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Vintage Machines / Re: Janome 605 - any info out there?
« on: May 08, 2021, 17:19:05 PM »
Thanks @Gernella I should have just gone for it as it was on for £40. Sadly, with my dithering someone else got it. Nevermind!
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Vintage Machines / Janome 605 - any info out there?
« on: May 08, 2021, 11:13:16 AM »
Hi everyone,
There is a Janome 605 near me. It looks a interesting machine. All I can find on the internet is some other people selling them either the Janome or New Home brand. They seem to be late 50s to 60s but I can't find any info about them. Anyone on hear got experience with old Janomes?
There is a Janome 605 near me. It looks a interesting machine. All I can find on the internet is some other people selling them either the Janome or New Home brand. They seem to be late 50s to 60s but I can't find any info about them. Anyone on hear got experience with old Janomes?
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Vintage Machines / Re: Vintage Singer Belts
« on: March 19, 2021, 17:03:43 PM »
Thanks @LeilaMay that's pretty much what I did so that's good. Or at least the other way. I had it where it was and then loosened it off until it sounded happier and was working to it's free-est!
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Vintage Machines / Re: Vintage Singer Belts
« on: March 18, 2021, 20:57:25 PM »
Well thank you everyone. Interesting stuff....
@LeilaMay I believe it is a v-belt and it's doing ok except for some slight damage, I'll have a look at Helen Howes - Ive seen she does some other o-ring types ones and lists all the sizes so that might be useful.
@MrBob interestingly that is exactly the type I bought and it doesn't work. Very confusing, it's too thick and seems far too small - unless I'm missing something obvious. It barely gets over the pulley on the machine and then is straining the motor something pretty grim. Tbh even the v-belt was on far too tight for my liking (not that I really know what I'm doing) but after loosening it right off so it's gripping but not tight, it made everything much smoother and quieter.
Well for the moment the old v-belt is doing okay and maybe I'll contact Helen Howes!
@LeilaMay I believe it is a v-belt and it's doing ok except for some slight damage, I'll have a look at Helen Howes - Ive seen she does some other o-ring types ones and lists all the sizes so that might be useful.
@MrBob interestingly that is exactly the type I bought and it doesn't work. Very confusing, it's too thick and seems far too small - unless I'm missing something obvious. It barely gets over the pulley on the machine and then is straining the motor something pretty grim. Tbh even the v-belt was on far too tight for my liking (not that I really know what I'm doing) but after loosening it right off so it's gripping but not tight, it made everything much smoother and quieter.
Well for the moment the old v-belt is doing okay and maybe I'll contact Helen Howes!
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Vintage Machines / Re: 201k mk2 vibration
« 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.
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Vintage Machines / Re: 201k mk2 vibration
« 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!
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!
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Vintage Machines / Re: Advice on a 401
« on: March 11, 2021, 17:16:30 PM »
Well thanks @SkoutSews & @KayK that puts my mind to rest on that. I'll see what happens and will let you know! Currently fettling the 201k and I'm currently unsure how to source the correct oil and needle coolant for 'The Beast'. So possibly need to out getting a 401 on the back burner for a bit.... Famous last words!!!
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Vintage Machines / 201k mk2 vibration - SOLVED!
« on: March 11, 2021, 15:32:09 PM »
Ah the trials of vintage machinery. 
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?
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?
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Vintage Machines / Re: Advice on a 401
« on: March 10, 2021, 20:47:25 PM »
@Barcoded I can see that it has the advantage that you can see the needle clearer but I would have thought, much like drilling something at an angle, you increase the risk of snapping needles, but I could easily be wrong. :thinking:
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Vintage Machines / Re: Advice on a 401
« on: March 10, 2021, 18:21:16 PM »
Thank you everyone for your responses it sounds like it might be a goer I'll have a further think. I think my biggest reservation is the slant aspect. My worry is for thicker stuff like canvas or some nylon webbing it seems like a bad idea to be attacking it from an angle. Am I wrong only reservation?
