My Nolting whines at just the right pitch to hurt my ears. I tried slowing the speed but then my stitches are too long. I tried increasing the speed but then the machine gets away from me. I wondered if it was a belt noise, and thinking I might be able to adjust the belt, I took the machine apart at the back.
The first thing to do is remove the set screws on the handwheel. There are two and they are set at a right angle to each other. Trust me, there is a screw in there. It is not necessary to remove the screw completely, though I did. That handwheel was STUCK on the shaft and I wasn't sure if the screws had been released completely. Once I had them in my hand I knew that they weren't binding the handwheel. Something else was.
I managed to wiggle the handwheel a bit but it wouldn't come off easily. Every time I would turn it, the shft would turn, DUH. So I got the bright idea to stabilize the front handwheel with a clamp.
I managed to work the handwheel off of the shaft after much twisting and a generous application of Triflow.
You can see where the set screw was positioned by the mark it left on the shaft.
I then removed the hex screws from the back cover
and exposed the belt.
It wasn't too tight and there was no way that I could see to loosen it easily. I moved the belt off of that pulley and that loosened it but it made no difference with the noise so I put it back where I found it.
I don't know why it whines, but I will have to live with it. There is noting wrong with the machine and I certainly can much in some ear plugs. Maybe as time goes on I will get more skilled and can run the machine faster and the noise will change and be less bothersome.
I did happen to hear the same noise on one of Ann Olsen's videos. So I guess it's the nature of the beast.
I think you just HAD TO go into that big machine! Seriously, I hope the noise becomes less bothersome.
ReplyDeleteOnly you would take apart a new machine. And photograph the evidence.
ReplyDeleteHow would you make sure the frame is square? It is level, but I am still having not good results keeping the machine going where I want it to go. Could the frame be out of square? Seems like on the left side more than the right. I am just not improving and it is laborious moving this thing around.
What are you quilting now?
Does the machine drift when there is no quilt on the frame? Mine does a little, especially in the middle. I have used a four foot level to check for level both lengthwise and front to back.
DeleteNothing on the frame right now.
Ear protectors. Or ear plugs. Whatever works and is comfortable. They saved my hearing when I had a job in a noisy factory. (Seriously, after the first day I was deafer than my elderly parents. After a solid week of earplug use (Flent's Ear Stopples, wax, they shape to fit your ear), with noticeable daily improvement, I could hear normally again.)
ReplyDeleteToo late for me. By about 40 years. I think it might have been the Pink Floyd concert that did in my hearing. Or the chain saw.
DeleteWhat about the pups? (I have finally decided that my dog hates the vacuum because it hurts his ears. Using a nearly silent vintage Filter Queen still brought on attacks on the nozzle, and he started rubbing his ears on the carpet like he was in pain. Useless conclusion!)
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem to bother the pups. Of course Frannie is deaf and I think Wilson is almost deaf. Wrigley barks so loud, his hearing is indestructable.
DeleteYou may already have done this, but I wonder if you phoned Nolting and let Dan listen to the whine.
ReplyDeleteSent a video.
DeleteWhat did Dan say? Mine doesn't whine. Mine has an oil cap on top, I keep it filled. It hold about 1/8 cup of oil. There is another oil cup under the motor, it's white. I keep that one pretty full too. Mine is 20 years old this year so yours may be different. But there should be no whining regardless. They run pretty quiet unless your in SR mode. Your machine is much prettier than mine tho! Mines grey but she's smooth as silk.
ReplyDeleteI never could figure it out. No oil cups..
Delete