miriam

Unplug Your Machine

For your own safety and to prevent damage to your machine always unplug the machine before you start cleaning and oiling your machine.

Remove Lint

Fabric and thread are a combination that is going to produce lint. Lint can build up in unseen areas of your machine leading to wear and tear that is preventable.

Open all areas that you can and clean the lint out of the machine. Use the brush that came with your sewing machine to remove lint in cracks and crevices and from under the bobbin case.
Try to get in the habit of cleaning the lint out of your machine every time you finish a project. That way the machine will be ready to sew when you are!

Sewing Machine Oil

Sewing machine oil is not something you borrow from the garage. It is clear white oil. Be sure to use the proper oil. Refer to your owner’s manual for the proper spots to oil. Some of the older machines have these areas marked.
After oiling your machine run stitches on some scrap fabric before you tackle your project. This allows oil to escape on to the scraps, if it's going to, instead of the project you are working on.

Oiling the machine not only lubricates your moving parts, to prevent wear, it reduces the risk of rust. Rust forms rapidly with any dampness, even just the humidity in the air. Surface rust can act just like loose sand granule in your machine, and create excess wear.

Loose Screws

As you clean and oil the machine you will find many screws and set-screws. As a general rule, tighten regular screws as you run across them. Set screws which usually require hex key wrenches, should only be adjusted by a repair person unless you have a complete understanding of the timing of your sewing machine.
If the set screws are missing or loose, take the machine to a repair shop. It may seem easy to just replace the screw or tighten it, but all of these details go in to the timing of the machine. If the timing is off you can do great damage and the repair bill will be much more then a tune up.

Wires

You should always be watching for wear signs on wires but while you’re cleaning your machine, take the time to honestly inspect the wires.
Check the entire length of the wire for abrasions to the plastic coating or for damage a pet may have done.
Check that all the electrical prongs are tight and secure.
Consult a repair person or electrician for any problems you may find.

Here is one of my favorite resources - Sew Classic. Jenny has put together a list of links. She also sells parts for old Singers.
http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/11/...intenance.aspx

http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine...Singer_301.htm
301 trouble shooting

FOR ALL METAL MACHINES ONLY:
http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...gmachines.html
I do not like WD40 or 3in1 oil for cleaning up the machines.
Use some kerosene apply with a brush or Triflow oil

http://sewing-machines.blogspot.com/ someone obviously loves the old machines and he has some good pointers about cleaning them up.

http://sewdelish.blogspot.com/2007/1...-machines.html I like to get lots of opinions before I try anything new.

http://marmaladekiss.blogspot.com/20...g-machine.html
another blogger has a post about cleaning up a machine - If you have never done it before, don't try to take the whole thing apart - just do a small area at a time. Clean the whole exterior. Do the tension. Put it back. Do the throat area. Put it back. etc.

http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/ I learned a lot from this site

http://sewingmachine221sale.bizland....re/page89.html Short but some good insight.
There are various places to buy the kit - might be a good idea if you don't have that stuff around.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Old-...den-Treasures/

http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/how-t...sewing-machine - interesting info - does not totally refurbish but cleans and oil

http://zsuzsybee.hubpages.com/hub/Wh...Sewing-Machine
looks to be advise from a sewing shop - not bad info though

Here are some websites that were most helpful:

www.ismacs.net an international sewing machine collector's website.

www.neeldebar.org lots of good pictures and information here.

www.tfsr.org This is an organization that takes in repaired machines and sends them to Third World countries. Their online sewing machine manual is a techinical repair book for the most common of the old black Singers. Very useful information for restoring a machine.

www.treadleon.net Very good site dedicated to people powered machines, meaning Treadles and Hand Cranks. Loads of different types of information on restoring machines. At first sight this page may seem a little strange but the people here know their business. They have a sister site: www.quiltropolis.com

For lots of pictures people have posted on line of the their favorite machines and hobbies go to www.webshots.com. There are thousands of pictures here.

Singer's website has the list of serial numbers for machines back to around 1900, when they first starting keeping the serial numbers lists. You can also buy or download free manuals for Singers. www.singerco.com

You do NOT need to take it completely apart. I don't recommend that at all.

Get a box of q-tips, a tooth brush, and an old (but clean) mascara applicator/brush, a hair dryer, good quality sewing machine oil, some sewing machine grease and some Tri-flow oil.

For the grease, you can use the Singer stuff they sell in a tube at the fabric store. I use tri-flow grease and oil that you can probably purchase at your local bicycle shop.

Take the lid off the top of the machine. Be careful as the top hinges and door hinges on the 500 are prone to breakage.

Cover the bed of the machine with a layer of protective newspaper and plastic.

