Noisey 15-91 sewing machine
 

I have just started using my newly acquired 15-91 for FMQ and that seems to be going okay, but this machine seems really noisey to me as it sews. Sounds coming from the bobbin area, and has been well oiled and cleaned, but it sure chatters a lot more than my 66 which purrrs when it sews. Is this just the nature of this particular machine??? Love to hear from all of you in the "know" about this machine.
thanks..

Coleen, is your machine an antique or vintage machine for certain? There are some newer "Singer" model 15's that that are made in Indonesia or somewhere. The machine-ing of the parts in those machines is no where near the quality of the older ones, and consequently they are very noisy.
If that's not it, then it may be something as simple as bad bobbins. Many come from China are not good. Try to find/use a vintage class 15 bobbin and see if you notice a difference.

shesews...thanks for your reply...serial number indicates Nov. 1951...is that considered a newer Singer and not a "vintage" one??? The bobbin is I'm pretty sure original, but I may have a newer bobbin in there from "sew-classics" I am having trouble winding the bobbins on this machine, but I can use other machines to do the bobbin winding, but have been wondering if this machine is always noisey, so I'd like to hear from all of you that have them and what your experiance is with them. I'll try another bobbin and see if it changes. Thanks

The nostalgia series were 1970s ish, and the serial numbers start with an "N". They're also not potted motor machines (i.e. 15-91) - belted or treadled only. You have a good one. If it's from the bobbin area, I agree, change the bobbin with a known good one. I've had some cheap ones that were too big to even properly fit, and they scrape and pull at the thread. There's also a drop of oil required at the race area, it will be in your manual.

There are also adjustments for the bobbin winder, depending on what your issue is. There's a service manual available in the wild for this machine, on Singer's site even, that would walk you through those adjustments. You can also try tfsr.org, they have a sewing machine manual that will cover it.

I will say that I find the 15s noisier than a number of my machines though. Something about that hook / bobbin area seems louder for some reason.

Also, I assume you've already done this, but make sure the bobbin case "snapped" into the hook area. If it's loose it will make a heck of a racket.

It is the nature of the beast. I have 2 of them. One is from the early 30's and makes a "shick, shick, shick" sound as I sew. I find listening to it relaxing. My other is from the late 40's. It makes a "chucka, chucka, chucka" sound with each pull of the take up lever. I'm used to them talking to me while we sew.

Mine makes the same "chucka, chucka" noise as Mitch's mom's machine. It drove me crazy as I thought it was in need of more oil. But it's just making a noise.
The bobbin on the 15-91 is an oscillating hook so it moves back and forth. If the circular parts that hold the hook in are loose they will rock back and forth and make a racket. Check them and make sure they fit tightly.

Joe

Yes, I thought the noise strange at first... Each model seems to have their own sound.

Thanks for all your comments...finally decided that the extra chatter when FMQ was from the hopping foot banging on the needle holder....now I at least feel more comfortable with the noise and know I'm not stressing out the bobbin area...but what foot do you all recommend for free motion quilting on this...mine is a metal one, when I raised the feed dogs and put the regular sewing foot back on it is much less noisey, so I'm pretty sure it's the speed and motion of the darning foot on it when I'm doing the free motion that is making it loud...mine seems to do the "chucka chucka" sound with the tread in the tension discs and the take up lever when regular sewing...Still interested in what you all use for your quilting foot???????? thanks

I used an Janome quilting foot (bought for my Elna, but she can't FMQ) on my 15 clone. No extraneous noise. Mine isn't as quiet up in the arm area as I'd like, but it seems to be getting quieter with use. That being said, I do my FMQ on my 301, but she was out of commission once so I had to use the 15 clone and the Necchi.

My favorite hopping foot for all my low shank machines is a little $3 cheapie. I have at least 8-10 different hopping feet and this one beats the others all hollow - very smooth, lots of visibility: http://shop.sew-classic.com/Low-Shan...foot-55417.htm

I bought a bunch of extras because I figured that being that cheap, they were going to break - but I haven't broken one in five years of quilting. :)