Motor Maintenance HOW TO INCREASE THE SPEED AND POWER OF YOUR VINTAGE FEATHERWEIGHT AND OTHER SEWING MACHINES: Service Level: SL-1 (owner/operator, external adj. should be in owners manual) SL-2 (follow directions closely if not sure see technician) SL-3 (technician only) CHECK AND ADJUST: Things to check before you consider motor maintenance or replacement: #1 Clean, Oil &Adjust (SL-1) lubricate motor, oil entire machine, check for build up of lint in feed dog area, adj. pressure, check and adj. stitch regulator etc. See your instruction manual. #2 Check Belt Tension (SL-2) see Fig. 1: Tension on the belt should be just enough to keep the belt from slipping. If the belt is too tight, the machine will run slowly. This will overload and possibly damage the motor. TO ADJUST: #1. Loosen bracket screw (A) a full turn. #2. Allow weight of motor to supply correct belt tension. #3. Tighten bracket screw. Test and re-adj. if necessary NOTE: if inside diameter of belt is worn or slick replace with Singer new, softer, black V belt #194144 (17-1/2"). #4. Check clutch (SL-3) make sure clutch is not allowing hand wheel to slip when in operation. #5. Check Foot Control (SL-3) Technician can check your foot control by crossing wires for a direct flow of electricity to motor. You must take in your machine and control. #6. Check for bind in machine (SL-3). If after the above checks and adjustment you have not been successful in increasing the speed and power of your machine it is now time to consider motor maintenance or replacement. MOTOR MAINTIANANCE: In preparing this service page I checked the r.p.m. (revolutions per minute) of all the machines I serviced last week. Even after a complete cleaning, oiling and general servicing I found a considerable difference in various models in their r.p.m. Most differences however were related to the different size of the diameter of the hand wheel (from 2,500 r.p.m. to 1,200r.p.m.) In this group of 15 three were featherweights (1,500 r.p.m.; 1,700r.p.m.; 1,800r.p.m.). Featherweights in there nature are not intended to be fast and powerful however 1,500r.p.m. would be a good benchmark to go by. Many Featherweights I have serviced over the years were much slower than 1,500r.p.m. and I was in most cases able to bring them up to acceptable performance some I did have to replace the motor .Try some of these procedures before you consider a motor replacement. NOTE THE FOLLOWING MAY BE CONSIDERED SL-2 & SL-3, IF YOU DO NOT FEEL KNOWLEDGEABLE OR COMFORTABLE WITH THESE PROCEDURES, TAKE MACHINE AND CONTROL TO YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOW: #1. In reference to CHECK AND ADJUST #1 see above (lubricate motor) clean out grease tubes see Fig. 2 with a tooth pick, put only one drop of oil in grease tubes (only one drop) than fill grease tubes with motor lubricant. #2. Unplug machine cord from electrical outlet. Remove motor from machine see Fig. 1 motor screw A (do not unwire motor). Place motor in small glass dish. Remove top motor brush cap see Fig. 2 spray into hole C-60 Solvent Cleaner immediately insert cap and turn a few revolutions. Plug machine electric cord into a GFCI (ground-fault circuit-interrupter) and run machine fast. Note C-60 is a solvent cleaner which can be used on electric motors while motor is running. This product will remove carbon build-up on motor armature; please follow complete directions when using. You may need to complete this process several times (remember to unplug your machine). #3. Heavy build-up or uneven wear on motor armature may require this procedure: Remove top and bottom brush cap and brushes. Now remove motor housing screws see Fig.2 and remove motor end plate to expose brush end of armature (note: remove carefully, some models may have wires attached, keep wires in place). Now with armature in view and accessible clean armature with CBS5 brush seater, AC6254 Diamond D Rubrite polish or AC204 Resuferacer Stick. While you are at this stage check motor brushes, if less than 1/8" replace with Singer motor brush kit #192457. Reassemble and adjust motor and belt. Now plug machine electric cord into GFCI outlet and check for improvement and power. This procedure will apply to almost all motors. If you had no significant improvement, it may now be necessary to replace the motor; if so keep your old motor or any parts you replace on your vintage machine. If someday you sell or pass it down the new owner will want these and any service records you may have. Replace your motor with 221 motor #98376-004 or the refurbished original Singer motor. (see below) PARTS you may need to complete Motor maintenance:     Oil: #NK2W $4.95 Oil, lilly white, no wax, with spout ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Lubricant: #S-2129 $2.95 Singer lubricant, tube ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Lint brush: #S-2110 $1.25 ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Brush Seater: #CBS5 $8.95 For cleaning armature, medium abrasive, for better seating. ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Armature cleaner: #AC6254 $8.95 Cleans, removes dirt & polishes armature, very light abrasive. Diamond D Rubrite ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Armature resufacer: # AC204 $8.95 Armature resufacer, hard abrasive, removes uneven copper. ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Motor Brushes (set of two): #192457 $3.95 221 , 201 and 15-91 motor brushes with copper springs. Brushes come in a set of two. NOTE: On some models it may be necessary to gently file down all four edges of these motor brushes for a proper and smooth fit. ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     221 Belt #194144 $5.95 Belt for the 221 Featherweight ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Double Lead #714179 (123) $14.95 For machines requiring one electrical cord for both power, 74" long and foot control cord, 56" long. Models may include: 15-88, 15-90, 15-91, 27, 66, 201, 221 222, and some 301-A which do not use a seperate cord for the foot control (197628/9). ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Single Lead #197874 (122) $12.95 For machines requiring two electrical cords. This one is for power only, cord 72" long. Your machine will have two pins, the cord has three holes, however the center hole of the cord is inactive. Models may include: 301, 319, 401, 403, 404 You should have a different cord for the foot control (see #197628) Also fits some 15 class/201 and other models mounted in cabinet with seperate wire from terminal box (192797) to foot control. ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Foot Control Cord #197628 (197629)(783) $9.95 For models: 301, 401, 403, 404 Cord is 62" long. These models require electric cord #197874 ADD $2.95 for S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     221 Motor #98376-004 (Black ONLY) $129.95 Black ONLY, white no longer available. Original style, standard USA 110V. New by Alpha-Sew motor (no longer available by Singer). This item does not qualify for the $35.00 free freight offer. It is F/I Freight Intensive. On the order page choose $5.95 for S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Refurbished Original Singer Motor $128.00 OUT of STOCK Resurface, polish and clean armature. Replace motor brushes, clean and lubed. Present motor has 29,000 R.P.M. (see "FREE Service" Motor Maintenance) This item does not qualify for the $35.00 free freight offer. It is F/I Freight Intensive. On the order page choose $5.95 for S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     221 Service Manual $24.95 Technicians service manual Plus FREE parts chart for 221-1, 221K-1, 221K-4, 221K-5, 221K-7 ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart]     Manual for Singer 221 $19.00 Featherweight New enhanced reprint of the original with larger text, comb binding which allows you to lay the manual open flat. 30 pages on instructions for using the attachments. Total of 58 pages, 64 illustrations, over all measurement is 5 1/2" X 7 7/8", colored front, 67 lb. card stock front and back covers for durability. Please email us for quantity orders of six or more. ADD BASIC S&H [Add to Cart]  [View Cart] NOTE: We highly recommend you become a good friend and customer of your local sewing machine dealer regardless of your brand or theirs. If however this is not possible due to distance, inconvenience, or other factors I will service your machine. You will be responsible for freight. My prices are very reasonable. E-mail me (sewingmachine221sale@bizland.com) with your model and problems. I will respond with estimate. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, JOHN If you live in the Columbus, Indiana area call 1-812-372-4496 or 1-800-524-0888. If you live in the Bloomington, Indiana area call 1-812- 824-1320 for in home service. Email: sewingmachine221sale@pop.bizland.com This web site is owned and operated by: Discount Sewing Machine Service ©2000 Site contains material that are trademark TM and servicemark SM. All material is for personal use only and is not to be mass produced. Pages constructed and maintained by Kas