Featherweight question
10-31-2023, 03:34 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 102
Featherweight question
Hi all. Haven’t been here for ages but as I’ve recently acquired a few older machine I find myself coming back.
I got a 1951 Featherweight a couple of months ago. I did a tuneup on her and she’s running good. Now, however, she seems to be running very slowly—but only when I first start sewing. After a few minutes she seems to “wake up” and starts going at a faster speed.
My hubby suggested adding a little more grease to the motor—thinking maybe because she was old and perhaps not used much for awhile, maybe the grease I put in before had been distributed and it needed more. I did that and she still is slow at first.
Anyone have any suggestions?
I got a 1951 Featherweight a couple of months ago. I did a tuneup on her and she’s running good. Now, however, she seems to be running very slowly—but only when I first start sewing. After a few minutes she seems to “wake up” and starts going at a faster speed.
My hubby suggested adding a little more grease to the motor—thinking maybe because she was old and perhaps not used much for awhile, maybe the grease I put in before had been distributed and it needed more. I did that and she still is slow at first.
Anyone have any suggestions?
10-31-2023, 04:22 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 7,440
I ditto looking at the foot pedal. I purchased a replacement that had a flat surface rather than the small square bump on the upper left side of the pedal. Perfect running since then. If you have a friend with one of the replacement pedals perhaps you can borrow for a quick run. Worth a try.
10-31-2023, 06:42 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,264
From my understanding the things to check for slow sewing featherweights.
According to FW Doctor
- Check the belt tension.
- Check the brushes, and commutator for deposits
- Check that the bobbin is disengaged.
- Check the foot controller.
According to FW Doctor
If your motor is running slow and just doesn't have any zip anymore, loosen
the clutch to disengage the needle and step on the gas. Run it at top speed
for a long time until you hear the motor change its sound. Then its run
itself clean. It might take 10 mins, but you will hear the change in the
motor's sound when it's finally cleaned.
the clutch to disengage the needle and step on the gas. Run it at top speed
for a long time until you hear the motor change its sound. Then its run
itself clean. It might take 10 mins, but you will hear the change in the
motor's sound when it's finally cleaned.
10-31-2023, 07:27 AM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,264
Originally Posted by OurWorkbench
From my understanding the things to check for slow sewing featherweights.FW Doctor
- Check the belt tension.
- Check the brushes, and commutator for deposits
- Check that the bobbin is disengaged.
- Check the foot controller.
- Check the belt tension.
- Check the brushes, and commutator for deposits
- Check that the bobbin is disengaged.
- Check the foot controller.
- Check the motor pulley that thread isn't wrapped around
- Check the hook area that there are no threads.
For #4 a video is at https://vimeo.com/146051184
for #6 the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylxQmI_R-2A is probably the one that I watched when I was having trouble with a FW that would speed up after running for a while as described in post #12 and #15 of FW-HASB ?? fixable? by me? - very long winded
Andy Tube has a longer one at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yVQ0NkcUzQ
10-31-2023, 08:29 AM
#6
Member
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Yellow Springs, Ohio
Posts: 49
I would check the belt itself. My mother's machine was slow like that, and I ordered a new belt because the old one looked tired. The new belt was so stiff that the machine would not turn at all! I did some research on this, and found the Featherweight Shop, and they had just posted that "the new superbelts have just come in.." I watched their video, and ordered one. The difference was amazing! I have been using nothing else since. These belts are soft and flexible, and allow the motor to turn the machine easily. Watch their videos, and they're a great place to know about.
https://singer-featherweight.com/
https://singer-featherweight.com/
