National Coronado Reversew update
 

Last November I picked up a National (badged as Coronado) Reversew machine.
{ http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...o-t271891.html }
{ http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...g-t272295.html }

At first it worked great but then I lubed it, cleaned it a bit and put in a new needle. After that it began breaking the thread, throwing tension tantrums, and it even bent two needles. I've checked everything I did and I did nothing to cause this. Needle is in correctly and it's threaded correctly.
And the shuttle is threaded correctly as well.

OK, today I tried to figure it out and one minute it's sewing sorta OK, great tension, but the needle is dull, then again I put in a new needle and it starts breaking the thread. To say I'm confused would be an understatement.

So, since the shuttle is part of the problem area, I removed the shuttle carrier to look at it. It's bent and shows signs of some kind of damage.

Here are some pictures, hopefully the bend and damage will be evident.

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[ATTACH=CONFIG]540037[/ATTACH]

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From comparing the arm with the screw hole in it to a couple of my other VS machines it looks bent and twisted. There is also some kind of marks on both sides between the screw hole and shuttle mount that looks like a set screw was clamped on it, but there's no place for that to happen.

What I'm hoping is that someone here will have one of these machines or another National with a good shuttle carrier they can photo for me. I doubt I can straighten this one but I'd like to confirm or deny that it's bent before I hunt down a replacement.

Joe

Is this a full size machine? I've ended up with two of the 3/4 size ones, don't know if the shuttle carrier is the same though.

Cathy,

I "think, believe, am pretty sure" it's a 3/4 size machine. The info I've found on it says it is anyway.

Joe

I have a National Expert BT. It's a 3/4 size VS machine too. I'm betting the parts are the same underneath. I won't be able to dig it out until Thursday though.
Rodney

Cathy,

Here's a pic of the shuttle holder with a ruler. That should help with the ID. Maybe?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540056[/ATTACH]


Rodney,
Thanks, I appreciate it.


Joe

I've got two of the 3/4 size reversew machines (and an Expert BT), so I'll get a picture when I get out to the shed. I'm taking to day off to move stuff around between the storage shed, the Machine Shed and the house. It's suppose to get up in the 30's today and tomorrow, and then get cold again, with highs of 9 and 2 for Saturday and Sunday. I really don't want to be moving machines and cabinets around when it's that cold out!

I can relate to that. It's kind of chilly here too.


Joe

Makes you wonder how it got bent. Possible burr in the needle because of a bad pack of needles. That happened to me. I don't have a machine like yours but I put a new needle in my 401 making sure it was in correct and right size. Took a hair off my head and found a burr in every one of them. Replaced with no problem.
I feel for you as far as the weather. Awful pile up at Indy/Oh border.

I have found two machines with bent carriers. BOTH were bent UP like someone tried to remove it and then said "oh, should I remove this screw first..."

That's kinda what this one looks like. Bent up, then bent back down.

Joe

Joe, from looking at it, it seems to be the same carrier as other Nationals use. I tried to take it off, but it would not pop off. Don't know if there is something holding it in place and it needs to slide forward, but that would require taking the shaft and other stuff off, and I did not want to go that far. With the way it was sticking, I could see how it could get bent -it would easily pivot up and slide back and forth. It really looked like pushing would cause it to pop off, but I only tried a little bit so I didn't end up with a bent holder.

Though I know when I took one off an older National (older style holder though) that one came right off.

Cathy,
It was probably stuck on by old varnished oil. Mine was. It was almost glue like. The shuttle carrier can't pivot on the arm as it sits in a grove. All it can do, if things are right, is move a wee bit in and out.

I'll peruse eBay, maybe someone there will have a picture of one.

Or, I'll straighten this one as best I can and see if that makes it work better.

How about a National exploded drawing, that "might" show me what I need to see. I'll look for that too.


Joe

Well, so far I've not found a replacement part, but I have found enough pics on eBay to verify that the one on my machine is damaged.

I'll keep looking.

Joe

Sorry I'm late getting back to you. I looked. Mine seems to be bent differently than yours. Mine looked like it had more bend in it. The set screw mark is present on mine. It might be from how they held the carriers to bend them.
Rodney

Rodney,

Thanks. Now I'm not sure what to do with the one I have .....


Joe