Dressmaker SWM-2000 zigzag does not work
 

Hi - this sewing machine is in very good condition and sews a good straight stitch. No zigzag, however. Zigzag, I believe, would be built in. I have 24 cams for it but those don't work either. It's an all metal machine, so a broken, cracked cam stack can't be the cause of this.... right?

I have oiled all the components of the zigzag mechanism, as far as I can tell, and nothing appears to be stuck. It seems to us that something is missing that activates the swing mechanism. A spring maybe?

We activated it manually, tried to compare what we see to several other zigzag machines but they are all different. We don't have another Dressmaker to take cues from.

I'm attaching some photos and hope that anyone can point to what might be missing here. There is a white small tab-like object screwed to the front edge of the machine that seems to have no purpose.... anyone know what it's for?

If nothing is missing, what might be the cause for the non-activation of the swing mechanism?

Thanks for looking!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]508947[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]508948[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]508949[/ATTACH]

Well, first I do not see any built in cam for the ZZ stitch. I think it will need a ZZ cam on the cam drive.

Second you have to rotate one of the knobs off of the straight stitch position to engage the ZZ drive. And there is I believe a lock knob or lever to hold it where you want it.
Some control has to move the big silver lever to the rear so that it can pivot the black cam follower into the cam. That would be one of the knobs.

I don't see anything missing that's obvious.

The white tab is a stop for something, probably the big silver thingy.

Joe

I can't answer your question, but could you please tell me how you got the red line and words on the picture?

I agree that you need a zz cam on the stack to make it zig zag. I have a dressmaker that needs cams so it can do all it's fancy stitches including the zig zag. Which is annoying because I don't have any of the cams. LOL So really it's just a straight stitch machine until I can track down a set.

From what I can tell with the dressmaker cams there's different versions so your cams might not actually go with your machine. If the cams do go with your machine, then I would try widening the stitches. That is what I usually forget to do and then I start cursing the machine for not working right when it's really just user *coughmecough* error. lol

As for that plastic tab, check the underside of the top. It might be there as a spacer for something underneath it.

Joe, thanks, you're right -- the white tab is a stopper.

I did move the 2 knobs for setting and locking in the stitch width and the machine does not respond.

I believe the cams are the right ones, they fit size-wise and also in the guide that sticks up, and the black arm that traces the edge of the cam does reach the edge. That mechanism works, but does not translate into movement of the "swing arm". Somewhere is a breakdown in communication, maybe as minor as a spring that needs to connect to something.
I will dismantle some of the mechanism tomorrow. I did read of broken cam gears somewhere, even a metal one.... so I'll look for that.

Foufymaus, if you have time, can you take a photo or 2 of your machine to compare? I did adjust the stitch width to max without any result. And using the cams has no effect either, all I get is a straight stitch. (BTW, I did see a set like mine on eBay.) Thank you for your suggestions.

June, I went into a drawing program - if you have a PC you will probably find "Paint" as default drawing program. All basic drawing or photo editing programs are very much alike, and you can download them for free.

Select your image by clicking "open" and find it in the folder that you saved it to. Reduce it to ca 900 pixels wide if you want to post it to this board.

You can chose the type of line you want, either free hand or straight, and you can select a thickness and color.

Click on a button for text, move the cursor to where you want text and write it down, either straight onto the image or in a dialog box, depending on the type of program you have... Again select size and color and a particular font if you like.

Remember to save your image while working on it.

Hope this helps :-)

When you turn the knobs the silver piece should move back and forth. The curved piece with the rectangular block that moves in it should follow it, and the black cam follower should also move. If they do not, somethings missing or broken.
The machine will do nothing unless it has a cam in it. So put a ZZ cam in it and try again.

Joe

Can you post a pic of the machine with it's cam port open or the top off? Or if you already have, link me to it? I have a couple sets of cams I have no idea what they fit.


