AlvaStitcher

I have cleaned and oiled my machine but it still seems noisy. White Rotary 43, does anyone on the forum have this machine and can respond on the noise level? Would be thankful for any input.

Mickey2

What other machines do you have to compare with? I don't think anything runs as smooth and low noise as a singer 201, but there are a few that come close. I would say the old rotary models run smooth and nice when sorted out. I don't know specifically for the 43, but I suggest to keep on oiling and working a bit with the machine. I have spent up to four days with repeated cleaning, oiling and a bit of test sewing to sort out sluggishness and excessive noise. It can take time and effort to get old dried up oil and grime to dissolve and flush out and replace it with new oil. All the cast iron straight stitchers I've used run with less noise than most modern zigzaggers, at least after cleaning and oilling.

Detect all oil points. You have oiled and cleand, race, hook, behind the face plate, under the base, and made sure the hand wheel and stop motion screw are checked? It's easy to miss a spot, and it can be hard to detect exactly where something is sluggish and makes a bit of extra noise. All places where metal moves against metal needs oil.

A separate factor is the motor; check that it runs smooth and nicely on it's own. Check the rubber friction wheel (drive wheel), they often need replacing, the rubber needs to be round and even with out any dents of flat spot. Flat spots make a lot of noise. It always helps to have the motor oiled or greased. I'm not sure what type of motor you have, but up until the mid fifities most motor bearings needed some kind of lubrication.

I know it can sound repetetive and tedious, but oiling and cleaning will get you far. A bit of extra oiling and cleaning usually pays off on most machines. When you take a machine into regular use, and keep up a tentative maintanance routine you will eventually identify the trouble areas. Along the way check for rattling parts, things that might need a bit of tightening, but with the old straight stitchers, checking the regular maintanance steps mentioned usually gets you there.

Make sure the base of the machine is nice, some have felt pads, others have rubber feet; they might need to be replaced. If it's in a cabinet, make sure the feets have furniture felt under, and make sure the machine sits securly in the table; there are often felt pads along the edge of the table opening where the machine rests.

KalamaQuilts

I have an electric white rotary from the 40's. It is the nature of the rotary system to go thumpa thumpa if that is what you mean? I think that roller can get a flat side and thumpa thumpa also but I like the sound

this is mine, does it look anything like yours?