A newbie with a 411G question
 

There's a lots of very experienced poster here and I hope you don't mind my joining you and testing your combined knowledge of all things Singer Slant ?
I've been reading as much as I can about the 401A, it seems a very popular machine indeed!
I very recently bought an old 411G, our European equivalent I believe.

I've watched lots and lots Youtube videos by "Andy tube" (the mans a hero) and I feel like my machine is as healthy as a newbie could make it, I ran off a little lined bag, complete with zipper ! and feeling quite proud of myself https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png.

I do have a question however, I'm having issues with selecting stitches, to be more precise;
I've tried to methodically stitch a length on each of the twin dial settings as a sort of reminder..... a Rosetta stone even.
Right dial options (K,L,M,N,O,P,Q) produce 7 stitches.
Left dial options (D,E,F,G,H,I,J) don't seem to make any difference to the 7 stitches, or add anything in themselves.
(I've tried adding a photo, but might have to make a few posts first I suspect).

Is this correct, is my machine operating as singer intended it to?............And if the answer is yes, what is (D,E,F,G,H,I,J) there for?

Regards,
Dave

The D - J is for using combinations of the stich patterns ( L - Special ). The red lever produces variations of these settings. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png

Welcome, Dave. Do you have a manual for the machine? There is one at https://res.cloudinary.com/singer-se...ng_Machine.pdf There are two for the 401 at https://res.cloudinary.com/singer-se...ng_Machine.pdf and https://res.cloudinary.com/singer-se...ng_Machine.pdf

There is a huge file that shows the different stitch combinations which can be downloaded at https://www.knitting-and.com/blog/si...tive-stitches/

Have you cleaned and oiled the machine? While you can evidently move the "Left dial options (D,E,F,G,H,I,J)" but it isn't making a difference, it is possible that the innards are not working properly. Maybe this link - https://archaicarcane.com/stuck-in-t...lant-o-matics/ will help sort it out.

We like pictures. In order to post pictures on Quilting Board, you will probably need to reduce or compress the picture to a file size that is smaller than 2MB. How to post images can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...020-01-17-.pdf
Don't forget to scroll over to the far right to find and click on the "Upload" button.

I have found that only the big red "Reply" button or "Quote" work to give me the paper clip icon to work for adding pictures.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/attach...p-location.jpg

Some additional info regarding reducing images at post #4 and images for the scroll and upload button can be found at #5 of https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f...d-t312607.html

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

Made in Germany

Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan USA. There are so many well versed Vintage Machine experts here that can answer your questions that they leave me in their dust! I dabble with about a dozen vintage machines. I don't have a Singer 401 so I cannot advise you, but I see you have already received a couple very helpful post. I do hope to see a great deal of you on the board.

It doesn't sound like it. Those selector knobs and the posts they engage can get gummed up and stick like Super Glue. I had to use denatured alcohol and brushes to break up the old oil and lint so that the selectors would actually select.

Do you have a manual for your machine? I have a pdf for the 401G manual if that will help you.

Here are a couple that might help - couldn't hurt? ;)

Thank you for the help advice and downloads so far everyone..........

Good news;
Removed a huge https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/eek.png amount of lint from the hook area.
Have judiciously oiled and greased in all the right places, (Managed to find a shop selling oil and grease from the back door, as not officially open for a few weeks yet). Nothing seized up, drops a stitch occasionally but possibly due to very old cotton thread or the calico.

Most pleased with "Ourworkbench and Hooligans" downloads, regarding stitches...seems I wasn't using width and length properly (at all really I left them at W5 , L4 respectively)....but i was pretty right-on with the dials (just wasn't enough on their own really), thanks.

Next dilemma,
Bought some feet from ebay.....Saw a straight stitch throat place and hoped I'd hit the jackpot.....in reality a mixed bag and only one hemmer foot kinda works, but too long in the shank really.

I have measured from Throat plate to centre of eye, and it seems to be: 7/8" Low slant shank.

Have spent a few hours scouring internet and not really getting anywhere useful, trying to decipher sometimes contradictory ebay and shop ads.

Does anyone know if there Is a list of Singer/Simanco numbers that will lead me to buying the correct; Hemmer, Bias binder, Adjustable hemmer, Edger, Straight stitch, oh and the Chain stitch !

