Singer 15-96 in Cabinet Table No. 1
 

I'm new to this forum and I'm excited to learn more about the Singer 15-96 I just brought home. It is in a simple Singer Cabinet Table No 1. I've spent the evening reading and trying to absorb as much as I can. So many things to know - and so many things for me to do to her to spruce her up a bit. One thing I can't find anything on at the moment is how to get the treadle belt spinning correctly. On the right side of the machine there is a rectangular shaped piece with 2 holes that the belt passes through. This piece will not stay in place, level with the machine and cabinet top. There appears to be some sort of spring in the corner of the cabinet that should hold it in place but I can't figure out how to engage it. With this piece hanging loose the belt won't turn smoothly. Any ideas?

I think I have found that this is called an "under cabinet spring assist lift hinge". Here is a picture of one on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Sing...item35c5446106
I can't figure out how to keep the end of the spring to stay in the groove of the rectangle shaped piece.

Joyce,

There are two versions of that spring I know of. One is a big long spring laying horizontally the other is a smaller spring that runs pretty much front to rear.

Both of them have an adjuster nut you turn to tighten the spring up.

Here is the long type:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o.../bobbinend.jpg
There is a pin that holds the cogged adjuster in place when you get the spring tension set. The spring has a finger on the left end that's inserted into a hole in the right side of the adjuster.
To adjust you remove the pin, turn the adjuster till you have the plate as tight as you want, remember it's an assist for the head, so it needs to be pretty tight, then put the pin back in.

Here is the front to rear type:
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...sistspring.jpg
The spring is set up pretty much the same as the long type, except that to adjust it, you loosen the nut to the right of the bracket, turn the adjust till the plate is tight, then tighten the nut.

It's easier said than done.

I had one cabinet come to me without the spring. The plate was just flopping around loose. I found the spring at my LSMG.

Hope this helps some.

Joe

Thank you, Joe. Mine is the one that runs front to back. The rather straight end of the coil that is supposed to fit in the grove kind of makes a 90 degree angle to the left (toward the machine) and I can't get it back in the groove. It definitely is not flopping loose. I guess it's sprung. I didn't know if I could bend it back into place or if I will have to get another one. I'm going to see if I can get the machine out of the cabinet so I can get at it better.