Help need on Featherweight motor wiring connectors...
 

My 1938 FW is now freshly painted and sealed. I'm putting the machine back together and I've decided that the motor wiring connectors probably need to be replaced because the wiring is frayed. See pics in my other thread on 'Refinishing my Featherweight." Can I replace the round connectors with the horseshoe shaped connectors? If so then I'm good because I have some of those already...if not where do I find the round connectors? This is holding me up so any advice would be appreciated. Also, do the wires for the light and the on/off switch connect to the "B" connector together. Right now when I connect the wires the handwheel goes like gangbusters, but the needle bar the needle doesn't move.

Would really like to get this girl back together soon!!!:thumbup:

Stitch124,

Yes you can use the horse shoe connectors in place of the ring connectors. However the ring connectors are a bit better.
You can buy those connectors at any hardware or automotive store.

Here's a 221 wiring diagram for you. Easy to find on the net if you search, unless, you're like me and search challenged.

Joe

Hi Joe -- Thanks so much for that reply- I'm really pumped to get this girl up and running again. She was doing fine before I took her apart. Thought I took good enough notes to get her back but I guest not. Anyway, she LOOKS good even if she isn't working yet. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!

Or you can try this: http://vssmb.blogspot.ca/2011/12/how...art-4-how.html
It takes a little more time, but I think it looks better than the squish on connectors.

I don't think I quite got what you were saying about the B connector, but it sounds like if the handwheel goes but the needlebar doesn't, that you have that little washer between the handwheel and the rest of the machine backwards. (Or forgot to tighten the clutch wheel to the "Sewing position", but I sincerely doubt that :o)

Thanks Tammi - I'll check that out. Also, can either you or Joe tell me where these pieces go on the underside of the machine? It's a wire connector of some sort but I can't figure out where they go.
Thanks, Julie

http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225...PuQoVJ-nzg.jpg

Yup,.. this should help (sorry about the grungy FW, I recently aquired it, and it's "in the queue" to be cleaned, oiled, etc. And the second pic isn't the clearest, I'm a little shaky today, that was my 3rd attempt and then I said it was clear enough. :o):

Tammi -- That little washer between the handwheel and the machine is a bugger to get into position. Could you clarify where it goes just to be sure I put it in the correct place? Thanks. Julie

For that step, I tip the machine up on its extension bed (gently). Then it can't move or fall out.
It should have the bent tabs out, like so:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]366716[/ATTACH]

Great -- got that part. Ok -- now...got another question. There's a big screw under the handwheel. Is there a smaller washer similar to the one in the picture above, that goes on that screw before it is screwed in or does it go inside the machine, behind the stitch length control lever, where there is a bearing that the control lever slips on to? does it go on top of that boxy looking thingy or no. I think I remember it coming out of that area, but when I put the machine back together, I left it off because it's so hard to get on.

Yikes! How many pieces do you have left over?? I thought it was completely back together besides a couple of clips?

I would need to see a pic of what you're trying to place. I have parts charts, and a poor FW that I can take apart, but I'd be guessing from here if I advised you as to which washer went where. If there's a part number on it too, I can look that up to figure out what it is and where it belongs.

I would definitely say don't leave any parts off. These machines were built when they didn't want to scrimp on the quality of the parts, but there weren't any extra parts put in for the heck of it either....

Tammi -- I'm going straight home tonight and I will definitely take a pic of it and post it to show you where I think it might go. It's so darn hard to get it in that spot, and I can do it, but it would just take a lot of patience. Other than that I have only to make sure the check spring take-up on the tension assemby is correct. This is a picture of the spring (taken from another website.)

After that I should be done and will post pics of my finished project. Now looking for 2 more FW's in need of a new paint job....not expensive and ready for the spa treatment. Thanks for all your help.

Julie
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_WgfHeWqBS...0/102_2689.JPG

Ok -- I got home and went straight to work and found where the washer went and put it in with very little trouble. All the parts are back in place and the tension seems to be fine....now....the problem is that the needle thread doesn't catch the bobbin thread. Maybe a problem I need to get the service man to fix but I'd love to be able to fix this one myself. If I can do this I think I can do anything going forward.

Hey Julie,

yeah, I think that check spring looks OK. The FW I've been taking photos of is a re-painter as well. Poor girl keeps getting her hopes up every time I pull her out of the closet to take pics. I got her running, and a basic cleaning and oiling, but nothing further because I knew that there was a major overhaul coming.

