I really wanted to finish re-wiring the light for the 15-91. Last night I realized that I could install an inline switch and be able to turn the light on and off. All I needed to do was make sure the light works.
It does.
I looked over the whole machine and oiled it next. No Gears on this machine except in the hand wheel and the motor. Elegant mechanics.
I attended to the needle bar, presser bar, take up lever, feed dogs, shuttle and race. It was a full morning. By 9:30 I had to quit. Betsy was coming over and I needed to tidy up. The machine is ready to be re-assembled. I just have to install the inline switch (Betsy bought one for me on her errands) put the motor back on and go for it. The foot controller is rewired courtesy of a brand new cord with controller leads. Easy Peasy.
Saturday mornings, Betsy likes to go to yard sales. At 11:00 she called me.
"What do you know about a 513? Is that the machine someone was looking for?"
"I know nothing about them. I think she was looking for a 518. But what do I know? How much?"
"Twenty bucks, but it has the case and I think that this one might have all metal insides."
"The case might be worth that. Just get it."
By noon, the dogs and I had had enough of tidying up and organizing. I was having lunch when Betsy arrived at 1300.
She carted in four machines: two 301s, the 513 and a Domestic she took in to service.
I took on the 513 while she worked on the Domestic.
"I think the bobbin case is broken.(referring to the 513) I told her I didn't want it for more than five bucks because of that."
"Good Job." Right just what we need another machine to fix. And who was it who said "Let's concentrate on the good machines. The ones we know sell." ????
Anyway, after determining that indeed the bobbin case was broken, I discovered that the slide plate spring is also broken.
Right. But we will also have to replace the bobbin case. The gears are cheap (6 bucks from our supplier). I haven't looked up the bobbin case. Still, how fun would it be to replace GEARS? We haven't done that yet. Oh we would feel like big time if we did.
When you place gears in the bobbin area, then the machine has to be timed, which is different than just timing the needle bar. I think this machine might have been the very first sewing machine I ever had. My husband and I bought it brand new from a Singer store in 1975. I used it for sewing a few blouses, and for mending work clothes. One day it started skipping stitches, and wouldn't zigzag anymore. I had it looked at, and discovered it had a broken gear in the top part. I panicked, bought a new VERY LOUD and noisy Singer, and gave this machine to my sister. She had a Singer repairman put in a new gear. I like the older machines with ALL METAL GEARS!
ReplyDeleteA few months ago, when my husband and I were working at a volunteer sewing machine repair day for the Sewing Machine Project, we couldn't get a White machine (the model with the handle on top--gold colored, cabinet model, out of the cabinet--maybe a 774?) to pick up the bobbin thread. Ended up the bottom bobbin gear had teeth missing, just like your machine here. We found an all metal replacement online for $26. I put it in, and couldn't get it to work any better, because it was out of time. My brother had bought a book on timing machines, and he got it sewing again. Good luck. It is not easy, but I know YOU CAN DO IT. You always amaze me!