Converting a machine to hand crank
03-19-2012, 08:39 AM
#1
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Location: Arizona
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Converting a machine to hand crank
Is this possible? While searching for my hand crank machine, I've found a good amount of machines that look like they should be hand cranks but don't have the crank. Can you put a hand crank on a machine that's never had one?
03-19-2012, 09:24 AM
#3
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For Singer machines, you have to check that there is boss in the casting to accept the screw for the hand crank. Generally this is on the side just under the balance wheel. It is possible to drill and tap a hole also to accept the hand crank. I don't know but I am sure that other machines have a similar set up.
03-20-2012, 02:57 AM
#5
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Location: suburb of Milwaukee, WI
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As quilt addict said you have to have the motor boss. The motor boss is nothing more than a hole in the casting just under the hand wheel.
Original handcrank machines had a spoked wheel that the crank attached to - however - you can notch a solid wheel to accept a handcrank. Personally, I wouldn't notch a solid wheel but to each his own in that thought process.
I converted my Singer Red Eye to a handcrank but my Red Eye had a spoked wheel and the motor boss hole. I was lucky enough to find an original handcrank but there are imported handcranks available from Sew Classic: http://shop.sew-classic.com/Hand-Cra...lt-SCMI604.htm On that page you will also see a replacement spoked wheel. You can also zoom in on the handcrank to get a good look at it.
Also on that site are directions for notching a solid wheel to accept a handcrank: http://blog.sew-classic.com/2009/05/...ack-again.aspx
Shari
Original handcrank machines had a spoked wheel that the crank attached to - however - you can notch a solid wheel to accept a handcrank. Personally, I wouldn't notch a solid wheel but to each his own in that thought process.
I converted my Singer Red Eye to a handcrank but my Red Eye had a spoked wheel and the motor boss hole. I was lucky enough to find an original handcrank but there are imported handcranks available from Sew Classic: http://shop.sew-classic.com/Hand-Cra...lt-SCMI604.htm On that page you will also see a replacement spoked wheel. You can also zoom in on the handcrank to get a good look at it.
Also on that site are directions for notching a solid wheel to accept a handcrank: http://blog.sew-classic.com/2009/05/...ack-again.aspx
Shari
Originally Posted by ArizonaKAT
Can someone post a pic of the actual wheel on their machine? I can't find a detailed pic of the actual hand crank.
03-20-2012, 03:41 AM
#6
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x75Pywf723s someone hand cranking a FW - not very efficient though
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...k/fwcrank.html
I think what they did with the wheel would work for any hand wheel.
You need not only the motor mount boss but it has to line up with the center of the wheel.
My 319 has the boss but it is not lined up straight with the center of the hand wheel so it will not hand crank.
I have a Singer 66 redeye I hoped to HC - no motor boss - it merely has a tapped hole to hold a motor. The shaped part is not there and it goes at an angle rather than straight up and down - so that won't hold a HC.
here is another type of HC only one revolution per crank though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEATHERWEIGH...46235745492338
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...k/fwcrank.html
I think what they did with the wheel would work for any hand wheel.
You need not only the motor mount boss but it has to line up with the center of the wheel.
My 319 has the boss but it is not lined up straight with the center of the hand wheel so it will not hand crank.
I have a Singer 66 redeye I hoped to HC - no motor boss - it merely has a tapped hole to hold a motor. The shaped part is not there and it goes at an angle rather than straight up and down - so that won't hold a HC.
here is another type of HC only one revolution per crank though.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEATHERWEIGH...46235745492338
Last edited by miriam; 03-20-2012 at 03:45 AM.
03-20-2012, 04:14 AM
#7
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Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 1,775
Close up pics of handcrank
Here are a couple of close up pics of the motor boss hole (just below the spoked wheel in the picture) and an attached hand crank. I love the little "clinkety clink" sound of a hand crank sewing machine when you are cranking it 
03-20-2012, 06:59 AM
#8
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: suburb of Milwaukee, WI
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Just to let you know how much fun a handcrank can be: We visited with our son and family recently, I brought 3 of my 'girls' with me included my Red Eye handcrank. Our little grandsons (ages 2 & 4) cranked the sewing machine when I did the straight seams on book bags that I made for them.
By popular demand, from our grandsons, I have to bring the Red Eye back when we come to visit again.
Shari
By popular demand, from our grandsons, I have to bring the Red Eye back when we come to visit again.
Shari
07-26-2013, 06:59 PM
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Mattawan, Michigan Near Kalamazoo
Posts: 4
Hi CABBAGEPATCHKID, WOW, THIS IS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL MACHINE, I AM PRESENTLY TRYING TO RESTORE A MODEL 66, THE GRAPHICS ARE ALL GOOD EXCEPT THEN ONES ON THE FLAT BED ITSELF, AND I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLE THE MACHINE, AND BUFF ALL OF THE NICKLE PLATED PARTS BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL SHINE. BACK WHEN THESE MACHINES WERE BUILT, SINGER WAS NOT USING CHROME PLATE, JUST NICKLE PLATE, AND IT IS VERY BRIGHT, BUT NOT "WHITE BRIGHT" LIKE CHROME, ALL OF THE IMPORTED REPRODUCTIONS I HAVE FOUND ARE CHROME PLATED, AND JUST LOOK TOOOO NEW, UNREALISTIC ACTUALLY. ANYWAY I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HAND CRANK MACHINE AND HAD TO COMMENT. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A TRICK FOR CLEANING THE HEAD WITHOUT REMOVING THE GRAPHICS? ANY ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. Duane Hampton planeshavings42
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