MeganMills

Hi Everyone - I know this must be on here but I can't find the thread. I've got a 1903 Singer 28 and I've got the clutch knob and washer off but cannot seem to loosen the handwheel so I can remove it from the shaft (I needed to get at the bolt on the machine body under it so I can get to the sliding block and replace the regulating thumbscrew for stitch length - have done that on the 1902 28 with no problem.) This machine doesn't have rust - it's got gunk, oily gunk and ancient-oil-turned-to-varnish gunk. Probably highly refined sperm whale oil at that it looks that old. Whole machine turns like a dream but can't stop needle when winding bobbin and can't get that thumbscrew replaced with the handwheel stuck.

I've cleaned and loosened all the gunk I can on the shaft/handwheel union and lubricated well. I've tried sewing machine oil, kerosene (paraffin) and Kroil. I've tried tipping her on her nose and tapping the handwheel both towards and away from the shaft with a block of wood, hoping nudge the Kroil into little crevices and start softening the gunk. Before I try heat do any of you have any other tips? How safe is it to put a wooden block under the needle bar and try rotating the handwheel forward in little rocking "taps" on the wood to get some resistance between the shaft and handwheel? I'm wondering if trying a little bit of shear force that way will start to soften the gunk/varnished 117-year old oil (possibly) that has effectively glued the handwheel to the shaft that she should freewheel on. Once she moves even a teensy bit I'll know I'm winning but right now she feels like that gunk is a weld!

What to do you think, is that a safe tactic or just "stoopider than stoopid"? (In the meantime she's enjoying a Kroil spa). Thanks heaps and heaps for any tips at all... Kind regards and keep safe, Megan