Wyowally

Starting to think the safety clutch is too tight and not turning loose when it should. If that's the case, I wonder what slips or moves, like needlebar settings, hook drive gears, etc. ?

Trying to help out a friend. Machine acquired from original (now deceased owner) and appears in great shape, very clean. New owners not trained well, mostly homeowner experience but pretty handy. It came with the original clutch motor and they did a perfect job installing a servo. Couldn't handle the clutch speed, although they did get it to sew a few practice seams, then jammed it up and couldn't get it to work again. They called me. The safety clutch was engaged, but the shaft going from clutch to hook is chewed up like someone struggled with getting it re-engaged and used a pipe wrench on it. First clue. Timing check - when the needle rise was 1.75mm the hook point was an inch past the needle. Something moved it way off. Not sure my friends wanted to tell me what all they had done. Timed by opening the gear box and following timing directions, making sure gears meshed properly. The grease in the box was hardly used. Thought I tightened all the screws adequately. Had to move the needle bar to line up the scarf and eye with the hook point, again after 1.75 mm rise. Needle to hook distance was good. It wanted to stitch, but constant looping on the back. The case opener was not set properly and the upper thread didn't have smooth flow coming around the hook, thus putting a couple extra tugs on the needle thread - adjusted that. Tensions adjusted well, stitches looked good. Feeling triumphant, went to backstitch using the reverse lever and under power. Bang!!! Immediately broke a needle on first motion. The safety clutch kicked out, needle bar moved, reset the clutch and found the timing way off, as bad as before. All this work was in the friends' shop. We agreed to take it to my shop where I can work and focus. I love visiting with them and we BS too much, and I try too hard to educate them while I'm working! Have not and will not work on it until I have it at my place. A few thoughts: I've watched all the Uwe Grosse videos and have read most of the threads on here I can chase down, but still feel like I need A to Z timing advice in sequence. The needle breaking when trying to reverse, when all seemed well really bothers me. This was just on two layers of denim. My upholstery friend with a nearly identical Chandler hits reverse for backstitching while in motion all the time. Just don't know what happened, I did not check the needle guard yet or earlier in the process. Could the needle have hit that - like when going forward it is too snug to the needle, so when reversing it the needle strikes? Maybe. We are using new 134 needles. I wish I knew the story on the pipe wrench marks on the main shaft, but won't ever know. Previous owner was making horse blankets and pads. The needle bar seems to get out of adjustment too easily, even with the screws pretty tight. Thinking about roughening up the tips of those screws for a little better grip. Really wondering what is loose and allowing timing to change - is the safety clutch supposed to do it's job before anything else gets damaged? Is it adjustable? There are a number of large allen-headed screws on the clutch pieces left and right - but this is where the manuals I have and web videos fall short. I'm certain that I got the gearbox set screws tightened properly when I did adjust the timing before. Even so, when the timing changed is that what slipped. Right now, if I go to correct the timing that is where I would do it again. I got the clutch re-engaged with hand power only. Are there alignment marks and can it be engaged 180 degrees out of whack? Is there a wrong way to re-engage? What have I left out or not paid attention to? Thanks everyone. I'm a little desperate here. Friends think I'm an expert, but that may be changing........

Well folks - thanks! I think I knew the answers but wanted to get the experts to give us the real lowdown on thread of the same size variations they've experienced. Is trolling for positive purposes and the benefit of others an acceptable thing?

Tensions: if you can free hand pull thread from the loaded bobbin smoothly and pretty easy - and through the top tensioner smoothly but with more resistance than the bobbin thread, then things are close. Loops that big and consistently make me think the the top thread is snagging after the hook pulls it around and turns it loose, just when the needle is trying to pull up, but before it gets to the bobbin thread. You posted good pictures, BTW. Suggest looking at the hook and thread action after the hook pulls the top thread around.

Ha, Glenn, not anymore. It would do several stitches then tangle and lock threads. Carefully resetting needle depth and orientation, check spring travel and tension, upper tension, etc. Smoothed the edges of the hole in the needle plate. Reset the presser foot travel and pressure. One of those must have worked! I use the shotgun approach..... :).

