Foot pedal problems with my featherweight.
 

I really like my little featherweight, but I have a problem with the foot pedal sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. Dh and I have taken it apart several times seems like there is a short in it, any suggestions. :confused:

Have you adjusted the ceramic bit and tabs inside? I know there are instructions in Dave mccullums book. I bet there is somewhere online too. It's just a little nut inside to turn if I remember correctly.

I had that problem with my featherweight and it was caused by a broken wire. My husband replaced it with a new wire and now it hums consistantly.

Mary

Thanks I will have dh check it out. I love the little "gal" but she drives me crazy.

Seems I have that problem with my 1969 Singer Stylist... runs, runs OUT OF CONTROL, then runs fine again... Grrrrrr....
Does anyone know if there is a ceramic bit and tabs and a little nut in that 1969 foot pedal before I try to take it apart ????

Thanks in advance.

Tons of them do, but the new ones are built a little differently. Can you post a pic of your pedal? Some of them are also harder to get into than others. The button feet like the FWs and the 400 / 500 series (we're getting into the low 60s now) are easy to get into, but I don't remember when they changed to the clamshell design. Some of the clamshells are easy, but I have one here that has no screws to open it, and supposedly you're supposed to pry it open. DH did that and there was bakelite everywhere.

A general rule of thumb is if it gets warm when you do low speed, it has a carbon pile resistor in it to control speed. That's what the featherweights have, and tons of other machines (cheap and easy to make). I don't know if they're all adjustable though.

It's easy enough to replace the control unit; even easier to replace the entire cordset.