Using your q-tips and other tools clean everything that you can. Then replace the grease on the gears (one under the cam stack too) and oil where ever metal moves against metal. Do NOT put any oil on the geared motor shaft!!! Only grease goes there. If any thing is still stiff or stuck, put your hair dryer on high and warm it up while you wiggle it. Once it pops loose, clean and oil it.

Careful - do NOT get anything on the wires.

Or take it in to be serviced.


http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...y-t194930.html link to info about cleaning some types of bobbin area.

http://zigzaggers.typepad.com/zigzag...ping-tips.html good info - how to shop for a sewing machine
http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_c/c-102.html good info

Videos I like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bidpJ..._order&list=UL
it will go on and do part 2 when part one runs completely out
This is a very good video for cleaning up an old sewing machine!!!
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

She also has one on adjusting tension on a long bobbin sewing machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S43_-..._order&list=UL

I think so far she has 9 videos - all very good.

http://www.free-press-release.com/ne...263895315.html

These are blogs with general info:
Treadle On - http://www.treadleon.net/

The Treadlers Village - http://www.thetreadlersvillage.com/

http://mysewingmachineaddiction.blogspot.com/

http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/

http://imcinnis.blogspot.com/

This page has lots of pictures:
Treadle and Hand Crank Machines - http://www.treadleandcrank.com/

This web page describes how to use a treadle:
Treadle Sewing Machines: Sew Simple - http://hubpages.com/hub/Treadle-Sewi...inesSew-Simple

Videos on Treadle Sewing - http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...rch_type=&aq=f

Here are manuals:
Singer Sewing Co. Manuals - http://www.singerco.com/accessories/manuals.html
Treadle Sewing Machine Manual Index - http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa012400b.htm
Free Singer Manuals - http://www.a1sewingmachine.com/manuals.htm

Here are some sites to get parts:
Treadle Machine Parts - http://wordsetc.com/treadle.htm
Treadle and Vintage Parts - http://sewingmachine221sale.bizland....re/page47.html

MOTORS
I searched around a bit for info on motor repairs. We went to Border's one night after the library. The library didn't have anything - she ordered something for us but it was a disappointment. Then we went to Borders - they didn't have anything in the store - you can order books from $29 up to $260.

info on motors
http://sewingmachine221sale.bizland....ore/motor.html

http://www.parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/15-91.pdf
Lots of very valuable info - free to print out - info will work for other machines as well

http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/11/...ne-review.aspx
scroll about a third of the way down - info on 201-2 motors - excellent review!!! and she sells parts

http://blog.sew-classic.com/2009/02/...-401-401a.aspx
some on cleaning up the motor

here are some Bennett posted earlier

Cleaning (and laughing at the 30 minutes part): http://reviews.ebay.com/HOW-TO-OVERH...00000004665359

Cleaning another type of small motor: http://books.google.com/books?id=rnO...page&q&f=false

Video on how motors work. (I like to know the "why" too, and I pretty much ignored high school physics). http://youtu.be/RAc1RYilugI

Here's where the dating site is for vintage Singer sewing machines.

http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...-database.html

miriam

This was posted in the links and resources but I think it needs to be found in the sewing machine section as well.

All my sewing machine repairs are done by small children welding Qtips and screwdrivers and standing precariously on a bench... ARGH... I just can't turn my back now can I???

[ATTACH=CONFIG]371393[/ATTACH]

J Miller

Miriam,

I will book mark this thread for sure. It's a veritable library index of information.
Thanks for taking the time to put it all together.

Joe

Caroline S

Awesome Miriam. Thank you. One thing I would add is to always unplug the sewing machine when one is finished sewing. Some don't but I do. One never knows if there is a trickle of electricity still coming through the foot controller.

JudyTheSewer

Thank you Miriam! I am sure I'll be back referencing this thread in the years to come. :-) Now ...........I'm off to check out that site with treadle parts to see if I can buy an emery wheel !!!

miriam

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t130484.html here is another really good link

pinkCastleDH

It may just be on my end but it seems that the links showing an ellipsis are broken - the link actually has the ellipsis embedded ?!?!

miriam

Ok. What are you talking about??? THis is actually a repost - this was on links and resources but I think it was buried there. Some of these may have to be copied and pasted.

pinkCastleDH

Miriam - If I click on a link that shows an ellipsis in your message, say the one for the ISMACS serial numbers database, it doesn't work. I've tracked down a couple of them but not all of them by any means:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Old-...den-Treasures/
http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...-database.html
http://maryeaudet.hubpages.com/hub/T...inesSew-Simple
http://sewingmachine221sale.bizland....ore/page6.html

Sew Freak

ditto what JMiller said....!!!!!