Help with Singer 503 Special
 

Hi everyone! A friend found a Singer 503 machine for me at a garage sale for $10 so I figured it if works, great and if not, I've only lost $10. It looked really clean, but the wheel wouldn't turn all the way. I cleaned the bobbin area, oiled it really well and worked with it till I finally got it to sew. Took all day but it sews a really pretty seam. Unfortunately, I can't unstick the wheel I'd have to turn to wind a bobbin. It's like that and the wheel that makes the needle go up & down are fused together. Any ideas on how to fix this? There are little nicks in the paint around the wheel that made me think someone had tried a wrench on it. So, I did too, but couldn't get a grip, just made a couple more paint dings. Thanks for any advice you can give.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...80642063,d.cGE If this doesn't work, Google Singer 503 special youtube. All kinds of videos on it.

Thanks tessagin! The video shows how to wind the bobbin, which is helpful, but I can't get to that point because I can't loosen the wheel in order to wind it. It's frozen or stuck or whatever and no video that I've watched addresses this. Hoping someone can help. Thanks again.

If you are talking about the stop motion knob in the center of the hand wheel, the problem is probably that someone has cranked it down too tight to keep it from coming loose as they sewed.

Tri-Flow or other good penetrating oil. Heat from a hair drier, and a large jawed set of channel lock pliers with a piece of leather around the knob. It might take 4 hands too. Two for the pliers, two for the hand wheel.

I've had them that tight and they are hard to get off.

Once off a thorough cleaning followed by oiling and proper assembly of the clutch washer under the stop motion knob should fix the problem.

Joe

Yes! It's the stop motion knob. I knew there was a name for it! Thanks so much. I've got to find some trip-flow.

I use mechanic's gloves to get a grip
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I've had good luck by padding a heavy cardboard box with old towels, drip plenty of tri-flow around the small gap where the two wheels come together, turn the machine on it's nose with the handwheel up in the air, take the recessed screw out and keep dripping tri-flow into the hole until full and let it stand on it's head overnight. A box a bit smaller than the machine head holds it, so does an office size waste basket. The Dollar Store sells jar grips of round circles cut from the rubbery stuff shelf liners are made of. They are great for getting a grip. A few I've struggled (kenmore and singer slant) with seem to have sand in the threads. Over a period of time, it dawned on me that people used to store pincushions under the head and over time moths would devour the wool, leaving the grit and emery that got spread around as the machine was moved.

Oh, thank you all for these suggestions and the picture! Will try to post back my results some time in the future.

Can you not wind a bobbin on another machine? I would try occasionally try to get them unstuck but don't let it make you crazy:D

Of course you could just wind bobbins without loosening the stop motion screw.

I know it isn't 100% necessary, but if I can get it totally, totally working I'd like to. Makes me feel powerful, I guess!

That's what I'd be aiming for too, but if you need to wind a bobbin you don't have to stop the needle to do it. For example, you might want to give the Tri-flow time to work its way into threads but not let it stop you from using the winder. It also shows the machine that its tantrum doesn't bother you ;)

I think that part of those machines is what I really don't like about them.

I thought I'd add to this thread the same comment I'd made when you asked on a website I'm not allowed to mention here:

Strap wrenches can also help in this situation. Typically they're non-marking. I had forgotten that the 503 doesn't look like it has a set screw - it's been a while since I had one here.

it has a set screw - I think I need 2 strap wrenches. :thumbup: he he Christmas is coming.

LOL! You're welcome! ;)

I didn't see the set screw in a few pictures I'd looked at so I thought it might be missing. In retrospect that doesn't make a lot of sense. Oil the dickens out of the set screw, then remove it, then use the strap wrench. That one might be a little challenging with the slope of the hand wheel, but I think a strap wrench can do it.

Update! Update! Hubby applied man hands to the stop motion knob & got it to turn! Yip, yip, yahoo! I like to think it turned at least in part because of all the lubricating i've done. Anyway. Unfortunately, when I run the machine it still makes kind of a grindy noise that seems to be coming from the gear I can see looking down into the machine that's attached to the flywheel & stop motion knob. Should I try to take off both those knobs and find more things to oil there? Will I destroy the machine if I take those off? If I can get them off. Thanks so much for all your help!