Joe

I'm going to be the odd man out here and say that I don't think you need a cam to make a zigzag on that machine. I have a Dressmaker SWA-2000 with guts that look very much like yours. I don't have any cams for it, but it will make a zigzag...almost. First, this is what my machine looks like (is yours similar?):

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509062[/ATTACH]

Mine has a plastic gear that drives the zigzag mechanism, which is circled here:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509063[/ATTACH]
The gear on mine is cracked all the way through, but hasn't broken off yet which my best guess is why I am getting a scalloped shape when zigzagging, demonstrated by blue and black stitches here:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509064[/ATTACH]

Also, in your photo, there appears to be the end of a wire (or end of spring) that is clipped onto the edge of the cam follower. If you can see in my photo, there is no such wire clipped on the side of the cam follower. Yours also appears to be loosely wound around the base of that cam follower and mine doesn't appear to be that way. I'm not sure how that actually works...so it's entirely possible yours is correct and mine is not. That's just the only difference I notice. But, there's no way for me to check mine for function without any cams.

Could you also post pictures of your machine and the cams that go with it? It helps others identify machines/cams. There is a good thread you could post those pics on here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...d-t252968.html

There is a yahoo group called vintagejapansewingmachines where I did read some discussions about replacing the gear on my model with one that is apparently still available, but I haven't pursued that. There are people in that group that can probably help you more than I can. I became completely unimpressed with this machine and a Morse with cracked cams/gears.

Good luck.

John

John, thank you for your response :-). I was just about to return the machine but decided to check for responses to my inquiry. I will take some photos of the machine, check for the gear that you pointed out, and take a photo of the cams. I did see them on ebay. No guarantee but they look very much like mine: link . Maybe ask the seller to repost them for you?

I am a member of that yahoo group and may have come across those posts, but then I figured without an original zz cam I'm not getting anywhere.... It is not included in the set of 24, but now it seems that maybe I don't need it if it's actually built in....

to be continued....

Most of those Japanese/Taiwan zigzag machine will do so without need of a cam, unlike some of the Singer zigzag machines.

Of the machines I have had that wouldn't zigzag, it was generally because something in the zigzag mechanism was seized up, and needed oiled and manipulated to get it working correctly.

John:

First revelation: my machine is the same as yours! I photographed the badge and couldn't believe my eyes when I read that it's actually a SWA-2000..... I have the manual and it says SW*M*! Will scan and post the manual to the yahoo group if it is not there already.

Second: the gear that you circled in your photo is gone, all we have there is a big hole. My husband had a hunch that something belonged there....

Now I need to figure out what the gear is like that belongs there and whether I want to spend money (and how much) to buy that gear and screws.
I don't need that machine, I bought it since it was cheap ($10) and looked to be in good shape.

The cam shots are in the next post. Thank you so much for helping me solve this riddle! BTW my manual contains a parts list with photos! Do you have that?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509200[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]509201[/ATTACH]

John:

here are the cams:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509204[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509205[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509206[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]509207[/ATTACH]

Hope this helps :-)

Mark, thank you for clarifying the difference between Singer and Japanese machines.... We have a Singer 328k which needs a zigzag cam for a simple zigzag stitch, which made me assume the Dressmaker might need one too.....

Sabine I have a Singer Touch & Sew that the gear disintegrated completely on. I couldn't even find the broken remains in the machine. Something similar may have happened on your machine. The useful life of those plastic gears is practically over. Looks like many of them self destruct after about 40 to 50 years.
Rodney

Hi John, Rodney and others, I have located a potential source for the missing gear, apparently part #25 on the parts list. Website is http://www.sewingmachineparts.net/gears.html He has supplied this gear to several others, according to my research (yahoo group).

We'll see how that goes....

I did post the cams in the cam thread.

Sabine,

I'm glad you're getting it figured out. I believe I do have the pdf manual with parts list and I *think* it came from the yahoo group. I did look at the site with gears but didn't see a #25 gear...or does that refer to the part number from the manual? Did you write directly to the parts site to identify it? If it works out, I would like to know so I could proceed.

