The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Vintage Machines => Topic started by: LeilaMay on January 05, 2018, 15:07:50 PM
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So I'm working on the 530 I bought - the motor runs although the machine is very dry, so it's been oiled and is standing for now.
However the lever which would shift the machine from zig-zag to the ornamental stitch patterns is not moving. It's set on the top of the machine, you push it to the right to release it from the teeth, and then should be able to push it forwards into a new - ornamental stitch - slot. NOTHING.
I suspect - given the previous owner, that it rarely or never did ornamental stitches, so the lever may be seized from non-use. It's had a drop of tri-flow, and I could be using the hair dryer in a while, but wondered if anyone had any other suggestions.
FYI - both of the plastic cams inside seem to be in good shape, no evidence of cracks :)
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I’m so glad to hear it’s in good shape apart from the stuck stitches. I think mine was the same I just cleaned it and oiled it and left it to it and wiggled it occasionally and it came free.
I am currently raving about the new WD40 specialist penetrating solution it’s really good for freeing seized stuff!
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Thanks :)
If I get no joy I'll try some of that - is it a UK product? Off to google . . . .
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I would not worry much at this point. I would keep the machine on a table in a heated room, oil and let it work over night. Try to find all the oil points involved and give them a second drop of oil after a while. On my 730 the lever hasn't been stuck, but once the different patterns sort of wouldn't kick in. It's typical for this model when the stitch patterns never get used, and the solution is cleaning, oil and run the machine on the various stitches. In your case, I would let the oil work a bit and gently wiggle the selection lever a bit now and then. Things have been known to drop down the top lid, pins, threads, etc., inspect parts for anything like that. It it zigzagging fine?
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My 830 was stuck at first, but as has been said, oil and wiggle gently, keep coming back to it. Mine is fine now.
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Thank you all.
I haven't tried to stitch with it yet, but yes the zig-zag function appears to be fine, the needle moves all the way left and right when turned by hand in the zig-zag mode. I've oiled it everywhere, and as you all suggest I'll have to be patient :)
Thing is, I'm not supposed to be keeping it - I was hoping to pinch a few accessories, clean it make sure it worked and then re-sell, as any reasonable price. If it hangs around too long I may get attached!
Also I need the space for a machine I'd like to buy that I do want to keep - auction ends in the next day or so LOL :)
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The wd40 penetrating oil is a uk product. I bought mine from amazon :)
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I am so glad the nylon gears are ok :)
There is an oil hole that can get gunked up which can affect the motion of the fancy stitch selector (LH) lever.
So with the lid/top cover off, select the RH lever, and push it away from you as though to select the 1-13 stitch option.
You will see that the lever bar fits into a black V notch.
To the left and slightly in front of this V notch is the tiny oil hole. Shine a torch in and you might see it. If not then a few oil drops and a brush in the area and then more oil will help.
I found mine totally by accident by poking around with a cocktail stick, and the end of the cocktail stick snapped off, and got stuck, and it took a while to tweezer the splinters out, but it was how I discovered that there was actually an oil hole there.
The right hand lever should twang loudly when toggled between the two settings. If not, then more oil!
My 840 was rock solid for a week after I got it and oiling every day eventually sorted that out.
Edit - I just checked my 530-2 and sure enough that oil hole is marked in red... at the time I couldn't see it as it was so clogged.
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Thank you all.
I haven't tried to stitch with it yet, but yes the zig-zag function appears to be fine, the needle moves all the way left and right when turned by hand in the zig-zag mode. I've oiled it everywhere, and as you all suggest I'll have to be patient :)
Thing is, I'm not supposed to be keeping it - I was hoping to pinch a few accessories, clean it make sure it worked and then re-sell, as any reasonable price. If it hangs around too long I may get attached!
Also I need the space for a machine I'd like to buy that I do want to keep - auction ends in the next day or so LOL :)
If I had a 730 then I would very happily part with my 530; the 730 has a couple more fancy stitches than the 530 and also the slotted tension setup which I prefer to the 530's circular tensioner. I'd definitely hang on to any extra feet and accessories though :devil:
Best of luck with getting that stitch selector sorted!
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I have to admit I hate it when machines are totally stripped of cords and accerssories, especially nice ones. The 530 is good enough to take care of, and very well behaved.
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I have to admit I hate it when machines are totally stripped of cords and accerssories, especially nice ones. The 530 is good enough to take care of, and very well behaved.
What I meant was that if it were me I would hang on to some of the feet I hadn't already got, and possibly the circular attachment, which would have been a separate purchase by the original owner. And the machine is being fixed up to be used again. Another person not so inclined may well have just broken it for spares and sold everything off separately.