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Vintage Machines / Vintage Singer Belts
« on: March 10, 2021, 18:01:48 PM »
Hello everyone,
So fettling "Belle" (201k MK2). Had a clean up and an oil. Replaced the bulb with an LED. The motor seems okay to me ATM but am aware there are uprated modern ones with digital control pedals so will keep that in the back of my mind (they all seem to white which is a shame - if there is a brown one let me know and I'll be on it!). The belt on it is 'okay' I've seen worse belts running machinery fine but was aware there was a slight split developing so looked into getting a new belt to at least have on stand by. Looked online, everyone seems to replace them with a large diameter o-ring. Ordered a couple online (only one turned up - grrr!) Put it on the machine and... No thank you! It seems to be rubbing on the mounting for the bobbin winder. As such the motor cannot get up to full speed and is being strained. Even with the original belt on there is barely any clearance. So! Any thoughts... Are the original belts still available - I've had a quick look but lots of places are out of stock or I can't tell if it's a ONS or what. Had anyone else had a similar issue and found a solution.
As always thank you for your help and support!
T
So fettling "Belle" (201k MK2). Had a clean up and an oil. Replaced the bulb with an LED. The motor seems okay to me ATM but am aware there are uprated modern ones with digital control pedals so will keep that in the back of my mind (they all seem to white which is a shame - if there is a brown one let me know and I'll be on it!). The belt on it is 'okay' I've seen worse belts running machinery fine but was aware there was a slight split developing so looked into getting a new belt to at least have on stand by. Looked online, everyone seems to replace them with a large diameter o-ring. Ordered a couple online (only one turned up - grrr!) Put it on the machine and... No thank you! It seems to be rubbing on the mounting for the bobbin winder. As such the motor cannot get up to full speed and is being strained. Even with the original belt on there is barely any clearance. So! Any thoughts... Are the original belts still available - I've had a quick look but lots of places are out of stock or I can't tell if it's a ONS or what. Had anyone else had a similar issue and found a solution.
As always thank you for your help and support!
T
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Vintage Machines / Re: Advice on a 401
« on: March 02, 2021, 20:04:09 PM »
Thanks @Efemera that's some interesting reading. I've heard people say it's a bit of an ugly duckling compared to the rocketeer, though I've also heard about the rocketeer having a few weak points in terms of hinges etc (which this article eludes to). I know it's hard to comment on cost when it comes to machines as it really depends on the machine etc etc. But what would we be looking at? I'm finding pricing on vintage Singers a bit odd - lots of the forums price them lower and more reasonably but there are lots out there for silly money. I get you always get people trying to sell things for silly money but there appears to be people buying them for lots too!
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Vintage Machines / Advice on a 401
« on: March 02, 2021, 18:14:20 PM »
Hello Lovely Sewing People!
I've been bumbling around in the internet and came across a Singer 401 very near to me. It is currently in a treadle cabinet, but doesn't appear to be setup for treadle as the handwheel appears to be the one for the electric one (and it had a plug etc).
I don't think I'm bothered by having a cabinet as it will take up too much room at the moment. But what are people's views of the 401? I've asked about accessories and cams etc and am awaiting a response.
Thanks for your input.
T
I've been bumbling around in the internet and came across a Singer 401 very near to me. It is currently in a treadle cabinet, but doesn't appear to be setup for treadle as the handwheel appears to be the one for the electric one (and it had a plug etc).
I don't think I'm bothered by having a cabinet as it will take up too much room at the moment. But what are people's views of the 401? I've asked about accessories and cams etc and am awaiting a response.
Thanks for your input.
T
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For Sale, Wanted & Free to a good home / Re: For Sale - Complete set Singer Sewing Library Reference Books
« on: February 25, 2021, 19:34:59 PM »
I appreciate this is a rather old thread. Would I be corrected in assuming these have gone?
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Vintage Machines / Re: Cleaning VSMs: Tips, Tricks & Tools
« on: February 24, 2021, 21:47:59 PM »
Good point @LeilaMay - patch testing is always a must in any cleaning job. Doing any fettling on delicate things is always a risk. I've used ultimate compound on things like high end fountain pens including on delicate precious metal and natural lacquer and it came out beautifully. But yes - always patch test!
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