Viking Electronic Sewing Machine S225
 

OK, I know this isn't a vintage machine but I couldn't figure out where we talk about modern machines.
Or, do we talk about modern machines ....

Anyway we are watching this Goodwill auction and wondering why nobody has bid on this machine. Here's the link: http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=9427882

The only thing wrong we can see is there isn't any power cord. That unto itself is not a problem, they can be had. Their photos are typically crappy and I can't see weather the bobbin carrier is there or if it has a cover. But that could be a see through plastic one too. Then there is a bit of rust and corrosion on maybe the bottom in one of the smaller photos. But nothing I see that looks really bad.

Is there something inherently wrong with this model of machine?

We were thinking of bidding on it.

Joe

It is an electric machine , but does not look computerized. Viking is a good machine. This one was made in Sweden ( the newer ones are not) and are high quality machines. The bit of corrosion is a bit of concern as it means the machine has been exposed to mosture.

Well, we put a bid on it. If we get it we'll see what we got. If it works and we don't like it we can always give it to someone.


Joe

Those cords can really cost - they have an odd plug. If it has a camstack the Viking's seem to crack and you can not get the parts that I know of - at least the one I had you couldn't - it may or may not have plastic parts but it would be worth the $10 for the parts maybe - specially if you have one like it - if you have to pay shipping or go get it from IL it would cost more than it is worth.

Oh drat. Now you tell me. Well, maybe somebody else will out bid me.

Joe

I had one I picked up - looked real nice - sewed real nice but the cam stack was broken - I took it to the repair shop and he just shook his head - he said Viking does not make replacement parts for the machines - they don't support their product the way Singer does.

It says on the top "parts only" which would mean you could use the parts it has for fixing others of the same kind. It may be an awful lot of trouble to get it to work.

Goodwill puts "parts only" on anything they can't make run. Sometimes the reason is obvious; we bought a machine not long ago that was labeled parts only. They claimed something was wrong because the motor would run at full speed and could only be shut off by unplugging it. There was no cord block with a foot controller so they were just plugging the motor into a wall socket. I saw this in their photos and went after it. When it got to us I put on a new cord set and it sews beautifully.

So, I was hoping this might be one of those cases. We'll see ... maybe. Cross my fingers ......

Joe

Well, Joe maybe you will be the lucky one.

Well, luck is a fickle thing. If I win it and it works, then I'm lucky. If I win it and it doesn't work ..... then I'm not.

As for the plug I have a local guy with a store full of ancient, vintage, old, run of the mill, newish, new, and current cord sets. He will "probably" have it. If not there are several places I've seen on the 'net that sells cords. Failing that, I'll fabricate something. "Improvise - adapt - overcome".

Learning curve. Yep I have a bunch of those sitting here now. I'm gradually working them over making them run.

Now, can someone either point me to some pics or links of the cam stack inside that machine? I'd like to get an idea of where and how they break.
My memory is telling me I've already read about a broken cam stack, but I just can't place where.

Joe

I don't know where it would be on that machine - most of them are right handy by the zig zager

Not long ago maybe a month or so I read an article or a post in a blog or something where broken cam stacks were discussed. It wasn't here as I wasn't a member yet.

I'll find it ......

The reason I'm curious about how they break is for the potential of repair. If parts are not available, then repair is a possible option.

Joe

some are metal and some are plastic - depends on the machine

Some metal, some plastic. That's kind of encouraging. We have a couple machines, a Bernina 930 and a Kenmore that have metal cam stacks so I'm familiar with those.
Well, we can hope it's a good machine if I win it. I'm still the only bidder ..... :(

Joe

a machine with a cracked cam stack may still sew straight stitches

mirium,

Well I think I found the threads I was thinking of over on the Artisan's Square forum. But they didn't do anything to make my worries go away. I don't mind working on a machine I can get parts for. But I dislike plastic innards and so I hopped someone would outbid me.
They did. They can have it.

Now I'm gonna concentrate on getting me a blue 15 clone. :D


Joe

if i see a blue one, I'll let you know.