Originally Posted by
Champanier
I still have questions. It's a 220 v motor, and needs to be rewired anyway, so looking for advice. Find a motor from the U.S. and just store the original? Put in a 220 line for it? Other ideas? Oh, and although it's set up for a knee lever, the lever is missing. Hmm, that's another question - if I put on a 110 v motor, would I need to change the controller?
She's a beauty Linda. You have a couple of choices with the motor voltage:
1. Get a transformer. Regardless of the power supply frequency it will then work the same as if it were in Germany.
2. Swap with a U.S. motor. and controller
3. Get it re-wound for 110V
Motor rewinds are far too expensive to be practical, and seeing as the knee lever is missing your best option will be to buy a motor and foot controller/power cord for a 306 or 319. Either should fit straight on. Actually just about any external motor, Singer or not, should be OK. I swap motors quite a lot and the only problem is mis-matched colours.
The controller for the knee lever won't work on 110V. If you remove it you'll see its rating will be for about 150-250V.
If you had the knee lever, you could have just bought a transformer but transformer + controller + cord + lever = $$$$
If it were me, I'd choose option 2. The cheapest way of getting all the bits is to buy a damaged machine that has a good motor, foot controller and wiring. Check the motor wiring and brushes, but melty or damaged wires are the only thing I'd avoid. Carbon brushes are very rarely worn out but if they are, they're about $6 a set and very easy to replace.