I'm interested in the usual hemming for wife's jeans and trousers, hemming curtains and making tool rolls for my chisels, carving gouges and Auger bits. Once all that's out of the way and I'm more experienced, I'd like to tackle some upholstery, for a chair I'd like to pimp-up to resemble a Eames Chair. In the meantime i think i'd like to decorate my boring beige cotton workshop apron.

Elisabeth; I do have "owners manual 411" and "401A" from singers website. I also have bought the " 42 pages of Service manual for 401A". If the offer of the 401G manual is still being proffered then I'd like to accept if you think the "G" might contain something the A doesn't?

Regards,
Dave

I'm not sure that it would help you - maybe the diagrams would be better for the insides of your machine, but I don't know.

I'm trying to upload the pdf, but the file size might be too large - it's a pretty high resolution scan of the manual. If you PM me your email address, I can send it to you via email.

Glad you're making progress! :)

I'm certainly not an expert on 411G machines, but I would think it's a slant shank machine as are the other 400 machines. If so, it would take slant type feet, not low shank.
bkay

Glad you are getting some useful information and getting the machine cleaned and lubricated. I understand about hopeful jackpot. It looks like the throat plate and one would think, that indeed, the feet that were with it should go with it. bkay is correct that your machine takes slant shank feet. I know all too well that many times that attachments get all mixed up. I got a White top clamp machine and it came with feet for it, some Japanese high shank feet, a Simanco low shank foot and some Singer back clamp attachments. It looks like the narrow hemmer and straight stitch foot should work for your machine. The others are at an angle that makes it difficult to determine. I think the zipper foot might be a slant shank. There is a list of a lot of the Singer part numbers at https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/simanco_accessories. Another source that would probably be helpful would be https://web.archive.org/web/20190727.../IPpartCharts/ probably
404-1_4_5 another would be https://web.archive.org/web/20190823...tCharts/4_4999 any of the first three. I don't remember for sure, but many times the rufflers do not have numbers on them, even though they are listed by part numbers in the parts lists.

I also found another 411 manual at https://danhopgood.files.wordpress.c...anual-med3.pdf

For hemming jeans, you are better off using just a regular foot as the denim is too thick to go through the hemmers. Another thing about hemming jeans when you come to a seam, you may have problems. Sometimes it helps to put something under the back of the foot to make it even with the height of what you going over. I have sometimes turn the hand wheel to go over and sometimes that doesn't work either. It also has been suggested to hammer the seams to make them thinner.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

Ive never done a quote or for that matter a multi-quote before, apologies if the bold looks wrong, ill learn

Hi Elizabeth, I will PM you, thanks for much, first time anything with a "G" (German) ....all I've accessed so far all end with an A (US), so looking forward to that, might be metric measurements even.....would that be a "User/owner manual" ?

Thanks Bkay; I think you're right, my head was /is/continues, to spin reading so much about this subject,, a slant is a slant, is a slant.....although I seem to have bought three slants with three differing heights, all in the one photo, so my confusion still remains, but the fog seems to be thinning somewhat (no high or low designations when talking about slants ...I think ?).


In summary I think OurWorkbench supplied gold;
Presser feet and their relevant numbers in Link 1.
User/owner manual, crisp and clearest on www. Link 2.

Wow, that took over an hour to reply alone.

Thank you for taking so much time, effort and interest in replying and assisting me, I'm trying to write clear descriptive answers knowing others will read these when they "search 411G's", so apologies for long winded answers.

Regards,
Dave

Do you have the knobs set at AK3?

I'm not sure what you mean - a picture perhaps? The instructions for the zipper foot start on page 38 (pdf page-not actual) of the Danhopgood manual. Here again the knobs should be AK3. The screw on the back is for adjusting the foot to the left or right of the needle. Since it is hinged and slant shank, it does look a little weird. The number for the zipper foot complete is 161166. Do you have any of the numbers on the zipper foot. It almost looks like it might be a low shank. The slant shank adjustable zipper foot would look like this link on Etsy. And the low shank one would look like this. They look similar.

The 5/32" description is the size of the actual width of the hem. Too large? That is approximately 3.5mm width.

