bkay

My Singer 301 has an oil port on the motor. Somewhere, I found an online store that had motor oil. Now all I can find is something that says, "motor and gear grease". That's even what the Featherweight Store is selling. It doesn't make sense to me that you would put grease in an oil port. What am I missing?
bkay

Joe Ayres

I wondered that too. The port fits the end of the tube of Singer Motor Grease. The original tubes had a lead (or lead like) tip that fits into that port sealing most of the leaking. The grease is light weight, and will wick into the bushing/bearing at the end of the motor, and motor heat will help this to keep grease in place. This is why the manual says every 6 months. Oil would be too light, and the bearing would end up dry.
Most of the motor grease ports I have found on sewing machines look like this. My mother's 221 came with a tube of original Singer motor and gear grease in one of those tubes, and the port looks just like the one in my 301.

bkay

So, it was called motor grease? Well, I guess that's what I will buy. Since I've been using my 301 forever, without knowing it needed motor grease, I'm afraid to use the machine without buying the correct lubricant.

Thanks for your input.

bk

OurWorkbench

bkay - DO NOT buy modern Singer Motor Lubricant (the one with the red & pink stripes) -- It is different from what was needed for these vintage machines. See https://singer-featherweight.com/blo...otor-lubricant as they compared the modern and vintage and the Sew*Retro. Needless to say they say Sew-Retro. There has been some discussion as some have said that Petroleum Jelly was recommended by White for their machines and I know many do use PJ for their vintage machines with no problems. Archaic Arcane did a page about motor lubricant and links to VSS that someone has been using PJ for 35 years and her bottom line is to use PJ. Just do NOT get the modern Singer Lubricant.

Here is another page that Archaic Arcane recommends Petroleum Jelly for vintage motors https://archaicarcane.com/greased-li...ube-in-canada/

bkay

Thanks, Janey.
Come to think of it, I used PJ in my Mom's 15-91's grease pots. Also, it's readily available without waiting for something to arrive by mail or UPS..

I haven't bought any PJ in a while. The problem is getting the PJ into that little port. I guess I could ask the pharmacy for a syringe without a needle. I wonder if they will sell me one?

Thanks again, Janey.

bkay

Precaud

I was surprised to read this in the manual of a mid-1950's Japanese zigzag machine:
"One drop of oil in the motor bearings every six months is sufficient to enable your motor to last for many years. Oil holes are located on both ends of the motor. We suggest a heavier oil (such as SAE-20 grade).

sschick

Bkay, you can find single use syringes with different volumes and tips on Amazon. I use these to oil my many machines. You can get a few uses before they break.

Shari

bkay

thanks, Shari