I am thinking I will try to take it on in the winter, or early spring. We know a body guy, so I may go that route, otherwise, I painted a good portion of a motorcycle a few years back, I should be able to manage this one too. Depends on whether I get squeemish about doing it myself or not.

Did you take all of the guts out, or did you just mask them really well? I think I will do a full disassembly, even separate the bed from the arm.... I just want an opportunity to disassemble another machine completely before I take it on with a FW.

You shouldn't need to take a FW in to the service man. They're set up to be serviced by the owners. First thing to look at is if it's threaded right. Needle Flat Left (NFL) so threads Right to left.

Next make sure the bobbin case and bobbin are inserted all the way....

And while you're in there, make sure that the locating "finger" is in between the uhm,.. thingie attached to the needleplate. (Sorry,... "almost middle aged" moment there.)

Hi - Ok -- I downloaded and printed the Service Manual. I didn't take the guts out but I probably took out more than I should have because of all the issues I'm having now. I did tape up pretty good with Frog Tape. I am threading the needle correctly and the finger on the bobbin is in the correct place. All that seems to be ok. Now, I got a new belt in the mail today and put it on. Without the belt the motor hums right along, then when I put the belt on it really binds badly. I tried adjusting the motor to tighten and loosen the belt. No luck - still a problem. Oiled and greased appropriately. Still no luck. I'm stumped at this point. Not giving up...so close to being done....just don't know what the problem could be at this point. Got any ideas?

Thanks,
Julie

Hey Julie,

So is your needle problem fixed, or it still occurs after checking everything?

If it's still a problem, can you take the bobbin case out, leave the needle in, and tell me where the hook is when the needle starts to travel back up?

What was the part number for the belt? Singer's part number is 194144. I'm wondering if the one you got is too short by a smidge... Usually the belt will cause it to run slow if it's too tight before it binds....

Hi Tammi - the needle problem is fixed. Yeah! Now for the belt. I ordered it online from Sew-Classic -- a 17 1/2" black belt and the part # is 194144. I bought some Singer lubricant today to lube the motor wells...thinking they may be dry since this is such an old machine. Will let you know what happens after it's lubed.

Hey Julie, what was the problem with the needle?
So it's the right belt. Did you follow her how to install a belt article?

Use a coin to remove those caps. It should save you chipping one.
Yes, you can replace them, but why when you don't have to.

Holy cow...just read your blog posts. 14 machines!! You are my hero!! I have only 4, not counting the little black FW I just refinished. I have a Sears Kenmore 1802(from 1971 my first purchase as a single woman), a Singer 403A (pristine), Singer 401 (just like Mom's), and my beautiful Birdy (white/green 1964 FW) that I got from my parents to make my own clothes for school. I was taking up too much time on Mom's 401!

I also have a beautiful Singer Treadle #61 cabinet that looks just like yours, but no machine in it yet. Not sure what machine will actually fit into it. I'd like a treadle but only if it's in good shape...not going to refinish any other ones than the FW's. I'm also looking for two more FW's to refinish and repaint for my granddaughters. I want to leave each one of my g/kids with a FW so they can say their Nana made them a quilt on their machines.

Time to go home. Will update my earlier post in a bit.

Next and hopefully final step!
 

;)Tammi -- so I got home and lubed and oiled the machine. Runs like a top!!!! Now just one more thing I need to fix. There's a washer that needs to go in behind the stitch length control...Here are pics. I know that the washer goes with the 3 bent tips going inward toward the inside, but how in the world can I get this washer in place? This is a real bugger to slide into place. Got any suggestions? Here are some pics.

Hey Julie,

I'm so sorry for disappearing on you. I got busy and just didn't get a chance to get back to this thread. I see that you got this washer sorted out, so that's great!

The treadle cabinet that I have will fit most of the full sized "black" machines that you'll find. Mine originally came with the 27 that you see in it, but I've had the 15-91 in it, so any of the 15 series will likely fit. So would a 201, 66, etc.

The black ones that obviously won't are the 3/4 sized machines: 28, 128, 99, Spartan, etc.

I think my count is up to almost 20 machines now. I haven't had a lot of time to blog lately. There's a 401A, a 503J, a 201, the Winselmann, another FW, a 99, oh,. and the 28 and the 128, I picked up in Calgary.... hmm,.. that's over 20. And I have 3 on "reserve" up north. There's a Wilcox and Gibbs chainstitch machine, a Rocketeer paper doll cutter, and a beautiful Saxonia I'm likely going to pay way too much money for. I have to make a trip up there to get them soon, but I need to scrape together a little more cash first.

