The Sewing Place

201k mk2 vibration - SOLVED!

TomDrew

201k mk2 vibration - SOLVED!
« on: March 11, 2021, 15:32:09 PM »
Ah the trials of vintage machinery. :D

So my MK2 201k has a vibration at low speed. It's not terrible and it stitched fine but it's there. As you power up to higher speed it disappears but if your going slowly (I pretty much always am as I'm new to sewing) it's there and a little annoying. Having a ferttle about and sticking my head against the machine (how to look proper crazy!) I narrowed it down to the bobbin mechanism (I think!) And indeed if I rest my fingers on the bobbin (so little to no pressure) the noise stops. I've taken out the bobbin case and had a clear in there and got some bits out from under the feed dogs etc. But it's still there.
I've oiled the gearing under the bobbin - it was bone dry, one though was if it was just a bit of wear and whether some lithium grease would solve the issue?

Any thoughts?
« Last Edit: March 11, 2021, 22:33:31 PM by TomDrew »
In the stable: "Belle" - 1958 Singer 201k mk2 || "Guinea Pig" - 1902 Singer 128k || "Raf" - 1941 Singer 15k || "Naomi" - 2020 Janome 5024

Mr Twingo

Re: 201k mk2 vibration
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2021, 22:22:34 PM »
Could it be the bobbin? Try removing it and seeing if the vibration is still there.

 :thinking:

TomDrew

Re: 201k mk2 vibration
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2021, 22:33:05 PM »
SOLVED IT!

So I've had a merry evening this evening re-cleaning and re-oiling. The capacitor in the pedal went yesterday so for good measure I rebuilt the carbon stack, chucked the capacitor and swapped out the 13A for a 3A fuse (safety first!). And then a re-adjusted the belt tension and the motor alignment.

Wow, it's like a different machine! I'm a very happy bunny!
In the stable: "Belle" - 1958 Singer 201k mk2 || "Guinea Pig" - 1902 Singer 128k || "Raf" - 1941 Singer 15k || "Naomi" - 2020 Janome 5024

TomDrew

Re: 201k mk2 vibration
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2021, 22:34:53 PM »
Could it be the bobbin? Try removing it and seeing if the vibration is still there.

 :thinking:

Thanks for chipping in @Mr Twingo I checked that as well. I assume it was just too much pressure and grime.
In the stable: "Belle" - 1958 Singer 201k mk2 || "Guinea Pig" - 1902 Singer 128k || "Raf" - 1941 Singer 15k || "Naomi" - 2020 Janome 5024

LeilaMay

Re: 201k mk2 vibration - SOLVED!
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2021, 08:57:51 AM »
I am glad - you have to enjoy fettling machines like these, but they are super once you've got them running smoothly.