Also, there are some other machines besides some Singers which require a zigzag cam. I know there are some lower end Kenmores that require one. Sometimes, it is not always obvious.

Thanks for the pictures of the cams.

Good luck with your machine and let us know how it works out.

John

John, the #25 gear was mentioned in one of the posts on the yahoo group as the one that drives the zz mechanism. Looking at it, that makes sense. I'll keep you posted on my progress or otherwise... Thanks again :-)

Well I was looking for a darning foot for my SWA 2000 and came across this posting. Not sure if the cam questions got resolved but I have had my SWA 2000 since 1974 and you do not need a cam to do the zigzag stitch. You just have to be sure and use the correct pressure foot. Also when using the cam be sure to turn the zigzag width knob to the right, insert the cam, turn to click in place then release the zigzag width knob. Then you are good to go.

I know this thread is almost two years old but I was wondering: did anyone ever figure out what that little white tab under the screw is for?

I have this exact same machine and it also has a cracked zig zag gear. I have removed the offending gear & shaft and am now shopping for a replacement. If anyone is still out there :)

That tab is a "stop" so the mechanism that travels down and hits it won't go any further.

Cari

Hi, I recently found a Dressmaker SWA 2000 and the hand wheel wouldn't turn easily for the entire circle. I discovered that the zigzag gear, a small white toothed gear was broken, i removed most of it, can't get to all of it, set the machine for 3 on the zigzag width so that the needle would be in the middle, and it sews a beautiful straight stitch, now, when I couldn't get it to sew at all prior to removing that gear. I have looked all over and cannot find a replacement for it, however, I believe that your gear has been removed which is why it only sews straight. I am wondering if you had a zigzag cam, if it would work, then. I am now searching for cams for this machine. Thanks so much
ann in maine

what Cari said.....

[QUOTE=hartann;7731937. I am wondering if you had a zigzag cam, if it would work, then. I am now searching for cams for this machine. Thanks so much
ann in maine[/QUOTE]

No, a zig zag cam won't work, there isn't a zig zag cam for this machine because the zig zag is built in. Without that gear, you have a lovely straight stitch machine.

Cari

replacement zigzag gear
 

I was able to remove my broken zigzag gear and replace it using this gear from eBay. It is a Kenmore part. Its shaft is a little bit shorter than Dressmaker but that's just a part of the gear that extends under the mounting hole and doesn't affect its performance. The lobe is the same, as well as the thickness of the shaft and the distance between the lobe and the collar. The set screw still reaches the shaft and it works perfectly.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321483108400?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageNa me=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Hm, my machine doesn't have one of those 'stops'. It works great on straight and zigzag but I wonder if that's why the cams I bought don't work right. A couple of them will work, but the rest don't. Hm.

Thanks for the link. I think I might now be able to find the correct hook drive gear for one of my machines.

Cari

I am even later to the game on this post but just got a SWA-2000 with the broken gear mentioned by others. Since that eBay link is no longer valid, would anyone be able to tell me more about the Kenmore replacement gear that you used? What model of Kenmore was it for? Is it called the zigzag gear or drive gear or ....?

SWA 2000 Cam question
 

I too am seeking the cams for this machine. I was wondering if you have them, Sabine, or only the photos of them? I was thinking that maybe someone with a 3D printer could fabricate new ones. Just a thought. Alternatively, has anyone found a source for them?
THANKS!

I love how the same thread can be helpful to folks for so many years. I don't have any answers though.

Did you ever find a treplacement gear? I am also on the hunt, lol.

The part number for the gear is 3692-169S and while I see similar gears on eBay right now (as of October, 2020), they have a 12mm shaft and the part number doesn't have the S. I don't think the 12mm shaft will fit in the Dressmaker. You want one that has a 9.5mm shaft. A quick google search using the part number turned up several sewing shops online that sell them:

https://www.discountsewingmachinepar...3692-169s.html
https://www.sewingpartsguru.com/prod...shaft-vertical

You'll want to scrutinize the photos on these sites and make sure your gear's teeth lean in the same direction, that is important.