Originally Posted by
Stitchnripper
I put some PB Blaster on it. I have been using heat on and off. Can I use heat with the PB Blaster?
I would be really careful with any of the solvents and heat. Most are fairly flammable.
Originally Posted by
Stitchnripper
Good news!!! Ta da!!!! Mr. Stitchnripper worked with me and we got the sleeve to move up the column in the back! Will still have to tinker and clean it up and see if it is functional. Too bad we are leaving town tomorrow. But, will try and work on it more this evening if I can get everything done here. I hope it doesn't freeze up again while we are gone.
Thanks for all your suggestions and I will keep posting my progress!!!!
Yeahhhhaahh!!! If the needlebar moves to the right a 1/4" and snaps back, it's good, and so is most of the swing mechanism including bight (the red lever). Now that the cam followers are freed up, really all you have left is cleanup and a good oil massage for the machine.
I gave the 401 today at my client's shop a quick work over. I found immediately that the motor was "Seized" solid. I dropped a half dozen drops of oil on top of the motor bearing, and just gently wiggled it back and forth as far as it wanted to go for a minute, no further. Then I gave everything a quick oiling, and by the time I got to the bottom, the machine was turning a little more. Literally, 5 minutes of marinating in the triflow, and it loosened up. I went back to the handwheel, and gave it a little turn, and it ground, but it turned. turned it a dozen or so times more then plugged it in. Ran it full out for 5 minutes, and as far as I'm concerned, it's fully resurrected. I told him the cleaning was up to him, since I was doing the rehab for free.
These are incredibly resilient and reliable machines if you give them just a little TLC. They're worth the elbow grease you sometimes have to put in them when you first get them because of it.
Originally Posted by
jlhmnj
Alyce,
Connecting the dots from the selector dial to the rear posts are any of the linkages, levers, fingers, etc physically preventing the collar from moving up and down the rear post? Sounds like your getting there and only the last bit of gum or blocked mechanical part to go. The 401 is worth the trouble.
Jon
Edit--Good Going
Jon, that's exactly what I was trying to cover for her in the video.
Hey, does that mean I can take it down now and do a re-edit?