Originally Posted by
frudemoo
Well, I had a thorough look at my Necchi Supernova Automatica machine last night and it's the first machine I've ever owned that was as dirty as a barbecue! The other machines I've come to own have seemed more clean and dry, even if they are dirty in areas and have packed in lint etc. This one is like a grease pit!! All the lint and dirt is stuck on with this brown grease.
Anyway, I set to work in grease removal as I figured that would be the only way to remove all the unwanted dirt. It also looks like it's all built up around the moving parts so I suppose it won't work as smoothly unless it gets removed and replaced with fresh oil.
My question is... How far should I take it? I've noticed some people talk about sitting their mechanical machines in a bucket of soapy water (and now I know why!!) but this machine has electrics underneath. Am I attempting to get all the parts back to 'shiny and new' or just 'serviceable'? ....and what should I be using to remove it?
I hope someone out there will be patient enough to explain this stuff to me. I am SO desperate to learn how to do all of this myself, but every time I look at a new machine there are always new issues and new questions. Also the mechanics are a lot more complicated than for a simple SS machine. There is a nifty button that you're supposed to be able to turn and push down to drop the feed dogs. It's a spring loaded mechanism that is so sluggish it does absolutely nothing, plus the area around the feed dogs is all black and gunged up anyway, so it's hard to know what end the problem might be at. If I could get THAT working again, I would be as pleased as punch
I have asked myself the same question - how deep do you clean. It is almost easier when you get a really gross old machine and nothing to lose. The other day I spent a long time cleaning up on an old clone. It was really filthy - tar like stuff on the out side and some on the inside. I worked and worked to get it all off. Some things were stripped off and dumped in a bucket of soapy water. Then I still had to use chrome polish to clean up chrome. The parts that come off are for sure easier to clean. I just clean a zone then put it back and clean another zone. This one I did was such a mess I figured it was either going to clean up and work or it would be for parts.
Then I cleaned up on a White zz - it was sort of dirty but not too bad. It actually didn't get the cleaning the 15 got. I sort of wondered if I needed to get that aggressive with the White or not. I decided not. It sews just fine. It looks fine. It could have some of the exterior oil off the moving parts but why. I think some of that oil is protective anyway.
Then I checked on my Singer 319 which has set for way too long. It was fairly thoroughly cleaned a while back. It was gummed up when I checked it. I'm pretty sure I used Tri-flo on it... but then again maybe not. I don't really remember. Maybe it was from before I discovered the joys of T-F? Maybe something needed some more cleaning. That machine was horrible. Here is a link:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...c-t162425.html Another thing on my never ending to do list. I would also go about cleaning it different these days... sigh. always learning.