Help with 15 clone
 

My Montgomery Wards pretty clone with the shamrocks on it has a problem. The motor sounds like it's going 90 miles and hour, but the machine stitches like it's going 5 miles an hour. I recently did a quick oil job (just the holes - I didn't take it apart.) Any thoughts? [ATTACH=CONFIG]587287[/ATTACH]

This might be a shot in the dark, but I'm wondering if the laminations on the commentator need a clean. This link shows how to do it.

http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2011/12/ho...r-part-17.html

I know its not a potted motor, but I think the commentator and carbon brushes are the same.

Edited to add, go down to the short video when he is cleaning the laminations with a drill and sandpaper. Its quick and easy and not too much fuss.

Hmmm, looks scary for someone afraid of electricity. I'll see if I can access that part.

If it's unreasonably noisy I lean more towards rough ends on carbon brushes, or they are worn down. Lugged belts can be noisy if they don't align perfectly (pulley to hand wheel groove). If you have oiled the wicks (or oil points for the motor axle bearings) with literally one drop of oil, you can give them one more. Very dry wicks / wadding can need one more drop. It's a risky advice, but it works well when done just right. I guess you have to open the motor to make sure.

Just to make sure; oil the rest of the machine well too, the winder is up and not running.

It also looks like you have the belt pretty tight and the motor up about as far as it can go. A belt that's too tight is very hard on the motor. Get a bigger belt and move the motor down so the belt is fairly loose but not so loose it slips.

Cari

Cari, you beat me. Ditto.

I've had the machine several years - 3-4, maybe. It was noisy at first, but has sewn well for all that time - it is an excellent piecer. I can't remember if I put that belt on - I don't think so. I think the only belt I replaced was on the Admiral. The MW sewed Tuesday, but not today. It is not a machine that has been out of use. I doubt if I can get it apart - aging hands, but if it doesn't sew tomorrow, I'll put it aside and use my back up 301. My regular 301 is FMQ right now. The Elna, which can't piece, is sewing leather trim on a wool coat. Busy machines. I will try a few things you've suggested, but if I can't do anything, my son will be here in a month or so. I will order a bigger belt so it's here for him.

If you have been sewing on it for 3-4 years and now it won't work, its probably the carbon brushes. They are very easy to replace and pretty cheap.

http://shop.sew-classic.com/Carbon-M...7-w-spring.htm

Irishrose2, did you make sure that the stop motion knob is fully tightened?

[QUOTE=NZquilter;7985740]If you have been sewing on it for 3-4 years and now it won't work, its probably the carbon brushes. They are very easy to replace and pretty cheap.

http://shop.sew-classic.com/Carbon-M...7-w-spring.htm[/QUOTE
It says does not fit external belt driven motors.

Rocsew, Yes, the knob is as tight as I can get it. That was my first thought.

I raised the motor a little bit last night and now it sews at a decent speed, but still sounds like a jet plane and won't start w/o my turning the knob, so I think a longer belt might be in order. I wonder if the one on the Admiral is longer?? The Necchi is belt driven, too. I see some pirating in my future. ​