Keep an eye out in ebay with "Minnesota Sewing Machine" search. Shuttle for Model D & F will work for you. I didn't see any listed presently but I did see some for full sized machines which are more common. Eventually one will turn up. Good Luck.

Jon

I keep looking for another Davis short also. the hard part is most sellers don't know what they have, and I've found many don't know how to measure accurately either - and seem to think that within a 1/2" is an acceptable margin.

Yep, the 3/4 sized Davis shuttle is a toughie and unless the pictures are good it might be DOA from notches where the trailing edge of shuttle wears on the race or other problems.

Jon

I haven't fallen off the end of the earth. I'm staying nearly 24/7 with my mother and protesting Dad. No internet access.

In this case, no internet access is a blessing. The telephone pales in comparison to what they could do online.

I would like to learn to repair my own sewing machines, where could I go to learn to do that

The owners manual is the first place to start for routine maintenance. Which machines do you have?

Jon

I was just wondering if any of the great people on this board are going to the "Original Sewing And Quilting Show" in Schaumberg, IL tomorrow. I am going to be there and would like to meet anyone from here that is going too.
~Grant~

Timing issue?
 

I'm trying to sort out issues with a little Nelco machine -- really odd little 3/4 size critter, with the Wittier arc vibrating shuttle that zigzags....plus it's set up for two needles! All metal, 60s probably. It makes nice stitches.

Turning the machine by hand, as the needle comes up out of the fabric one can see the needle has bent back the slightest bit, moving with the fabric and pops forward when it rises above the fabric. This is not a huge jump, just a little twitch. Does the timing need adjustment? Or is this a result of this type shuttle?

(I just watched an Elna, turned by hand, and it's obvious the Nelco is moving the fabric at a different time in the stitching cycle, while the needle is in the fabric. This would answer the question - yes, it's a timing issue. So now -- what to do???)

The controller is also an issue. We opened it, everything looks fine, but as the armature swings to the first contact it takes off at the speed of light. Not good. Would replacement with a Singer button controller help? An electronic controller? Or a properly functioning controller of the same type? What would be most capable of slow stitching?



Thank you for any ideas and advice!

Dianne in Colorado

Maybe this is just the way the machine works. Another new needle made no difference. In Connie McCaffery's book, she says that if the bobbin thread can be pulled up by turning the hand wheel, the machine is timed. This machine not only does that, but makes nice stitches. If Connie's comment applies to all machines, we're good to go.

This little curiosity will accept a spoked wheel and handcrank. It can be used that way to fine tune stitching until a better controller can be installed. (I do like the oddball SMs - including an ugly White purchased only because it's cast from a magnesium alloy.)

Dianne in Colorado