It's only got a .5 AMP motor, so it's a tank but not what I'd consider industrial either...though you know sellers love a good tale:>

Miriam, you made sure to adjust the stitch width and turn on the zig zag lever and still no go?

not so far - the arms are still pretty gunked up

That's great! Can you tell us how he does that? And what you need to do it?

I just found motor info in an old repair manual. http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/15-91.pdf
The motors are an awful lot alike. I think Bennett posted recently some links on the Vintage Sewing Machine Shop

great find, finding the bobbin case.

I needed you here to help me look for it

Thanks! That's a great bit of very helpful information. It really explains things very nicely. Thanks again.

Cant wait to see it up and running.

I got one just like that today . How did you get the top off? bannie

I'm positively sure that is so not the right needle. I need to order some so I can get this machine sewing. Mr. Ed now zigzags - won't know about stitches until I get some needles and a belt.

Mine had screws in the top - 3 of them and then it comes off - I had to raise the keys and maneuver a bit until it came off What color did you find? I love the color of mine now that the gunk is off. I've worked on it enough to get the rest of the gunk off, move the zig zag but I haven't fooled with the tension other than to clean it a bit. I have a feeling it is going to be a never ending job cleaning up that machine - I keep finding more specks. I'm happy I got a good set of throat plates and accessories. Did I post a manual and a service manual on here?
http://parts.singerco.com/IPsvcManuals/306W25.pdf a link to a user's manual
and a repair manual - this covers all "swing needles" http://parts.singerco.com/IPsvcManuals/306W25.pdf

The stitch length regulator is really odd, part of it is UNDER the machine. I did get it cleaned up and it works slick as can be now!

You did a great service to an old veteran of the sewing wars. You gave it a new lease on life. How does it sew now?
Great thing you did.

I am waiting on an order from Sew Classic - I need the needle and a belt, etc

Wow! What a transformation. Underneath that layer of grime was a real beauty.

Lots of hard work and elbow grease but once you sit down to sew on it, you will
Forget the effort and just enjoy the outcome.

Bloomin' Iris came over today and we got Mr. Ed's tension apart and put back together. It took 5 tries to get the spring in the right place but we got it. Then we figured out the zig zag adjuster. I'm waiting on some needles from Sew-Classic - then I have to put the needle bar back together. It is made with some kind of little plug in the hole and I haven't quite figured that out yet. Anybody know much? Mr. Ed's cabinet front is really a door. Behind the door is a big hole on the left. To change the bobbin you reach in through the hole in the front and change it. I don't think it can be changed from the slide plate with out being an acrobat with a very small hand. I shot a pic of the tension off and then after we replaced it - let's see if it loads.

Miriam, you can change the bobbin by removing the plate. But, the paint will get chipped over time, doing it that way.

pictures are kind of blurry but we did get it on and the tension seems to do what it should do. Mr Ed still needs some fine clean up. So it will be q tip work for a while - lots of dirty little corners and such. There is still more gunk on the stitch selector slide - seems like even a few specks keep things from moving well.

I can see that it could knock off paint. The slide plate lifts at the round end - there is a little pin holding it in place - then it slides out. I've not seen anything like it. This machine came with 3 plates. A zigzag plate, a single hole and a free motion/darning plate!

Iris and I also looked at the bobbin case. Candace, you were right someone was using the wrong needle and the bobbin case is all torn up. We worked on the burrs a bit - it is going to take more than I was able to do with what was on hand. The needle plate was a bit torn up as well. I also noticed the rod the tension goes on is not quite horizontal so one day will have to tackle that. Then we looked at the electric parts - Iris thinks I need to scrap them & put Mr. Ed in a treadle. He does have a VERY fine cabinet though - one of the best I have ever seen for an electric.... I wonder if a hand crank would go on there?

