Restoring a 66k

[mums sewing machine]

Hi all
Looking for advice please (well @Roger did say to holler!!)
So I’ve just bought a 1913 treadle 66k, and she is looking quite sorry for herself. Lots of surface rust, very dirty etc, but things move and I’m a positive person!
I’d like to get her looking good obviously, and if I can persuade her to sew at some stage that’d be fab.
I’ve started with the obvious, and am attacking the dirt and rust.
I’m working on the balance wheel at the moment. I had thought that under all the filth that it’d be shiny, but it’s starting to look like the whole wheel may have been black, not just the spokes. Could this be right? Or have I just not delved through enough layers yet? I’ve asked Mr Google-Images but can’t find a definitive answer...

Thanks in advance/anticipation/in a heap of Autosol... (delete as appropriate)
 

[StitchinTime]

I've found another 66 treadle that appears to have an all black wheel using Mr Google Images, but I couldn't tell you whether it is right or not for the machine.
http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2013/06/10/my-singer-66-treadle-sewing-machine/

[mums sewing machine]

I've found another 66 treadle that appears to have an all black wheel using Mr Google Images, but I couldn't tell you whether it is right or not for the machine.
http://www.myrecycledbags.com/2013/06/10/my-singer-66-treadle-sewing-machine/

Thanks @StitchinTime  - exactly my problem!! I’ve found images with the shiny chrome and with black wheels!! Aaarrgghhhh!! I just wondered if there were known dates when they produced the black wheels, or if it was more random! Or if there are clues I can look for on the machine that would indicate shiny or black! I’m tending to think it’s black, but who knows!!
Thanks again for your reply x

[StitchinTime]

I've found another blog with before and after photos of the inner clutch knob which started off black and ended up shiny-ish. Perhaps lots of elbow grease and Autosol might be needed after all.
https://theelusivebobbin.blogspot.com/2014/01/1927-singer-model-66-restoration-pt-3.html

[mums sewing machine]

Oooooh thanks @StitchinTime - I hadn’t seen this one!
Hmmmmm - more elbow grease required!

[mums sewing machine]

@StitchinTime that blog link is incredible - thanks so very much xx

Latest on Elsie the 66k: I’ve stopped with the balance wheel for now as I think I will be better off removing the wheel and cleaning it up detached from the machine. As I haven’t done this before I’m waiting for the weekend when hopefully Mr MSM will be around to offer words of encouragement and catch any bits that come off. Also want him to photograph the process so I have something to refer to when putting it back together!
The back inspection plate is coming up a treat - bit more of a clean and it’ll be good.
Unscrewed the bobbin plate and cleaned that (I’ve ordered the missing sliding part of the bobbin plate from the wonderful HH). Screwed it back on
Had a poke around in the bobbin area - pulled out some threads which made me smile! Removed 100years of gunk from here too - didn’t smile so much about that!!
Tried to remove the foot, but when I’d unscrewed it there wasn’t enough clearance between the shaft and the bobbin plate to take it out. Need to have a proper look at that so I screwed that back on too...

So far Autosol, white spirit, soft cloths and a soft toothbrush are my friends. The drawers on the cabinet are not my friend as they are right at knee height 

[LeilaMay]

Hi 

Taking off the wheel is fairly easy as long as it will slide once it's loose - you need to loosen the small screw in the shiny metal end part (that you turn to stop the foot moving when you wind the bobbin) then unscrew the whole little shiny section. Then the big wheel should just slide off.
Shout if it doesn't.

You'll find pages about restoration, in nice easy sections, via this link here

https://web.archive.org/web/20130814050110/http://www.tfsr.org:80/publications/technical_information/sewing_machine_manual

It should really help you.

Is the 66 a side clamping or back clamping?

Does the foot raise up when you move the lever to do that?  Photo of the offending part would help.

Be VERY careful not to spill or splatter the white spirit on the body of the machine - it may well cut through the laquer layer and destroy decals, it's only for use on white metal parts that re off the machine for cleaning.

But try those sheets from the link. one at a time, nice and steady.

Don't worry, you'll get there 

[mums sewing machine]

Thank you so much @LeilaMay - that link looks fab! Couldn’t access it yesterday for some reason, but just tried again and it works! You are right - one job at a time is the way to go!
Oh - it’s a back clamp, and yes the foot does lift!
Thanks again - hugely appreciated x

[mums sewing machine]

Does anyone have any advice about screwdrivers? I’m aware that the screw heads have, in the past, been damaged by over-zealous use of a screwdriver! I’m obviously not going to force anything that doesn’t want to move!
So any recommendations for good, flat-head screwdrivers?
Thanks 

[LeilaMay]

I can't help with that as I picked mine up in old junk shops and the like.
You do want nice strong ones, and one of my favourites is long, helps you get in places and have some good leverage. You'll also need at least with a very small head.

The Singer featherweight shop shop in USA sells a set for servicing your featherweight - so looking at theirs might give you an idea of what kind of thing to look for? Despite the difference in size of machines, the screws and so tend to be very similar I think.

https://singer-featherweight.com/collections/manuals-service/products/screwdriver-maintenance-set-of-4-long-safety-mid-length-small?variant=21123942744143

[mums sewing machine]

Thanks @LeilaMay  - that’s interesting as I’d assumed that a short screwdriver gave more leverage! I’ll be raiding Mr MSM’s toolbox today!
xx

[Roger]

I have a set of general household stanleys, and a set of PC screw drivers too for small screws

[Ploshkin]

Something else that can be useful to get at hard to reach screws where there is little headroom is a right angled screwdriver. (and yes, I am being serious).

[Lizzy777]

@LeilaMay

Thank you for the information and link. I still have my charity buy Featherweight 221 (minus plug) just put to one side. I don't know what I shall do with her but it's worth knowing about these screwdrivers etc. I am not really the sort of person who likes to tinkle with equipment but I may try and find a sewing machine man who specialises in singers. But that will be sometime in the future. The info is very helpful though.

[Stew Rowe]

Hello Lizzy,

I concur with comments about right angled screwdrivers - they are really useful for stubborn screws.  They enable you to keep the blade in the screw head with one hand whilst putting a greater turning force using the other hand (like using a lever).  I used a set when refurbishing my Grandad's old Singer 95K10 recently.