Do not remove those knobs. Ask me how I know. What is making your noise could be two things or more. One could be the motor bearing. Put a little drop of oil on the shaft. The other thing could be it needs oil under the bobbin holder and under that. I had one one time gave me fits until I oiled that area real good and ran it a bit. I have a rip roaring ear infection or I would do some photos. Maybe someone knows what I mean and can add to this.

YAY!! :)


The other thing I'd ask if is you greased the fiber gear and motor gear. That and what Miriam mentions. Those are the two most common reasons for the growlies.

Oh yeah, you loosened it right up for him :D
Joking aside your lube probably really did do the trick.
Well done Jane.

Ok. I shot some pictures of a very dirty motor. The part in the circle, the gear, gets cleaned then it gets grease. Just draw a very small line of grease the size of a kite string on that gear. The grease will spread to the fiber gear, too. The arrow is trying to point to the shaft with the bearing race just next to the gear so go closer to it and you will get it right. Once you oil that you will want to turn it until it quits growling. If it doesn't quiet you will need a new bearing. We don't want to go there.
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And the bobbin area will need some oil, too. Here is an area some people miss. It can growl or even seize up. Put a drop of T-F on the red X.
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If it still is growling you will need to look for places that rub and oil them. You need a light weight oil. Do not use 3- in 1 or wd40.

Why, thank you!:) Googled around last night trying to find out what the fibre gear is and now that I may know, will work on getting that worked on today. I now have trip-flow so am expecting miracles.

Miriam, for some reason your posts with the wonderful pics didn't show up till after I'd written the above response. Strange. Thanks so much for those!

Now, when you speak of grease, what kind? When I started working on this I was at my mama's house & all we had was vaseline, so I used it. What should I get. We did spray wd but only on the crevice between the hand wheel and stop motion knob.

That should be Tri-Flow oil, not trip-flow and we also like Tri-Flow grease. It's a great product for gears such as the fiber one on the hand wheel and it's drive gear. Does wonders for any steel gears too. You can get both at Sew-Classic.

Use motor oil on the top of the motor shaft bearing, and run the machine after you have put the oil on it. That way the oil can work it's way into the bearing and soften the old hardened grease.
Use sewing machine oil or Tri-Flow oil everywhere else you oil.

In lieu of the Tri-Flow grease you can use the white colored Singer grease that's available now. It's for gears. The old motor lube in the tube will work too, but not as good.


Joe

I am so glad that Wishfulthinking started this thread because I've learned from the posts, copying them to put into my 503 notebook. Regarding Miriam's photo of where to oil under the bobbin, that is another time I turn the machine on it's side to get to anything that moves under it, sometimes even pull out a stray thread with the serger tweezers. Photos and explanations posted on here are priceless.
When Miriam says do not take off the handwheel and stop motion knob, heed what she says. I can show you the cardboard box where a Kenmore 1914 has lived for several years since my resident muscle and favorite helper felt he should remove the handwheel and re-set those parts I have no names for that reside there. That's one I may pay someone to put back together.
Tri-Flow is my friend! I've ordered oil and grease from Sew Classic. It can sometimes be found at bike shops.

I was more concerned about the front knobs - the hand wheel knob can come off - just get it back right.

I have a syringe of 30wt just for these motors. One drop usually works, quiets the bearing right down.

Cari

Whoooo!! Look at Miriam go with the marked up pics! :)

Sorry Jane, I should have mentioned what a fiber gear is. You know now though.

I have a lot of trouble getting triflow grease here for some reason. I can find the oil - after a bit of searching initially - but for some reason no one carries the oil. For gears only - I use the Super Lube product which is very similar to Tri-Flow grease - it's got PTFE (Teflon) and it's synthetic and food safe. Technically the Vaseline will work but I think the TF and SL greases "Stick" better instead of flinging off like Vaseline does. Of course, you being in the US, you have access to all that Jenny sells, so not to worry. In the meantime though, you know of other substitutes.

Okay, now to find or order the right grease. Didn't get a chance to really work on the machine today and may not for a little bit. Just returned from being out of town a couple of weeks and it seems that absolutely everything needs my attention. Plus, Christmas is coming fast. Thanks to all of you for your wonderful, generous help so far!