Bernina feet are addictive.... the next person to own this machine might just realise they are a few feet short, and then indulge in a new and rewarding hobby - Bernina feet collecting! That's what happened to me :| 0_0
When a seller has a working machine, but then separately sells on the case, the machine, the flatbed extension, and individual feet, and any other accessories, I personally do find it distasteful. I mean who would want a machine and then have to buy the flatbed extension separately? And the case?
And I say that I would part with my 530-2 if I had a 730... well every time I get a new machine to fix up I always say I need to thin the herd*. I have thirteen sewing machines now, I live in a tiny house, and the ones I have are stored neatly on shelving each under their own dust cover, and my two cabinets are pieces of furniture in their own right. The cases I store in my attic, out of the way. But I really don't have the room to store any more. When the next neglected orphan machine that needs rescuing comes along, I suppose I really will have to part with one.
*but never actually do ;)
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Thank you all - and I shall take a look at siad oil hole in just a minute.
I have as Madame Cholet writes pinched the few feet that I didn't already have, and the circular sewing attachment - these will be added to my 730 Record. Otherwise, if it goes, I will sell it complete. If it wouldn't have gone - blown motor or something - THEN I would have split it up and sold parts to recoup my costs, but if it goes I'd never do that.
If it will work well it will be a nice machine for someone - case is in good condition with bolts for keeping machine still in transit. The extension table is virtually unused, has it's instruction booklet, bobbins, 2 bobbin cases (one Bernina & one not, don't know why) half a dozen feet, the green drawers, all 3 screw drivers. OH thinks it should be rewired as it has single insulation wire? He can do that. It's nice :)
I need my £46.60 back, plus the £6.70 it cost to drive over the Severn Toll Bridge! maybe the few ££ the wire will cost. Then anything more will be profit :)
I'll give it some time.
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Still no joy on this one - hair dryer at work on it but not backwards movement in the lever, although it does pull out to the right okay
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I've had a lot of luck with a product called Plusgas. It's an aerosol, and is called a 'dismantling lubricant', it makes the job of 'unjamming' much easier. You should be able to get it from a car parts store.
Jessie
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Thank you :) Googling . . .
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A stubborn case then. I can't really add anything you don't already know, but yes, trying different stuff can help. Some use technical spirit, various spray can stuff are worth trying to speed things up. You might already have it on a shelf some where. On my 201 the bottom screw under the bobbin case (the one visible just under the bobbin) was completely stuck and what ever I tried it would not move. This machine was used regularly and there's an oil point in the center of it. Every time I oiled the machine it was given a drop of oil, I used Finish Line Ceramic Wet Lube, a light synthetic oil with teflon. About a year later or perhaps a bit more I made an attempt at the screw, and it came out with no effort at all.
I had a similar case with a three pin plug for another machine, it had be stuck for several years, but since the wire was fine just old I kept on using it. I remember I gave it a drop of Finish Line oil and three weeks later it was loose. I had tried different stuff in the past, which I think where WD-40 and regular sewing machine oil. There's nothing particular in the Finish Line oil for frozen parts, so I guess it's all about persistance and trying. Keep the machine in a heated room, it makes all the difference. Some of the spray can stuff contains wintergreen or methyl salicylate, it has proven very effective in more than one case.
Another thing that often gives result, is going over the machine a few times just doing the regular routine; oiling, further cleaning and inspecting all parts. The oil has had a chance to it's job and there's a good chance you detect something that wasn't obvious on the earlier attempts. It sounds odd, but taking a machine back in use, using it for only straight stitching if it works, moving levers, knobs, and tending to it regularly has sometimes worked better than anything else. I think it must be the attention and movement the parts get, oil seep even better into inners of stuck parts and all minor things will be tended to along the way.
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Thank you Arrow - yes I'm thinking I might just have to run it and work on it and keep my fingers crossed.
(was meant to be a quick sale/small profit job LOL)
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With a bit of luck it still might be. I remember I had a sluggish machine ones, it took four days of oiling before it completely freed up. It wasn't completely stuck, just took time and repeated oiling to flush out old dried up grime.
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Q tips, white spirit and patience. The white spirit will dissolve the dried up oil and allow the movement to break free. It may take several attempts and a day or two but it works. I had a Brother machine that was so gunked up that nothing moved. A few days cleaning and it eventually ran perfectly. The main thing is not to force anything. This could easily result on bent actuators , broken return springs or damaged cams. Take your time and treat it with love and it will reply in kind, treat it badly and it will just break.
Barny
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Higher ambient temp., tri-flow and judiscious use of the hair dryer - and it moves!
The Turtle Moves! - I miss Terry Pratchett
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I’m so glad to hear it’s on the move!