Singer 101-3 knee control missing & stitch speed question
12-03-2020, 09:00 PM
#1
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Singer 101-3 knee control missing & stitch speed question
I'm having a hard time finding parts for the knee control. I have everything except the part that actually touches the knee. The machine works great.
I have noticed it's a little slow to stitch compared to the videos on YouTube. Idk if the YouTube video was the same model as mine or if there's something wrong. If there is a problem causing slow stitching which areas of the machine should I check for the solution?
I have noticed it's a little slow to stitch compared to the videos on YouTube. Idk if the YouTube video was the same model as mine or if there's something wrong. If there is a problem causing slow stitching which areas of the machine should I check for the solution?
Last edited by Eshetterly93; 12-03-2020 at 09:01 PM. Reason: Spelling
12-04-2020, 07:50 AM
#2
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
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Welcome, Eshetterly93. Your machine probably needs to be serviced which can be done, if so inclined, by yourself. It seems like this is a machine that has a lot of oil points. Also the motor may need some attention.
From my understanding, the 101 had several different knee controllers. I think there was a left and a right knee controller in cabinets. Then there was the portable that took a knee bar and there were two of those, one of which was for the portable that could be put into a cabinet. There are several vintage sewing machine enthusiasts that praise the 101. There is someone that fashioned a knee bar to attach to a 101 controller as seen near the bottom at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/search?q=101 I did a search for "Singer 101 convertible" (with the quotes) and found a thread that shows some of the knee controllers.
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Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
From my understanding, the 101 had several different knee controllers. I think there was a left and a right knee controller in cabinets. Then there was the portable that took a knee bar and there were two of those, one of which was for the portable that could be put into a cabinet. There are several vintage sewing machine enthusiasts that praise the 101. There is someone that fashioned a knee bar to attach to a 101 controller as seen near the bottom at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/search?q=101 I did a search for "Singer 101 convertible" (with the quotes) and found a thread that shows some of the knee controllers.
We like pictures. In order to post pictures on Quilting Board, you will probably need to reduce or compress the picture to a file size that is smaller than 2MB. How to post images can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...020-01-17-.pdf
Don't forget to scroll over to the far right to find and click on the "Upload" button.
I have found that only the big red "Reply" button or "Quote" work to give me the paper clip icon to work for adding pictures.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...p-location.jpg
Some additional info regarding reducing images at post #4 and images for the scroll and upload button can be found at #5 of quilt block ID?
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
Last edited by OurWorkbench; 12-04-2020 at 08:04 AM.
12-04-2020, 08:17 AM
#3
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Photos From My Singer 101-3
I was thinking maybe the knee controller potentiometer may be wired badly or needs to be cleaned. I figured it was unlikely the motor is bad. The person I got it from said he took it all apart and cleaned and serviced it. He said he used automotive bearing grease on the gears. I'm thinking I need to get that out of there and replace it with a different grease but I'm not sure which grease to use
12-04-2020, 08:25 AM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2020
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Originally Posted by Eshetterly93
I'm having a hard time finding parts for the knee control. I have everything except the part that actually touches the knee. The machine works great.
I have noticed it's a little slow to stitch compared to the videos on YouTube. Idk if the YouTube video was the same model as mine or if there's something wrong. If there is a problem causing slow stitching which areas of the machine should I check for the solution?
I have noticed it's a little slow to stitch compared to the videos on YouTube. Idk if the YouTube video was the same model as mine or if there's something wrong. If there is a problem causing slow stitching which areas of the machine should I check for the solution?
Oh BTW my machine is a right knee controller configuration and as far as I can tell from photos of other 101-3 it looks original and like it hasn't been converted. If you can tell by comparison to other 101-3 I am missing a little curvy metal bar that attaches to the knee controller and extends down to meet the sewers knee.
here is the link to this persons listing on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ant...gAAOSwv11fhB9d
12-04-2020, 08:27 AM
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by OurWorkbench
Welcome, Eshetterly93. Your machine probably needs to be serviced which can be done, if so inclined, by yourself. It seems like this is a machine that has a lot of oil points. Also the motor may need some attention.
From my understanding, the 101 had several different knee controllers. I think there was a left and a right knee controller in cabinets. Then there was the portable that took a knee bar and there were two of those, one of which was for the portable that could be put into a cabinet. There are several vintage sewing machine enthusiasts that praise the 101. There is someone that fashioned a knee bar to attach to a 101 controller as seen near the bottom at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/search?q=101 I did a search for "Singer 101 convertible" (with the quotes) and found a thread that shows some of the knee controllers.
We like pictures. In order to post pictures on Quilting Board, you will probably need to reduce or compress the picture to a file size that is smaller than 2MB. How to post images can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...020-01-17-.pdf
Don't forget to scroll over to the far right to find and click on the "Upload" button.
I have found that only the big red "Reply" button or "Quote" work to give me the paper clip icon to work for adding pictures.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...p-location.jpg
Some additional info regarding reducing images at post #4 and images for the scroll and upload button can be found at #5 of quilt block ID?
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
From my understanding, the 101 had several different knee controllers. I think there was a left and a right knee controller in cabinets. Then there was the portable that took a knee bar and there were two of those, one of which was for the portable that could be put into a cabinet. There are several vintage sewing machine enthusiasts that praise the 101. There is someone that fashioned a knee bar to attach to a 101 controller as seen near the bottom at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/search?q=101 I did a search for "Singer 101 convertible" (with the quotes) and found a thread that shows some of the knee controllers.
We like pictures. In order to post pictures on Quilting Board, you will probably need to reduce or compress the picture to a file size that is smaller than 2MB. How to post images can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...020-01-17-.pdf
Don't forget to scroll over to the far right to find and click on the "Upload" button.
I have found that only the big red "Reply" button or "Quote" work to give me the paper clip icon to work for adding pictures.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...p-location.jpg
Some additional info regarding reducing images at post #4 and images for the scroll and upload button can be found at #5 of quilt block ID?
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
Last edited by Eshetterly93; 12-04-2020 at 08:28 AM. Reason: spelling
12-05-2020, 02:38 PM
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 4,262
I don't subscribe to threads but I check multiple times a day.
Thank you for the pictures. It does look like the knee bar was sheared off. I can't tell for sure if it is like the bar as shown at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/2018...chine-101.html near the bottom of the page. Steelsewing is a member here, but hasn't been on for several months.
I'll PM him and direct him to this thread. He is very knowledgeable about vintage machines and particularly the 101s.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
Thank you for the pictures. It does look like the knee bar was sheared off. I can't tell for sure if it is like the bar as shown at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/2018...chine-101.html near the bottom of the page. Steelsewing is a member here, but hasn't been on for several months.
I'll PM him and direct him to this thread. He is very knowledgeable about vintage machines and particularly the 101s.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
12-05-2020, 04:44 PM
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 8
Originally Posted by OurWorkbench
I don't subscribe to threads but I check multiple times a day.
Thank you for the pictures. It does look like the knee bar was sheared off. I can't tell for sure if it is like the bar as shown at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/2018...chine-101.html near the bottom of the page. Steelsewing is a member here, but hasn't been on for several months.
I'll PM him and direct him to this thread. He is very knowledgeable about vintage machines and particularly the 101s.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
Thank you for the pictures. It does look like the knee bar was sheared off. I can't tell for sure if it is like the bar as shown at http://steelsewing.blogspot.com/2018...chine-101.html near the bottom of the page. Steelsewing is a member here, but hasn't been on for several months.
I'll PM him and direct him to this thread. He is very knowledgeable about vintage machines and particularly the 101s.
Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)
Thank you for your help
