Switcheroo, again. Hiho Silver.

 Please note:  This post contains erroneous information.  I have decided against removing the post because I am basically narcissistic and think that I have something to offer by keeping this up and explaining in a future post what the real problem is. If you skip this post and go to the next one, the story won't be complete without reading this one.  Suit yourself.


I finished re-wiring the motor leads to the 201-2 from 1940.  I installed the motor and fired it up.  What a racket.  The machine stitches  very nicely none the less.  The machine would zip along and then screech/groan, slow down and then pick up again.  I wondered if I had missed a spot with the oil and the grease.

I removed the handwheel and just ran the motor.  Same thing and this time I could see the worm slow right down.  I knew it was a motor problem and I was pretty sure what the problem was.

Look at the photo.  Look in the red circle.  There you see two wires that are unlike any of the other wires coming out of the windings and connecting to the commutator.  I have never seen any armature like this.  Every other one has those fuzzy thick wires winding out from the coil and onto the commutator.  I wondered about this when I took the motor apart.  The inside of the motor was a terrible mess with lots of debris and carbon.  The brush springs actually had grease in them and the grease looked oily.  I wonder if someone oiled this motor?  I am certain that these wires are supposed to be fuzzy like all of the others. 

So I just happened to have a parts 15-91.  I pulled the motor, took out the brushes, took off the worm and pulled out the armature.  Sure enough, that armature had all of its fuzzy connections.  I cleaned it up and switched it out for the other one. Which means that I had to take the motor off of the machine, remove the cover, take out the brushes (brand new ones), remove the grease wicks, loosen the set screws on the worm and pull the armature out.  In replacing one of the grease wicks I broke the tab on the grease wick clip.  I honestly think it was fragile from the start.  I wonder if I can JB weld it?  It only has to hold a spring.  It does not have to be INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH.  That will wait for another day.  But I had to have a functional clip.  Back to the parts motor, more cleaning of old grease and voila, a functional motor.  It sounds so much better.  Nice and smooth.  Though, for some reason, not as fast.  Who cares?

I did re-wire the foot controller as well.  I did not solder the little wire rings.  I am tired.  The machine is as tired as I am.    The decals are worn, there are many chips on the front of the bed, there are scratches and the clear coat is gone.  But the machine works and it sews very nicely.  It doesn't have to be pretty.  I am in love. 

UPDATE:  This was NOT the problem. Go to the next post.