1936 Singer 15 Feed Dog problems
 

I purchased this machine for $40.00. Finally had a little time to play with her. Having trouble with the feed dogs. Fabric doesn't pull. Any idea what could be wrong?

Also, by the serial number AE354842, it is a Singer 15. What is the difference between the 15-88, 15-91, etc?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Great buy. First of all I'd lubricate under the machine where the feed dogs live. Some Singers have a release (wing nut?) under the base to release the fed dogs for FMQ. Some one else who has used it can better describe this.. Or a manual if you have one.

15-91s are potted motors, not belt drive like yours. Other variations are smaller .

I am surprised by your base. Looks like there is no room for a top case.

Feed dog problems are almost always solved by cleaning and oiling.

1. Unscrew the stitch plate and clean the area around feed dogs (probably race, hook and bobbin case too). Scrape each groove in the feed dog plate clean, and polish parts up if needed.

2. The feed dogs roll on a cam like part under the base. It's linked by multiple parts from the stitch length lever to the feed dogs; which means you have to pay particular attention too the oil points involving these parts. One of them is likely frozen up and needs extra attention when it comes to dissolving dried up oil and grime. The trick is to oil all parts on the machine, then move the stitch length lever to extreme posistions and run the machine for a bit between oilings. Eventually it will free up, but in stubborn cases you might need to let the oil seep in over nigh and keep up a daily oiling and test sewing routine for a while. Dirt and grime tend to loosen gradually and it takes time for fresh new oil to flush out and replace old dirt and grime.


3. Feed dogs could be lowered, it has a screw under the base, it has two position feed dogs raised or lowered.


Best of luck with your new machine. Yours look like it's in nice condition and should shine up very well. Model 15 had a long production span, and it went through various minor chances and improvements along the way. There is an old version of model 15 with a different stitch length adjustment mechanism than yours. You have the newer with reverse. It also came as treadle, hand crank, belt driven motor and like yours a direct gear driven motor a.k.a potted motor. The subnumbers indicate these variants.

Does any one have a parts or repair manual for Kenmore 148.11040 that they could share?

Pattie, it appears that you have posted in the wrong place. If you start your own thread, you'll have better luck.
bkay

The model 15 was made for many years in many different configurations. The three most common are 15-88, which is a treadle, the 15-90 which is a belt driven machine and the 15-91 which has a "potted motor" and is a direct drive machine. These are all the same except how they are powered, as I understand it.

bkay

Do the feed dogs move back and forth if you turn the handwheel? No amount of cleaning and oiling is going to help if the feed dogs are lowered. You can find how to lower the feed dogs for darning on page 35 of this manual
http://www.singerco.com/uploads/down...54a175ca4c.pdf

Ismacs has a comprehensive model list and for 0-99 models can be found at http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...sses-1-99.html

Needlebar has some 15 model differences at http://needlebar.org/main/15chart/index.html

Of course cleaning and oiling are a good thing to do no matter if feed dogs are lowered or raised ;)

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

15-91s are potted motors, not belt drive like yours. Other variations are smaller .

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oops sorry for the ID mistake. Yes, yours is a 15-91

Looks like you need to tighten the presser foot tension. It's the knob sticking up on the top, left side. Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Good eye Annette. I'm one that will frequently release the pressure regulator on my machines. Probably more than once went to sew, and wondered why it wouldn't. :o

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.