\On Thu, Jan 15, 2015 at 1:01 PM, Randy Bennell via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote:
> My younger daughter-in-law has expressed a desire for a sewing machine. > As luck would have it my sister-in-law had a machine sitting around that > she did not much care about so she gave it to us. > It is a Singer 242 so an older solid metal type machine made in the early > 70's - does straight and zig zag and has a reverse button not much more. > My s-in-l bought it used when it was not all that old and so far as I know > she has barely used it. > I am partial to the older Singers (15, 60s), but a 242 is probably okay. Honestly, a straight, a zigzag, and maybe a buttonholer is all I've ever wanted, but I'm not exactly a seamstress. > I oiled it up a bit and it still seemed a bit stiff. It ran but seemed to > lack power and speed. > I did a bit more oiling and I have improved it but am not sure it is up to > normal yet. > Maybe I am expecting too much of it but I really have nothing to compare > it with. > My wife has 3 machines and a serger but they are newer. > If anything I would expect the Singer to have more power. You are probably burning off dust and moving around old grease, let it run for a while once you've put in the new oil (below). "Runs like a sewing machine" and all that. > I have the machine mechanical works fairly loose now. Turning the hand > wheel on the end is easy - not so difficult as it was at the outset. > I could perhaps do a better job by cleaning things up with solvent and > re-oiling but basic "3 in 1" oil seems to have done the trick. > The best oil for sewing machines, I have been told (and believe), is Tri-Flo. I found some at Wal-Mart in the bike section once. If you can't find that, the Singer sewing machine oil is available in the sewing section, and probably a close second. You will want to run in enough to clear out the 3-in-1. Put it somewhere you can clean, as the oil will run out the bottom - it won't stain but it can get sloppy. Tri-Flo also makes a grease, so if you take the machine apart get some and replace any grease also. You shouldn't have to do that unless you run into a particular problem. > So, I wonder if the motor is ok. It does not want to come apart all that > easily so I have done what I could with it intact. I sprayed electrical > contact cleaner in on the commutator and spun it a bit. > I can see through the holes in the end cap that the copper looks a bit > oxidized but not burnt etc. The brushes look intact. Not sure if it would > be worthwhile to dismantle and better clean the copper. > I wouldn't bother unless you run into some specific problem. > The motor gets warm after it runs a bit. Not so hot that I cannot hold my > hand on it but it does get warm. > Is this normal or does it indicate a potential issue?? > Probably normal, though mine are somewhat older they do get warm to the touch. Really hot is where you start to worry about things "burning" out. Your thoughts will be appreciated. > I have looked online and there is a fair bit of information but not much > really on point that I have found yet. > Once upon a time I followed a forum called "Vintage Singers" on Yahoo Groups. I don't know if any of the old folks are still around, but it will certainly have a fantastic archive. > I could take it in somewhere to be cleaned and adjusted but am reluctant > to spend much unless I know it is a keeper. > I wouldn't bother, look at Vintage Singers and you'll get a good idea of what needs to be done. It's not that hard to get to all the parts, and old enough that it was expected to be serviced. Plus it's a fun winter project that you can do indoors, and you can teach your daughter-in-law to service your wife's machines - win win win. :) Best, Tim _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com All posts are the result of individual contributors and as such, those individuals are responsible for the content of the post. The list owner has no control over the content of the messages of each contributor.
