A greasy question
All my life when I've greased a bearing or a gear, I GREASE IT BIG TIME. I don't just put a dab on and call it good, I coat the whole bearing or gear and leave no part bare.
When I rebuilt the motor on my 1936 vintage 15-91 I really greased the motor drive gear. And I made sure that everything else was oiled well too. Yesterday when I did my 201-2 I noticed there was very little grease on the motor drive gear and even less on the feed dog and bobbin drive gears. They are greased now big time. I'm not worried about the wick grease getting into the motor housing, but from what I saw with the 201-2 even the little bit they had in there had been flung off all the way around the inside of the housing. So my question is, how much is too much? Joe |
I oil frequently as I sew for at least 4 hours every day, so I make sure to only oil very slightly, like a drop in each area. Too much and it creates a big mess inside the machine and on my fabric. I do big cleanings maybe every 6 mos. and then again only grease slightly. Not quite a dab, but I don't coat it to fling everywhere.
|
In Ray's class he told us to grease the gears with enough grease to look like a kite string.
|
Well, I've always thought people were a bit stingy with grease. But in this case I may have been a bit generous. I'll probably have to remove some from the 15-91. Icky pooo!
Joe |
I've seen working machines done both ways - go figure - lots of grease can be very messy
|
Messy doesn't usually bother me or create a problem. But in some cases it will. I think the 15-91 might be one of those cases. I'll have to pull the hand wheel and see how much grease has been flung around the inside of the housing.
Joe |
How do you remove the grease?
|
Originally Posted by bdschafer
(Post 5662716)
How do you remove the grease?
Joe |
Joe, I'm too lazy to look up your post on which motors need greasing. The motor on my MW 15 clone seems like it would like some grease, but there are no ports on the top. Is it one that does need grease or are the ports elsewhere?
To answer your question, I grease my 301 lightly. I feel the movement of the gears will distribute it. I oil more heavily, but that machine seems to want it. The 404 I recently purchased is dirty with grease. I'll assemble your 'tool' list for cleaning it. |
irishrose,
I've not yet seen a clone that uses grease in the motor. If yours is oilable it will have a small oil hole above where the armature shaft bushings would be on the ends of the motors. Some do not have oil holes. When I've taken motors apart for rewiring that don't have oil holes, I soaked the bushings and if equipped the felt around the bushings in oil. Removed the excess and put 'em back together. Otherwise I'm not sure how to go about oiling motors without oil holes. Joe |
Thank you. I will check it out. It does seem to be getting quieter with use, but it's on the floor right now. It shares a table with the Elna. I'm making an apron and Miss Elna is my apparel machine.
|
Well, in my experience grease is internal therefore you'd rarely see it on cloth etc. It's the oil that usually makes the mess. I put enough grease so that the internal part of the gears are completely coated. I then wipe away excess with a q tip. Works for me, be it singer grease or triflow grease. Your mileage may vary.
|
Well, I've used up about 150 Q-tips cleaning a moderately grungy 500 tonight. When it goes back together it will be greased and oiled thoroughly but not excessively. I'm going to try to exercise .... um ..... restraint, that's it, restraint in my greasing.
We'll see how that goes. :) Joe |
Originally Posted by J Miller
(Post 5664158)
Well, I've used up about 150 Q-tips cleaning a moderately grungy 500 tonight. When it goes back together it will be greased and oiled thoroughly but not excessively. I'm going to try to exercise .... um ..... restraint, that's it, restraint in my greasing.
We'll see how that goes. :) Joe |
This is the first machine I really have used q-tips on. Other machines I just used tooth brushes, cloths, paper towels and the like.
In addition to the q-tips I used denatured alcohol to clean it. That stuff works pretty good. Drys fast and doesn't leave much residue or stains behind. Of course it's not for little kids to use as they'd get stoned pretty quick on the vapors. I got the 500 to sew so I checked with my LSMG and he said ............. yes I have the parts for it, I'll call you back Monday, too busy today. I figure I'll have it all cleaned and ready to finish up when he calls. Once back together I'll put it in a cabinet ( I have four sitting with no machines) and we'll use it. I've got all the cams it needs and about 80% of the attachments too. Of course the 401A and 4622 can share some of the feet and attachments with it so we're good to go here. Joe |
Joe - GKs do not use chemicals - not ever - they do use brushes & Q-tips
|
Joe, if this is your new cleaning strategy I'm talking to my stock broker tomorrow...Qtips..Buy, Buy, Buy. LOL.
|
DanofNJ, I'm laughing my head off... My uncle says to buy stock in hearing aids - too many kids with loud music.
|
Irishrose,
On the old vintage Singers the motors are lubed with grease, not oil. The clone motors are oiled, not greased. On some of the clone motors there is a tiny hole on the housing just above or below the shaft, this is the oiling point. If there is no oil hole on the clone motor I place a drop of oil on the shaft just as it enters the motor housing, then I run the motor full speed for 30 seconds or so to distribute the oil and then wipe off any extra oil. More motors are ruined from over oiling than from under oiling. Cathy
Originally Posted by irishrose
(Post 5662931)
Joe, I'm too lazy to look up your post on which motors need greasing. The motor on my MW 15 clone seems like it would like some grease, but there are no ports on the top. Is it one that does need grease or are the ports elsewhere?
To answer your question, I grease my 301 lightly. I feel the movement of the gears will distribute it. I oil more heavily, but that machine seems to want it. The 404 I recently purchased is dirty with grease. I'll assemble your 'tool' list for cleaning it. |
When the apron is finished and the MW is back in the table, I'll look it over. Thank you, Joe and Cathy.
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:59 PM. |