Then there are the 14 machines I picked up to repair and sell, plus a few donated ones that I want to donate to the seniors homes around here, I think that makes an even 18 refurbs on my desk. Ugh. I'm halfway through those though, and I hope those don't count, since they're only visiting.

In the batch of machines I picked up though, there's a 328K. It's fairly well panned by a number of people, but it seems like a good steady little stitcher. In a test sew, the tension was perfect, and only the motor was a little slow. That was fixed by removing a bunch of the old grease, and just running it for a few minutes. It may get added to the herd. There's no representation for the 300 series machines otherwise.... ;) It just needs a tuneup and a couple of spool pins.

Well, your collection is quite impressive. I will probably look for a machine for my treadle cabinet once my daughter finds her own place. Currently, I have no place to land my machines permanently except the kitchen table. My daughter and her two girls, 6 and 4, live with me and take up two of our three bedrooms. I plan to make the bigger of the two bedrooms into my sewing room, then I can set up all my machines. Of course, Birdie is my favorite.

Today, I should be receiving the last replacement parts for the refurbished FW. Small items like foot pads, a spool spring, and a couple of faceplate screws, nothing major. Got everything back together and just need to do a little touch up painting around the stitch regulator and give it a good wax. Will take pics of the big reveal this weekend hopefully.

In the meantime, I'm waiting on my next project to arrive in the mail. I found another FW on ebay for $125! It needs a foot pedal and plug, but I'm also going to repaint it. I swore I wouldn't deal with that stripper agent again...nasty stuff...burns like heck...but my DH said he loves doing the stripping...it's relaxing to him....yeah, right!? He can have that part of the process! Anyway, this FW will be for my 6 yr old g/d. She wants a pink machine with butterflies. It's going to look very girly when it's all done, but tastefully done so she will keep using it when she's older. My sister is an artist...I may ask her to paint a beautiful butterfly on it. She specializes in the trompe l'oeil style and will make the butterfly look like it's real.

Here is the before pic. This one is in good shape compared to the one I just refurbished. Talk with you soon, Julie
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Singer-Feathe...zPqg~~60_1.JPG

I just about finished my collection this weekend. There was an ad for a 221 and a 222 for $500 believe it or not, and it had been there since August. The 222 needed a motor, and they had to go as a pair. Typically here a 222 will go for anywhere between $800 and $1200. I emailed her and she said she still had it but had the flu, could I wait til the weekend. I replied that I could and gave her my availability, and told her we'd take the machines as soon as she was feeling better.

I didn't hear from her by Friday so I emailed again to see if she was better, and when we could meet on the weekend, and she replied that the machines were sold. I keep feeling like I messed that up somehow. :(

Yes! Kids take up a lot of space, and toilet paper, I can't figure that one out. Since our daughter moved out, we always have toilet paper, the house needs to be cleaned half to a third as often, and I have a sewing (machine) room.

How did the reveal go?

Hah! That's great! And better still that you don't have to do the stripping.

I found that little FW that I've been using for pictures for you for $100. The guy advertised it as a "Small Singer sewing machine" not a featherweight. He had trouble selling it because it was being sold for a friend and he couldn't negotiate on the price. I recognized it from a 1" wide picture and called him for it. When I got there, it was not able to sew, there was probably 10 ft of thread behind the bobbin case. I was stunned. I had no idea you could get that much back there. I showed the guy tons about the machine, and he gave me $5 off for the chat. :D

Pink's not really my color, but if it gets the butterfly, I'd sure like to see it! I like that style of painting, and I think it would look really interesting on a featherweight...

Hi -- sounds to me like the lady decided to keep the machines. That was wrong to sell them out from under you the way she did. Maybe someone tipped her off as to how much the 222 is on it's own and she decided to keep them both. Anyway, keep looking or maybe she will change her mind.

The big reveal didn't happen as planned because I didn't get all the parts until last night. Today is my daughter's 27th birthday so I won't get to work on the machine tonight. Tomorrow is babysitting night so not tomorrow night either. Thursday is knit night with friends and Friday is babysitting night again. Saturday I'm taking an old quilt to be appraised at a quilt show and babysitting again Sat. night. Looks like I won't have any time to myself to work on the machine until Sunday. ughh!! My sister is in nurses training and I don' know if she will have time to paint a butterfly like I'd like on the machine, but I'll ask her and see what she says. I know it will be beautiful. Here's here website: www.repettostudios.com. Check it out! Chat soon!! - Julie