So I had a lady come bring me a machine to tune up today and so I was in the shop anyway.... Yes, the 31-15 is running.
It's a little noisier than I think it should be and it seems like there's more space between the hook and the shuttle carrier, but I don't know if that's normal or not. It's close to 1/8" and if I had to guess, I'd say there's wear on the face of the one finger of the carrier.
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It makes a "click" sound every time it oscillates, and if you put your finger on the bobbin case you can change the sound of it and feel the hook moving. It strikes me this isn't right since that could have a detrimental effect on timing??
Does anyone else who has a 31-15 see this gap too?
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I set the needlebar - it was about 3/8" low!! How does that even happen? I get how a needlebar gets pushed up, but how do they get pushed down?
It made its first stitches in 30 years today. I balanced tensions and it's got a nearly perfect stitch so far. I need a belt to test it fully.
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I have a 3/16" treadle belt for regular treadles, and that's what the original belt this machine came with seems to be, but the industrial machines are supposed to take 5/16". I'm torn, the treadle belt I have here is spoken for (in mid April and I have an order going in on Monday that should be here before then) and if I cut it, I'm wasting about 34" of it. I just don't know if I can use any of the other treadle belt options - vegan cord, aquarium tubing, urethane tube, spring metal cord - with the motor. 1/4HP seems more powerful than what I'm going to give any of my treadles.
Originally Posted by
miriam
The 241 has some kind of limited stitch length arrangement. There is a little screw to stop it from turning to a longer stitch. I haven't experimented with the little screw. I have made smaller stitches but it doesn't go any bigger than about 8 to an inch. It's industrial - the factories wanted to keep the stitch lengths set and NOBODY touches it... It might make a good free motion machine since it is so big. I love the feel of that machine. It is just so gutsy. Yes the motor does sound like a power saw when it goes on. The machine itself is very quiet and smooth and fast - yet the clutch is set so it will go at a nice speed.
It seems weird that they'd limit it that way. It limits its attractiveness to people. I've been looking at this machine thinking too that it would be a great FM machine.
Originally Posted by
miriam
I bet it would have taken the 25 needle. Not much difference between the 25s and a 2x4 though...
Probably, the shank size doesn't change, right? I prefer not to sew with 2x4s. They leave way too many splinters in my fabric. As it is a 125/20 sure seems to bludgeon the fabric into submission!
Originally Posted by
amcatanzaro
I have a box of 71x1 needles in the drawer of my machine. Along with other bigger needles.
What is a 71x1 needle used for? These ones take a 16x73 or a 16x257 or a 16x87 depending on who you talk to. The first and last are in the manual, the middle one is what Sewing parts Online lists and what I used. I also found some "unknown" round shank Singer needles in Size 18 and 19 that have a smaller scarf but seem to work in the machine too. They bludgeon the fabric slightly less.