Wow Miriam, that was awesome. The pictures really make sense. Thank you! Another thread to bookmark now! I wonder if I can still pickup wifi from my garage when I get ready to clean mom's machine. I think that's what I'm going to name her "mom's".

Iris and I worked cleaning on Mr. Ed's tension. The 319 user's manual was incorrect on putting the tension back together - at least we kept it in order when we pulled it off - it is still crooked though and that will drive me nuts. I looked up more information so we can set it in right - of course, I haven't done it yet - but I like to look up how to so I can get it back together. Anyway here is some information on tensions. http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2011/07/do...sion.html#more look under #2 refurbishing - tension mechanism then look for a tension that looks like your machine's tension. This blog was helpful as well http://vssmb.blogspot.com/

Miriam, you sure it's incorrect? The 319 tension has that flat disc in the middle, I believe for twin needle stitching.

It is that way in the manual but when we took it apart that flat piece was in the back. It could be for twin needles but what does the whole mess rest on? Have you got any idea how to get the needle holder thingy back together?

PM me with your e-mail addy. I'll try to get you a picture today. I've taken both of mine apart for cleaning and reassembly.

Thanks so much for showing us the "evolution of a vintage machine". She looks great now. I'm sure once she gets her motor she will run forever.

one more question. How far up the shank does it go? I don't see a specific spot for it. I'm thinking this most probably is going to involve some timing at some point.

Ok - Candace says the correct needles are shorter than average needles. Someone tried to raise the needle holder higher up the shaft and use regular needles. No wonder the bobbin case is so chewed up. I can see that someone fooled with the tension so Iris and I are going to have to do it again - maybe this time get the shaft straightened out. Iris - all that work was for practice. DH is such an enabler - he stopped up the 2 inch gap under the old door and put bubble wrap over it so we stay warmer out there. Then he put a door knob on the other door and insulated the holes. Then he found a heater. Then he found a piece of plywood for me to use on top of old sewing table legs - we swiped the top to put the 401g in the treadle.

Here's a perfect link and shows how the 206 x 13 needle compares to regular needles. http://sewing-machines.blogspot.com/...n-needles.html

Wow - thanks for the needle info Candace - I hope nobody messed with the timing on that machine. I got my order for needles but I haven't gotten it reassembled yet. (We worked on a Japanese 15 clone yesterday - I was amazed at how quickly that one cleaned up and running beautifully. It is a very simple machine so not so much to do. Oh and we worked on a Singer FW and a Singer 99 and another 15 clone and we looked over an old electric Domestic - my lips are sealed on that one until I can do it justice. AND we played with a hand crank! My camera is dead so I am waiting on some pics from Iris or Hannah. Candace I have located some disks for the Singer 319 - I'll do the happy dance when I actually have them in my hot little hands.

Cool, you'll have lots of fun with them.

My first sewing machine I named 'Mishka'. A lady I took care of said it means "little bear' in Russian". He is a bear to lift out of the cabinet and carry up the basement stairs for surviceing. He is a Kenmore with all metal parts {heavy}! He also is tough as a bear when it comes to sewing through jeans.

I have been hassling with the needle bar clamp lately. I have already spent well over an hour messing with it. If anybody has any tips on putting it back together I sure would love to know what it is. I've been searching info on the timing/needle as well. I'll post info one of these days. Until I get the needle bar clamp back together I'm can't do anything else on this machine. It is no wonder Singer didn't make real many of these - I bet the repair men invented whole new languages of words for that needle bar clamp.

I hope these pictures help those who've disassembled their needle clamp mechanism and can't get it back together. Now I'm an old pro at it, but luckily, the first time I did it, I had a second 319 there to cheat off of!

The first photo is of the side clamp showing the screw. This comes out first. Don't lose it! Right, Miriam? ;>

This is looking straight on at the assembly.

When you remove the side screw, this is what it will look like.

When you remove the clamp, there is a tiny piece inside. Note the location and orientation of the piece because it fits back in as is!

Another shot of it.