Frozen singer 337
 

Someone has "gifted" me a Singer 337, in the cabinet, and froze up!
My question is, is this a work horse? Is it worth the cost of repairs or should I kick it to the road? Is it worth having repaired? I already have 2 Singers, 1 White,1 Montgomery Ward, 1 Viking770 and a Singer Treadle 27. It's not like I really need another one! But I would hate to throw a good one away.Thanks for any info on this machine, Oh and it's Blue.

What were you doing when it froze up? Have you oiled it? Checked for thread stuck in the bobbin area? Opened it up and looked inside for damage? Does it move at all when you turn the hand-wheel?

I couldn't see the picture, but pretty sure I have one like it. Joe could sure tell us how to free it up for sure. He has a 99 he calls "Rusty" because it was in worse condition than yours. This is a pretty honest machine and not complicated. There could be a "lock" in the mechanisim I suppose. Could be rust. Joe uses Kerosene, but I use penetrating oil to unfreeze the working parts, less odor. Joe Miller, QB member can help you. Please try to contact him for detailed instructions.
Donna




QUOTE=flawhoopi;5477446]Someone has "gifted" me a Singer 337, in the cabinet, and froze up!
My question is, is this a work horse? Is it worth the cost of repairs or should I kick it to the road? Is it worth having repaired? I already have 2 Singers, 1 White,1 Montgomery Ward, 1 Viking770 and a Singer Treadle 27. It's not like I really need another one! But I would hate to throw a good one away.Thanks for any info on this machine, Oh and it's Blue.[/QUOTE]

Here are links to a couple I unfroze: http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...c-t162425.html and http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...r-t169127.html
But before you mess with it open it up and see if there are any plastic gears - if so, are they melted, cracked, clogged up or missing? Plastic gears are not too hard to replace - info on this board.

For a rusted machine with metal insides, I use Liquid Wrench Penetrating oil, sewing machine oil, Tri-Flow, and as a last resort kerosene. Kerosene makes a wonderful flush to remove the remaining debris.
I also use heat to assist the oils in freeing up stuck parts.

As for the 337 I suspect but don't know for sure that it is all metal inside, but pull the top, open the face plate and look at the bottom to be sure. If it's metal you can heat it, flush it with most anything, and even tap on things "gently" to get them to move. Once they start moving pour the oil or solvent to it and keep moving it.

That's basically what I do.

IF the machine NOT rusted, then I pull the top, the face plate and the hand wheel and check it for thread wrapped up in the mechanism. That will jam up a machine right tight.

Joe

Joe if it has any plastic parts you do not want to get liquid wrench or any solvent on the plastic parts - they really will melt - honest.

miriam,

Liquid Wrench isn't that bad on plastic gears. Certain solvents such as acetone, toluene, and others are nasty on plastic.
I don't use solvents on plastic geared machines anyway. Reason = so far I haven't had to unfreeze a plastic geared machine. Just replace the busted gears. Arghhhhhhh!!! Not saying I would anyway.

Next machine I get with a busted plastic gear I'll use the gear as a test medium and hose it with something and see what happens.



Joe

I just thought of a new use for a Touch 'N Sew!!!

Ummmm, a sacrificial lamb ..... so to speak?


Joe

yup... probably need one with lotsa plastic and experiment with the chemicals - see what melts it... some of the T&S machines are all metal - they just have terrible bobbin areas - otherwise sorta like a 401a

I just looked up this machine on ebay .....looks like a nice one that sews anything, so I'm guessing not much plastic inside. I have only lived in the Fort Myers area since spring..welcome to the board, love learning about "everthing quilty" here on the board. My only vintage machine is a Featherweight, but I sure have become interested in all of the singers since getting on this board. It was on here that I learned how to get it up and running nicely.