Questions for Necchi BU owners
 

I'm looking at a Necchi BU and trying to justify spending the money. Lord knows I don't need another sewing machine. But ......... what's need got to do with it?

Anyway, on the one I'm looking at the motor bracket is bolted to the head with two bolts in a horizontal line. There doesn't appear to be any way to adjust the motor for belt length. The machine has a rubber band belt on it.

My questions are:
>Is there belt adjustments I'm not seeing?
> Do these normally use the rubber band belts?
>Does yours use the rubber band belt or if not what belt number are your using?

If the machine normally uses the rubber band belts I'll be reconsidering buying it.

Joe

Joe, I can;t remember how my BU motor was mounted but I'm sure since it's an external motor there's some adjustment there. No, that stinkin belt is not original. I hate those things with a passion. People buy them because they are the cheapest belt you can get and you don't have to know the exact size you need.

Cari

Which model of Necchi BU is it Joe?

Probably not a BU Supernova. They have a cover over the belt and motor. If it’s a BU Nova, the two holes are slotted for adjustment. I’m pretty sure that the BU Mira also has slotted holes under the two horizontal bolts.

CD in Oklahoma

[QUOTE=ThayerRags;6885721]Which model of Necchi BU is it Joe?

Good call CD. When someone just says "BU" I always think of the plain black original "BU" no name as that's what I had. I also see something on one of your pics that's at times another peeve of mine. I'm not fond of the lug belts unless they're the narrow v'd ones because I've found that they don't really fit right in the pulleys of my machines. Guess that's my automotive background.

Cari

CD,

The machine I'm looking at has the motor bracket like the black one in your second pic, but a different motor.
I didn't see the adjustment slots until I lightened up and resized the pic.
The pictures are not clear enough and the seller doesn't say which BU it is.


Cari,
Me too. I hate the cogged automotive and sewing machine belts. Like all things "New and Improved" they usually don't work like the originals.
I always try to get the regular black V-Belts for the sewing machines, and solid belts for my vehicles.

Joe

The black one is the BU Nova.

CD in Oklahoma

I have a BU (non-Nova) and a BU Mira. The BU appears to be identical to CD's BU Nova.

CD,

Ok, if the Nova is black and the Supernova is that greyish color, what color is the Mira?

Also is there any idiosyncrasies I should be aware of on these Necchi machines?

You weren't asking me but the Mira is olive drab.

Do Necchis have idiosyncrasies? Wow, what a loaded question! :p In a word, YES!!

There is more than one “BU” model Necchi. It’s kind of like leaving off the first 3 numbers of a Kenmore, or the last two numbers of a Singer 15 isn’t it?

Joe, the other photo that I posted is the BU Mira. Supernovas are green or pink.

CD in Oklahoma

The only one that I can think of is on the Supernova. Good luck finding a new belt that will fit it.....”Regular” belts are too thick.

CD in Oklahoma

Joe, if you can see the decal in the center of the bed that'll tell you which black model it is. The "VN' decal is a BU, the earlier machine. The "N" decal is a BU Nova, came just after the BU. Other than that they're basically the same machine.

Cari

CD,

OK, I'll keep that in mind.

Cari,

In the center of the bed is a circle with two "N"s in it. At least they look like Ns.

Joe

Supernovas are also gray. That's my favorite version.

Here's an idiosyncrasy: Miras have an attachment called the Wonder Wheel. Finding a ready-made replacement tire that is the proper size is impossible and so work-arounds have to be employed, i.e. they might be gaskets or other plumbing supplies, O-rings, etc. Finding all the cams can be difficult (and expensive) although I believe there are only 4 total. And you have to have the linking arms to attach to the levers of the machine.

Here's my BU (not a Nova), just for reference:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=491341&stc=1

KRA,

Thanks for the pic. The one I'm looking at is almost a twin to yours. I think I'll try for it.

Might as well, I have an ALDENS Magic ZZ that's a clone to the Necchi BU. :D

Joe

Go for it! They're nice machines. I prefer the Mira but the BU is a very solid machine.

The early Necchi BU was a Nova for all practical purposes. At least the BU Nova is most like the one that had the old style “VN” (Vittoria Necchi) logo on the bed. The BU Nova also continued with the “U” serial numbers. Other models used an M or no letters at all.

The ”BU” stands “Bobina Universale”.

CD in Oklahoma

Cool then I think the one I'm looking at is a BU Nove. It has the VN in the circle on the bed and the serial # starts with a "U".

OK, Imma goin for it. :D

Joe

If it has the "VN" it's a BU, not a Nova. There is also a Nova custom deluxe that had the wonder wheel. There were 6 cams for it.

