Singer Featherweight - No light, frayed cord ! Any idea ?
 

hi all,

when i got my FW, the light won't turn on. thinking that the old light was busted i decided to buy a new light bulb. but when i plugged in the new light bulb, still it will not turn on. motor runs but light will not turn on. i decided to check the underside to check all the wirings. all look ok except for this frayed cord that i saw. i check everywhere to make sure that there is no cord that should have been connected to it or that it was not accidentally got cut off. but couldn't find the other part of the cord. the wiring looks clean inside. i am really puzzled what this frayed cord it. could this be the reason why my light will not turn on? should this be connected to something ? you will see it with the red arrow on my picture below. appreciate the help of FW experts. thanks again.

Unplug that machine. Now!

I agree. unplugg!

I'm not an expert but it looks like you're going to be replacing the wire next to it too. Looks like it's frayed next to the clamp. I'd count on replacing all the wires in the machine by the time you're done. Insulation gets old and brittle and it looks like those wires are past thier useful span.
I wouldn't try to run the machine until they're fixed.
Rodney

Agreed. Now it will remain unplugged until i have figured out and fixed that cord. To think that I plugged it so many times and ran the motor so many times before checking the underside. I could have been electrocuted. Darn, more electrical work for me now. But anyone have any idea what that is? Thanks guys.

Somebody on makes hand cranks out of window knobs:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEATHERWEIGH...-/160874190414

Miriam, that is interesting. I don't know if I would want to do that to my FW.

Do what to your FW?

CD in Oklahoma

Put a casement window crank on a FW stop motion knob and use as a 1:1 handcrank.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEATHERWEIGH...-/160874190414

Ok. Not to worry then. It doesn’t really “do” anything to the machine, except to make it more versatile. It’s just a matter of taking some parts off and replacing them with others. I don’t see that it harms the machine at all. And you can swap power systems back and forth whenever you like.

I have one on my FW, and really like it. You could think of the handcrank as just another attachment like a buttonhole attachment that can be put on or taken off whenever needed. It gives the user an “either or” choice of two power systems.


It’s great for taking to Quilt Shows to piece quilt blocks. That’s what I use mine for mainly, but it is also handy for use with children learning about sewing on a machine, for use nearly anywhere that electricity is not available, or for not having to plug-in when only a few stitches are needed for a repair.


CD in Oklahoma