Thread: Vintage Sewing Machine Shop.....Come on in and sit a spell

Joe, I am wondering now if it is just the nature of the beast. Does anyone have a Dressmaker like this one? The machine runs along just fine and even without a special cam in it, it slows down a little and then continues to run for a bit and then slows down as if it was straining. It seems like it is in a rhythm. Do they all do that? Also Joe, does the black, built in cam stop moving at all? ~G~

Originally Posted by J Miller

Grant,

I've got a couple other Singers I'm gonna check to see if this might be parts of their problems too.

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I checked my Dressmaker 7000 yesterday. The gears are in good shape and undamaged. I ran it for quite a while but could not figure out why it surges when a cam is in. I compared my machine to the pics you sent me and they are the same. I even took the spring off the cam follower and used my finger to push the follower to the cam. It still surged.
So I put a stronger motor on it. No difference.

I am officially stumped on this one. Looks like it just might have to go to the LSMG.

Joe

Grant,

I've got a bunch of machines that use cams. None of the slow down as the cam follower rides over the high parts of the cam.
I do not think it's the nature of the beast. On mine the black built in cam never stops.

Something is creating a bind somewhere, I just can't seem to find it.

Singer machines with the cam drive gears such as the 413s 518s, 538, have and excentric mounting shaft that is adjustable. My #1 413 would surge until I read about the adjustment. Once I adjusted it the surging quit. I've looked the Dressmaker over and can't find any way to adjust it.

I know Miriam just got one of these, but I don't know if she's done anything with it yet. Perhaps she'll tell us if we say "purty please" .

Joe

Originally Posted by jennb

I don't think I ever shared a photo of my Jones Hand Crank. Have not dated it yet. It is dusty but it does work. Yay for that...now if I can just figure out how I'm supposed to sew using one hand....

Jenn, That's a very pretty machine. It will be gorgeous cleaned up. How nice that it works.

Originally Posted by Mizkaki

Nancy,

The retainer spring on Joe's 500 is the same on the Singer 401, 403, and 503.
Here's a close up picture of the spring.

Cathy,

Thanks for posting the better pic. What program do you use that gives you the big arrow? None of mine do.

Joe

I haven't looked up from the bottom yet. To adjust the springy part I just loosened the two little screws and nudged it over a bit.

Joe