Flow on them.

This is a lousy photo, sorry.  Here you can see (maybe)that this next piece, a washer with "studs" is positioned so that the "studs" point out.

That is so that the spring housing can sit securely against them.

The spring goes next:

And then the stop washer.  I thought the projection on the stop washer should face outward. WRONG.  It faces inward.

Place the numbered piece next with the zero just on top of the projection on the stop washer.  You can see a small "stop" inside the numbered piece; line that up with the stop washer projection.

Now you have to pinch all of this together, just as you did to loosen the knob, to replace the knob.  Once the knob is threaded you can fine tune the positioning of it and then put the whole assembly back into the face plate and adjust the tension.

The machine makes a fairly nice stitch.  I need to do some more maintenance.  The brushes look pretty good but one would not come out at all.  So I guess I had better gear up to take the motor apart.  I think, though, that I will tuck this machine back in its cabinet and work on the 201 motor.  For more on re-wiring those types of motors go to http://vssmb.blogspot.com/

Class 15 Clone

Macy's Own Herald

I bought this machine about a year ago for 15 bucks.  That does not include the fuel spent driving to fetch it.  I love the cabinet.  The machine looks pretty strong but the check spring is broken and I just hadn't gotten around to fixing it.  Today I had to rearrange some furniture (i.e. machines ) to make room for the Christmas tree and the gang we expect for the holidays.  Steven suggested that I move some machines out.  Out where, I wondered?  The shop is chock full as is the sewing loft.  I got creative and moved some things around.  I did take this machine to the shop.  I plan to pop a new check spring in it and see how it sews.  I think it might be a good one.  The cabinet is under the serger.   I will have to put that somewhere eventually, maybe the bathroom.

I have not bought or acquired a sewing machine in more than a month.  (I don't think sergers count as sewing machines)  I wonder if  that might mean I am in recovery?  I sold one machine two weeks ago and have given another away.  A friend plans to come out after Christmas and get one for her daughter in law.  I don't have the panic that I used to feel when I would think about letting go of a machine.  Actually I am looking forward to off loading some of these.  Mostly I am excited that they will get used.