Justsosew

Miriam, I love the idea of a hand crank. My friend found a very sad, beat up version of this machine for me about six months ago, and that's what I did with it, but the bolt holding the hand crank gets loose after about a minute of sewing. Do I need a new bolt? BTW - I can't convince my 80 year old mom that hand cranks are manageable. I try to tell her that there's not as much pulling as she thinks there would be since my theory says that powerful motors actually pull the fabric off center just because of their power.

miriam

The hand crank accessory should have come with a spare bolt. Usually when the HC does come loose I keep a screw driver handy eventually the machine and I come to an agreement if not I have an L shaped screwdriver handle so I can get some torque. My opinion is to use the original if possible.

I also replace the tubing on the finger that goes in the spokes. I have used tubing or I have sewn a bit of leather on the end of it. The black rubber one never lasts very long.

miriam

Don't pay any attention to your 80 year old mother. My 90 year old mother graduated from college with a degree in home-ec and all she had was a treadle chain stitch machine. She traded it in on a FW in 1948. She had an old HC long bobbin we used until I sewed a finger. I think I have better control due to learning to sew a straight line with a hand crank. I'm amazed at what I'm able to do on my favorite, an ancient Singer 115 fitted with a HC. I was able to do flat felled seams on a curve on a HC. If your machine is not sewing straight check to see if the pressure foot is straight with the feed dogs. Also check foot pressure.

Mickey2

If your machine has the smaller solid cast hand wheel it would require a spoked hand wheel to be able to fit with a hand crank. I think the 3/4 size machines had a different type hand crank for it to fit in the casing. I'm sure somebody can give first hand info on this. If you actually plan to use it (it's a very capable machine) it is easier to have both hands free when guiding seams along, bulks of fabric, etc. I have the knee lever version and I like it. I handed my 99 in for rewiring and service on the motor, it was a bit expensive but I have never regretted it since. These days I'm eager to take it on as a DIY adventure.

leonf

My GF and I took two 99 Handcranks to our state historical museum for Ks day. 1500 kids came through and many of them tried our machines. Great fun. At slow times we let parents and teachers try them too. We had one Singer crankt and one repo. The repo crank fit on 66s and 99s. Haven't taken the Singer one off the 99. Hoping to pick up another 99 today, but not nearly as nice as the original poster's.

miriam

You are right you have to remove the hand crank, modify the case or never put the top on the case. I have not seen a smaller version of a hand crank accessory. If it comes with a solid hand wheel you will either notch it or replace it with a spoked wheel.

leonf

With a bit of nervousness, I feel I must disagree with Miriam. My handcranks stay in place, with the handle arms hinged in on my 99s with the bentwoods. I don't have a travel case for the 66.

miriam

Leon, some of them do fit perfectly.

Macybaby

I'll have to look at mine when I get home. I picked up a 99 hand crank in a bentwood case, but never gave it a good look to see if it was different than the one on the 66 or the repo one.

to the OP - looks like the right knee bar. if it does not work, then something may be wrong with the controller under the metal cover, or the wiring. I've got a 128 in a case with that style knee control, and another 99 in the later style knee bar (has a slot instead of a barrel end and takes a different type cord)

Karamarie

I have a Singer 99k and is a very nice 3/4 machine. Since I found my white featherweight, my 99k gets neglected - sad