White 1563--sticky foot pedal, or motor issue?
 

Hi, new here! I have, um, a few antique and vintage machines loitering around the place....

Anyway, the machine I really use the most is a White 1563--I think it's a late 50s/early 60s model? I have spent way too much time on the internet trying to find out. Curse them for having a name that's also a regular English word! :) It's like a two-tone Chevy coupe, with those two glossy shades of teal, and I love it! I have a problem, though: it likes to take off running, and it's almost impossible to begin slowly--pressing the pedal down very slowly and cautiously produces an increasingly loud hum, but no movement, and then all of a sudden WHEE! It makes fiddly bits of sewing difficult to impossible.

So here's my question: I found a place to buy a new foot pedal that claims to be compatible with this machine, but I'm not sure if that will help, or if it's an issue with the capacitor or some other motor part? The new foot pedal is pretty cheap, but still a waste of money if it won't fix the problem.

Hi,

One possibility is a foot pedal (controller) issue. You can swap out a known good controller while using your White cord and test. Could also be a gummy motor or the machine itself in need of lube.

Remove belt if external or loosen stop motion screw and see how controller and motor act.

Jon

Oh, interesting, I didn't think about that! I will take the belt off and then at least I can make sure it's not in the machine itself. I still won't know if it's the motor or the foot pedal, though, unless I buy a new foot pedal, since I don't have any other ones I can use.

Anyone else have any thoughts on how to tell whether it's the motor or the foot pedal?

once it goes wheeee ,,, well it then slow down and run at say 2 rpm ( very slow ) ? because of it age, I'm guessing it has a wiper type pedal, take it apart and see if the wiper touch's every contact point..

you COULD alway use a multi meter and check the voltage out of the pedal, Thats easier said than done...

I find some of this is from a belt being to tight, I say that because of the buzzing sound. meaning the motor is getting power, but can not move

How did the motor and foot pedal act once the SM belt was removed?

Make sure your belt isn't too tight. That happened to me the other day when I was fixing up a Singer 185j and once I found the "sweet spot" in belt tightness the machine sewed so-o-o smoothly. Also, turn the pedal around the opposite way and see if that helps controlling it a little better.

It can also be because the belt is too loose... :)

Okay, so, I'm embarrassed to say I haven't figured out how to get the belt off. I don't want to break it, or tweak the pulley/shaft on the motor, but I can't see any easy way to loosen the tension so the belt will come off easily. Halp!

Also, unrelatedly: should I buy these decorative stitch cams? I don't really need them, but I kind of want them, since I know the machine is supposed to have them. I can't really think of anything I can't do without them--I don't do machine embroidery, really.