Free Singer on FreeCycle
 

My wife found a Free Cycle add for a free Singer sewing machine.
Responded to it and the lady got back to her. The lady wanted to give the machine to someone who would use it.
We told her we were getting them to learn how to repair and service them and we also used them.
She said it had been serviced by the LSMG and worked for a while then quit working. Or so she thought. There was a repair tag on the case, but no information.
Well, this is what the case looks like:

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_5057.jpg

The lady said the machine was in her garage ..... uh huh, for years and years no doubt. The poor thing is DRY, DRY, DRY inside. Controls locked up, bug carcases in the bottom, yuck. And to prove a point, the driven gear on the hand wheel is dry too. Never been greased. Ever. Poor thing .......

Oh, what model Singer is it?
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http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...s/IMG_5058.jpg



:D. The machine is 99% complete. It won't take me long to have it back up and sewing. And I love the price!


Joe

Looks like a Singer Slant -o - matic 500a the "Rocketeer" .http://www.briansews.com/2009/08/sin...rocketeer.html

:thumbup: Frieda the Freebie!!!! Yeah for you Joe. What I find irritating is the the lady had it serviced by her LSMG. Reminds of of the time I inquired at a local Sewing Machine place about servicing my first vintage machine, a 15 clone. The quote was $120 plus parts needed. Needless to say I passed. I think the newer LSMGs just don't want or know how to service a vintage machine.

Did you get any of the cams with it?

Caroline,
It has an adjustable zipper foot and a #1 cam in it, that is all so far.
The lady started to say something about other parts but had to get back to work.
We met on her lunch hour. All of 30 minutes.
We'll see if she remembers to get back with us.

Elaine and Joe

Love it and the price is right! Joe I know you'll get this baby up and running!

Such a deal! :-)

The controls for the cam stack selectors that slide up and down on the two vertical rods just left of the cam were stuck. After working on my first 500 I had no intension of slaving over that little problem. So I took a small bottle with a long metal spout and filled it with Hoppe's #9 gun cleaning solvent. Dribbled it on the stuck parts then went away and did something else while it soaked.
Came back later and they're all freed up. I have the machine oiled and greased now and it runs sooooooooo nice. Next a thorough cleaning.
After that I'll see how it sews. If it's good, it's gonna be real hard to flip it. I might have to flip a different one.

Joe

Lucky you! I'd have a difficult time letting go of it as well.

I agree with Caroline, it's sad to see someone ripped off for a so called servicing of their machine.

pennycandy,

My suspicion is that the machine might well have been cleaned and oiled, but not greased and a long time ago. A very long time ago. My wife things she did take it in but she didn't get what she paid for. I don't like people who cheat customers either.




Joe

I am so excited for you. Last year I found a Rocketeer in a custom cabinet on Craigslist for $40 with ALL THE CAMS!!! Enjoy!!

THAT'S MY PROBLEM! :o The vintage machines I have sew sooooo nice that it's hard to part with them.

Nan

That is one of the most beautiful machines! I know you do fantastic work on restoring these old lovelies. What a deal!

Im jealous!!! Have lots of fun with that beauty :-)

I just finished up a Singer T&S 778 I got in trade yesterday. That one turned out real nice. The tip I got from Mizkaki on how to tighten up the end play of the motor shaft worked perfectly.
The machine is ready to go and awaiting my wife's attention.

The 500A will go on my bench today or tonight. I've already run it after soaking it with oil and it just zooms along. Now to make it clean and shiny.

Joe

<long drawn out agonized sigh> the pictures *still* haven't loaded . .. <whining> I want to SEE!!!

I am SO obsessed with these machines . . . what is my problem!?!

Can't tell yet what shape it is in, but Joe - when you are done with it, it will be amazing I know!!

I will have to look at my cams, for you. Some came with each of my acquisitions!

ahhhhhhh. worth the wait! ;0)

can't wait to see it when you are done!

Lara122,

She's on my bench about 2/3'ds cleaned as we speak. I've got to do some adjusting on the cam selecting shafts, the back on is set too low. Then more cleaning and adjusting if needed.

I'll post more pics later.

Joe

The price was right for a terrific machine! Congrats! :)

Thanks. Turns out the cam stack controls are out of adjustment and I've got more work to "make it right" than I anticipated.
Just found out my 401 shop manual will work so I got that covered. Just got to get to it. Not today though, today I'm sewing. Well making a Whacky Bag to test a Kenmore I've serviced.

Joe