Cari

Cari,

It does indeed have the VN in the circle on the bed. And there is no wonder wheel gizmo on it. I've seen pics of those before.

Joe

I've only seen most Necchis in pics too. I've had two BUs and finally got the kidlet to give me back my Lelia 510. Despite the little bit of nylon/plastic in it, (bobbin case cover, stitch length worm gear) it's a good strong machine. Quiet and smooth running.

Cari

Hope there's no plastic bits in the one I'm looking at. If so I'll ........ I'm not sure what I'd do.

Joe

No, I don't remember any in the BUs. My Lelia is a much later model, it's actually the second version of the 510 it has a different tension assembly than most. What I liked best about my BU was the light. It had two or three pivot points so you could twist and turn it to be right where you need it.

Cari

Most of the made in Italy Necchi machines were pretty much all metal. The Lydia had a plastic camstack that was prone to cracking.

Mark,
There's also a plastic/nylon worm gear for adjusting stitch length in some of the later Supernovas. Same gear as my Lelia has. If you catch it before it breaks completely in half, some people have been successful at super gluing it back together. Luckily on my machine it's fine.

Cari

I've meched SuperNovas three times. They are easy, I find. I believe I custom ordered a belt, and you could get more info on the Yahoo groups Necchi group site.

The Supernovas have internal motors. The BUs have external motors so easier to fit and adjust.

Cari

hello all ...this is late entry to discussion but i have just found a site that's to treasure. i have a VN necchi bu that we found at flea mkt many years ago. it sewed great & i didn't need it. but had a new 1981 necchi that i loved, so hubs decided i needed a "backup" machine. long story, tried it, great, we moved a lot (read --every few months) so this "backup" machine has sat in it's case for a couple of decades. latest home was hall floor to hold folding doors to utility closet w rat poison closed to very nosey kitty. i have been following and have commented a few times here on this thread. first time was asking for help on old wards machine that the ever helpful husband insisted was a "good deal" @ 10$ at estate sale. 100$ later ...well, that's another story. but looking at some pics here then found this thread. i had taken the old necchi in before xmas and had new wires, cleaned etc. decided to peak at it, all i could remember big beautiful black industrial looking machine. was amazed to discover it was a vn ...had thought just n. brought it home last fri. finally got the threading figured out, sews beautifully. looking on net for manual. had saved the site joe posted for me w manual for the wards. today, still reading and researching and found a site that the manuals are free on. yes, FREE. am now happy downloader for a manual for a necchi bu nova ...but ..the image on the manual cover is my lovely old necchi vn bu. the link ...

http://freenecchisewingmachinefiles....ova_manual.pdf

back up the link to "freesewingmachinefiles" and go down list. he has LOTS of pdf manuals for vintage necchis.

Since the BU pdf is the first page in the link, we can't 'back up' a page.

Cari

click on the address bar ..when the little upright curser line blinks, touch/click on the bar ...then hit back or the "x" for delete/return. i do this all the time to find base site. but since i am adding all this to a new bkmk file for the bu, i'll just post the link to the home page ....

http://freenecchisewingmachinefiles.weebly.com/

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this is nasty knee shee. The paint is/was wrinkled, falling off in chucks like fine gravel. All the chrome was brown. stuck so bad it took both hands to get a 3/4 turn on it, no way it would go all the way around. plus those little mouse things all over it. I left it sitting where is was until the last time in that trailer, only bought it just for bragging rights. I did oil it, let it sit til lastnight, added some home brew oil, with in 30 minutes it turns as free as any machine, The beds sanded now, tonight it going in a treadle stand and get some thread.

neat machine, it's not a pfaff, rates way over most machines. I had to change motors, to a universal .92 amp motor. It sounds as powerful as a Pfaff 130, just not as smooth at hi speed

in that pic nasty knee shee has already had a oil bath, all the chrome removed so so cleaned except the tensioner. paint removed from the logo forward

I just pulled out my home brew treadle stand, put it in and using elec power, then went treadle using a quick made plastic belt.

shook my head and went I hate nasty knee shee.

I checked the bobbin tension it was too tight ( as per they say) stuck it in anyway. did the upper thread, way tight, couple turns on the knob,

to il and clean this thing I only have thinned down motor oil, a wired brush and metal grinding sander disc to knock off the paint. ( used by hand) all that and

nasty knee shee sew great. it threads a good as you could ask for even using ZZ, better than a Pfaff 130. it would be perfect with a larger handwheel, I know will fit on it ...but will also need the adapter switched. The necchi hand wheel is heavier than the singer spooked wheel I have to spare.

I give necchi 5 thumbs up