Finding vintage machine resources
08-29-2018, 02:44 PM
#132
Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by miriam
‘Taming the 15 clone tension, well maybe’ is the title. The link failed to open for me. You may have to use search to find it. It is a discussion of 15 clone tensioners.
I was hoping to find a source for available tensioners for these machines, It just seems with all the tension units available there would be one that just bolts right on, only I don't know which one that would be, I hoped someone here would.
The one that started me on this quest was the first "clone" I bought and it's tensioner had been taken apart and parts lost, only I didn't know what parts those were because I was unfamiliar with exactly what it should have.
I have since found the exact match on ebay, but even though I no longer need one for this machine I still would like to know if any exist new that will work as replacements.
Thanks
Mark
08-29-2018, 02:59 PM
#133
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,507
Sew classic used to stock tension pieces other suppliers may, too
I doubt if you can just pop any old tensioner in.
You can buy the whole plate with a rebuilt tensioner from somebody who has extras laying around... it sounds like that is what you did.
I doubt if you can just pop any old tensioner in.
You can buy the whole plate with a rebuilt tensioner from somebody who has extras laying around... it sounds like that is what you did.
Last edited by miriam; 08-29-2018 at 03:08 PM.
08-29-2018, 07:53 PM
#134
Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 4
Originally Posted by miriam
Sew classic used to stock tension pieces other suppliers may, too
I doubt if you can just pop any old tensioner in.
You can buy the whole plate with a rebuilt tensioner from somebody who has extras laying around... it sounds like that is what you did.
I doubt if you can just pop any old tensioner in.
You can buy the whole plate with a rebuilt tensioner from somebody who has extras laying around... it sounds like that is what you did.
The back plate for it was missing, the spring, and the small stop washer.
I found one on ebay complete with the nose plate and another that was just all in pieces, so I bought both.
I'm just starting with this, so I had no "parts" laying around to fix it and wasn't sure exactly what was missing.
Now I know that particular tensioner like the back of my hand, but still would like to find some complete.
I have a hunch that the The Singer HA #17 tensioner can be made to work and will look right on the machine (like original) but I haven't bought one of those yet to play around with it and find out.
09-05-2018, 10:27 AM
#136
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 20
Can anyone find a manual or which cams go to this please. I have found no information on this model. There is tons of information on the 803A but nothing on this model of the 803 except I know it was made by Riccar. The casting of the machine has Riccar stamped on it. I would appreciate if you could find a clone like it somewhere. Must be one out there someplace. It is a Free-Westinghouse. Glowygirl2
09-05-2018, 01:37 PM
#138
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Victorian Sweatshop Forum
Posts: 4,096
Like Miriam said in the other thread, it's a badged Japanese machine. It could have been sold under a hundred different names. You probably won't find a manual under the name, you'll have to go by pics. Same with the cams, try to find a pic that shows a machine with its cams, then you'll know what to look for. Cam boxes rarely have a name on them and there are tons of different ones.
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