Wizard ZZ machine update
 

Two years ago Miriam give me a rusted frozen up Wizard ZZ machine for parts.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/attachm...d=493846&stc=1
You can see the rust under the face plate.

I worked on it now and again and it would not cooperate. The needle bar and presser foot bar were rusted tight. I soaked it in kerosene, sewing machine oil, penetrating oil, Tri-Flow and it would not budge.

Finally I took everything off of it that could be removed without damaging anything and broke out the propane torch. :eek:
There is no plastic in the nose of the machine, so I heated the bars up till they smoked then doused them in ATF. I can't remember how many times I did this, but finally that worked. I got them freed up.
I oiled the entire machine with ATF to make sure it was free. ( Note I don't recommend ATF, but at the time I was considering parting this machine out so I figured it couldn't hurt.)

About a year ago I put the machine and all it's parts in a cardboard box on my work bench in the garage. Today out of curiosity I went out there and gave it a turn. It's still free as can be. I worked all the controls, they are still free too.

So, now I have the urge to bring it inside and really do a thorough cleaning and adjusting and see if it sews. If so, since it has no motor or case, I'm thinking of trying it in a treadle. It's got lots of built in patterns, so if it worked it would be a neat all purpose treadle machine.

Joe

It would be cool to have a treadle that did something besides just a straight stitch.

Good to see you're going to try to save it. It's way too neat a machine not to. I'm betting you'll be happy you saved it when you're finished.
Rodney

It seemed like a great machine at the time I was overwhelmed with the other 60 or so... I betcha it would treadle - and you can adjust the needle setting!!! I think it was one of the top 10 worst machines.

I'd love to have one like that one. My Selectomatic has the needle position lever right about in the same place. I've discovered I don't like it right there. I've been quilting a larger quilt on it and every time I notice my straight stitches aren't straight but sort of going in a tiny random zig zag, I've managed to knock that lever out of it's detent so the needle bar was free to do whatever it wanted to. Had a few sessions with the seam ripper and did the binding on my 201 instead.

Cari

With some careful cleaning, Evaporust, TR-3 -- that thing's going to shine.

I'm gonna try to make it shine. But to tell the truth I'll be tickled if I can get it to sew.

Joe

Great work Joe!! Persistence pays! Be great to see it sewing again