Sorry about that. I thought it would work. As I have been able to get some of the pdf from the web.archive site and thought all of them would work. I have some that I got before from the original site(before it was archived).

There is another good one at http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...g-machine.html

Wow - only over an hour??https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png I usually take so long that many times others will chime in more quickly and I usually have to sign on again, before I can post.
You are welcome. I do enjoy researching stuff about these vintage machines. There is so much out there on the internet, now.

Another link that you may found helpful is https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...a-t271809.html particularly post #15.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)

Ah....."Go advanced"...looks like it will allow photos/attachments...yes found it at last.

Solved "Straight stitch foot" I was doing it wrong...https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/hug.gif I was at BK3 ! (serial number coincides with the attach list 170071).
AK3 plate is now a "keeper", due to foot working in A position

Solved; Hemmer foot; "the actual width of the hem"...Oh how silly I am :) ...BUT......according too 401 service manual number should be 161195, and it is, but far longer in the shank, so i presume that will prevent me form trying and material thicker than what the hemmer could turn over. (serial number coincides with the attach list 161195).

Remaining; The slant shank adjustable zipper foot looks like this link on Etsy. 161127 and it doesn't reach down to the plate.(no number on item).

Button foot is correct (serial number coincides with the attach list 181168)

Looking at the rest of whats in the box;
Screwdrivers both good; 161294 LG and 95 SM
Button foot is correct
Binder wrong- looking for 161174 or is it 81200 (401 list).
Edger wrong- looking for 160625
Ruffler wrong- looking for 160629
Adj Hemmer wrong- looking for?
Other small hemmer wrong- looking for ?



"particularly post #15.".... I never dropped any oil down through centre of cam stack, sounds plausible though.....let me look at exploded diagram....oooh I don't know, poses new question, is it cog 172114 and worm 172002? would oil affect any grease that I'd have placed on the cogs already.?....thinking about it more the cam stacks weight would have to be borne by something stationary....and metallic. Green arrow, dont have a diagram of motor, but bears thinking about....maybe "Andytube" has covered it, i'll look tonight.

Well, its been a good day.....a really good day.

Summary;

I have two lists of (very similar) parts numbers.
I know most of the numbers of the parts I'm now looking for.
learned loads about technicalities of posting here
AK3 set is working https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/hug.gif (wont need to return the items, and loose; the AK3, hemmer 161195, and button foot).

Just need to identify two numbers, and purchase the other green ones.

Thanks you all again for another successful day, cheered me up nicely

I'm not at my home computer to see the numbers I have. Can you give me the numbers of the "wrong" parts? Actually, Singer would sometimes give a new number to an old attachment. I think one time I saw the same number foot but with slight differences. Did you check with the singersewinginfo site? Also I've been collecting many things off the net and have researched even more. I can try to find a parts list for the 600 or 700 series for their feet numbers. It would give some more options for the same foot.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

The items i bought for my 411G, that are "wrong" or Wrong for my 411G (from the 401 and 404 part number list comparison) are as follows;

Binder 121464 wrong- looking for 161174 or is it 81200 (401 list).
Edger 36865 wrong- looking for 160625
Ruffler 86642 wrong- looking for 160629
Adj Hemmer 35931 wrong- looking for?
Other small hemmer 120855 wrong- looking for ?

I'll have to attempt to sell all these on as of no use to me with my 411G.

You really think that will be the only vintage machine you will get????? https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png And even if the only vintage - those feet will work on modern machines, too.

I've spent the last 3 hours - off and on, mostly on - looking at some of my lists for slant shank attachments. I'm also running into some conflicting information.
In addition to the numbers you have for slant shank machine
161561 for ruffler which may or may not have number on the foot??
161195 hemmer maybe 5/64"
171145 hemmer maybe 5/32"
161780 hemmer 5/64" not found on singersewinginfo (was listed in my 626 manual) and couldn't find elsewhere.
160626 adjustable hemmer
180626 adjustable hemmer
163483 special purpose foot (For what you are wanting to sew, I would not recommend this foot. It is a two pieces that attached to each other and have a tendency to break apart. One part of it is more like sheet metal.)

Have fun with your machine.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.
Not affiliated with off-site link(s)