miriam

I've had the same ad up for one machine for months. People come over and buy a different machine sort of like it. LOL

grant15clone

Well I am pleased to say that I was able to fix the motor on the National Rotary I have been working on. I test ran it and it is running strong. You can see the updated pictures and a video of the motor test too on my page with the link below. But I will show a pic of the damage that was inside motor. The bare wires hanging out of the top of the pic is the problem. These wires were as a result of mice in the machine. Normally this would be a terminal problem. But I just don't give up that easy. All of those wires had to be reconnected to the other half that were broken.
Further proof that they CAN be rescued with some work.
~G~

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miriam

The machine was one I won on line. I couldn't see it real well so I figured all those nice attachments would be worth the money I spent.
1) The attachments don't go to the machine.
2) The manuals (note plural) don't go to the machine.
3) The machine does not turn.
4) The machine does not have a power cord or foot control...
5) Fred Flintstone might have serviced it...

The attachments will go with some other machine around here and were worth the money I paid - I hope so anyway.
The manuals - well - I have to see if they go with anything in my hoard... but I fear it is the one that goes only in reverse...

Then the machine. This is a 1995 Kenmore with all kinds of bells and whistles... I dug through all the papers. Yes there were papers. This machine was taken to an AUTHORIZED SEARS SERVICE place. They charged $30 - doesn't say what they did - I think I know... The complaint was that it wouldn't sew over heavy material... I figured I had nothing to lose. Why not crack it open and see what there is to see inside a plastic wonder. Nothing to lose, right? Well the first thing I saw was a LOT of very hard gummy dried on oil - I'm thinking 3 in 1 oil... Tri-flow to the rescue. After I got the top of it oiled the machine reluctantly turned. I figured I should clean out the bobbin area - at first I didn't see one tiny little bit of lint.... then I probed. It was packed solid under there. Turns better... I noticed up in the needle bar area that there were threads wrapped around things that move or supposedly move. Almost every thing that moved up there had thread and dried up 3 in 1 oil. I worked on the stitch selector and got it moving. The button hole switch is still stuck ON. No cord so I don't know if it will run or not but I learned stuff.

grant15clone

I just wanted to share something here on the same machine I have been working on. This is the underside of the National Rotary. Everything is Rust, Rust, Rust under there. But Rust can be cleaned off and the machine restored. This is from my FB page. All is not lost. And this is just a comparison from how it was found to the "In Progress" stage. I hope this gives the incentive to anyone that might be looking at a boat anchor like this was to just give it a chance. More of them are able to come back from the grave than you might think. This one was going to be meted down and be a car fender (or something) if I didn't grab it. And all of that history would be gone forever.
~G~
"I didn't want to have to go this far but it had to be done. This morning I completely gutted the underside of the machine. Thankfully, everything came out without much of a problem. It still has to be cleaned and polished before going back in. And while it is all out of there I am going to clean the bottom too. I already started when I took this pic. I have polished up the rusty bar to the far right and wiped off the first layer of filth underneath the bed. I removed the pink insulation "mouse mattresses" and "presents" too. Still a long way to go." But it is getting there.
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SteveH

Nice! Great inspiration!

mom-6

Well I got brave and decided to see what I can do with the Frister and Rossman. I currently have it soaking in ATF in a tupper. So my question is - do I try to immerse the entire machine or just the bottom of it? One jug of ATF pretty much covers the bed of the machine but doesn't get much higher than that.

mom-6

Here's the picture of it right after I brought it home.

She's already looking better and a few parts started moving after just a good dose of the Dritz oil I had on hand.

Discovered that among the miscellany in the picture is what appears to be two bobbins and a spare spring for underneath the bobbin area. The other spring I don't know where it belongs or even if it is for this machine. It almost looks like a stretched out ballpoint pen spring.

grant15clone

Mom-6, Way to go. The pen spring might be a foot pressure spring. The Singer 66 used one like that as well as several other Singer machines. It would be next to the needle bar.
I am looking forward to seeing more updated pictures and wishing you luck.
~G~

SteveH

I would begin by giving the whole machine a wipe down with a sewing machine oil whetted cloth. Every surface and nook and crannie cleaned. Then to the same to the underside. Use Tri-Flow on EVERY single place where two objects move or look like they should move.

Then I would discuss the ATF solution.

grant15clone

Thank you Steve. I have never used ATF on my machines and felt that I could not comment on what I did not know about first hand. I was waiting for a comment on this.
There was a comment on QB recently about using CLR to remove rust and was waiting for comments on that as well as other things used and never found out the result. I think a tips and tricks thread might be in order as well as a Do and DON'T to a machine might be good too. I have seen a lot of mistakes made and I for one would like everyone to have good results. You, Joe, Miriam the Cathy's, Glen, and so many others that have advice one way or another would be most helpful to everyone I think. I know I could learn from, and have learned, from people here on QB. We all, and others have learned and shared. There should be a place for the do's and dont's. Don't you think? Is there one already for restorations and repair? If so, direct me with a link. If not, let's get one going and have a link to it here. I think it is needed. I have a lot to share and am more than willing. And I know I am not alone.
~G~