athenadivine

Hello! I just recently got a vintage Singer Stylist 477. The machine is in great shape but I realized that the top gear needs to be replaced. I looked up online and read the manual to figure out how exactly to do it since this isn't a large problem and not that easy to screw up. Plus, project for the hubby and I! We ordered http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Sewing-...Gear+%23155819 <---- that replacement part. We pulled out the old, shredded top gear and oiled up the new one and are trying to pop it in. So that is where our problem is. We line up the gears and the hole that the shaft goes into with the center of the gear and every time we send the shaft up and attempt to send it through the gear to secure it, the gear catches and pushes to the side, not sliding onto the shaft. We have taken the shaft out and slid the gear on it and it fits, just not while both are in the machine....... Thoughts? My auto mechanic boyfriend seems to think that this is the wrong part though the part number matches. Neither of us have had prior sewing machine maintenance experience. Him and I have both seen this part being sold on many other sites listed as compatible with the 477 as well as the part number for the part we have matches the part number in the part ID manual. Hope this makes sense.... ! I want to use my new pet!

Candace

This is a good visual of how to do it and the models are similar enough that it should help you. http://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/457gear/

miriam

good article - same one I was going to recommend.

rudy ryan

I am also trying to replace a 155819 top gear. My machine is a
ver worn stylist 477. I followed the artice at
http://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/457gear/


I had the same trouble with the replacement top gear being very
tight. It was being pressed to the left so hard by the plastic
gear on the horizontalshaft that the vertical shaft cound not be
turned by the motor. The old gear was so chipped away that it was
impossible to compare the sizes of the old and new gears.


I found that the 2 cams that operate the push rods to the bottom
of the machine can be moved to the right by loosening their
set screws. The set screw for the left cam is accessed by removing
the push rod cover that has 2 screws and an oil hole. Rotate until
the two set screws can be seen between the arms of the push rod.
The set screw for the right cam is on the rectangular block of metal
on the far side of the cam. When handling the cams, be careful
because some of the edges on those cams are very sharp. I loostened
the set screws and pushed the cams as far to the right as they
would move to allow more room for the top gear.




Tightening the dirve belt in the bottom of the machine too tight
can also bind the vertical shaft so tight that the machine will
not run.


I used an old needle to set the timing as was shown in the artice.

miriam

The only mistake is this - use a brand new fresh out of the package size 14 needle when you set timing or tensions. An old needle can be bent a little or have wear making it inaccurate.

J Miller

I did it on three machines about 90% of the way the instructions in Candaces link said to do it. There is one thing I've found that helps tremendously with the installation of the top gear.
That is to clean all debris and junk from the old gear out of the top of the machine and especially out of the teeth of the horizontal shaft gear. On two of the machines I've done degraded pieces from the shattered top gear were imbedded in the teeth of the horizontal gear. These prevented the new vertical gear from fitting correctly. Once cleaned out it the new gear fit easily.

Joe