Normally if you use 138 nylon or are set up for 138 polyester and use quality thread and want to switch, do adjustments just need to be tweaked a little? Is a needle change ever necessary? I think I have found differences in the same brand of polyester thread, same size, different color that made me change bobbin tension. Just hoping that setup doesn't have to start from scratch when switching nylon vs. polyester.

Thanks Constabulary. I know you've resurrected this model yourself. I should have mentioned I have this manual and the illustrated parts book. I was hoping my words would be descriptive enough, but can do pictures today. I have worked on many older machines, industrial and others. Hoping Glenn will see this. He's helped me out with other problems.

I've got one that sews air pretty good. This one has the single roller foot. Problems when threaded. I have searched all of our forums. Question and comments: It is timed pretty well, using proper needles and 138 bonded. Without the specific manual, how can timing be adjusted? I have needle eye to hook point at about 1/16" There is a lot of wear or clearance on/under the main needlebar screw. The big-headed one with a curved slot. It is stuck. I'm assuming this is the left-handed one like on many machines, and it is stuck with age. Is there any hope for it? I'm not used to seeing that much movement, linkage to shaft. I have the hook to needle clearance looking good, but the right side of the needle is right up tight to the hole in the needle plate. Looks wrong to me. Is there a left-right needle adjustment I don't know about? What is the adjustment for presser foot travel with the roller? How much clearance should I have with the roller raised? Is there an adjuster's manual or set of instructions that I have not found? Is there an adjustment for feed dog travel? This is making holes about 3mm apart on max. When threaded up and sewing 5oz. veg tan, turning the wheel by hand, there is always extra resistance right when the needle eye is ready to pull back up into the leather. I'm blaming the clearance right side to the needle plate. There is no resistance without thread and just poking holes. There is a lot of movement on the shaft and linkage for the needle bar clamp. Is the linkage supposed to just ride on the clamp screw shaft and move laterally if it needs to? It does make stitches for a couple inches, but then upper thread gets tangled, twisted or something underneath. Perhaps that's enough questions for now! I know that's a lot, hoping those that know will chime in. I'll be patient..........thanks.

Are you using a thread stand that routes the thread up above the cone? Trying to picture the difficulty unwinding. A picture of your machine might help identify it. Amann Serabond poly #92 thread makes my machine happy. Wondering if you've made progress at all on the looping.

The case opener might be just ticking that bobbin thread when going slow, pulling extra on the top. My early morning before coffee guess.

Nice work. I'm gonna try to duplicate the scope covers. I did make a riser with cartridge holder similar to yours. I used the Wyoming-legal Pro Dye, it worked great. The whole thing was made from scraps. The cartridge holder has them pointed forward. The flap hides the shine. I really admire the use of different dyes to match the camo laminate!

Here is about how thick I can sew veg tan without modding. Changed stitch length for the pic, it does go longer.

I also have one, the "10 bearing" model. Tinkerers delight is an appropriate term. I am not a highly skilled leatherworker. If I had devoted the tinkering time it took to get the machine working to my satisfaction to learning leatherwork instead I would been expert. As it is, I AM expert on these machines now. Not a very marketable skill. kgg and I can relate on this I believe. For those interested or with the machine, the ORGAN brand DPX35D leather point needles work very well. Chuck123wapati - fellow Wyo person - if I can advise you somehow on the machine let me know! Pic is a coozie I made with it just playing with scraps. Not ready for prime time.

There are FB groups dealing with industrial machines. One in particular focuses on mechanics. Search FB.

Just amazing beautiful work!

No skinny v-belt experience, but using the rough surface urethane drive belt material that you heat weld has worked well for me. If I screw one up I'm out about 50 cents..

He did really nice work on this. Everyone's experience, terrain and horses are different. I rode pretty far back in some pretty rough country and helped an outfitter friend for a number of years. All that called for carrying expensive rifles in scabbards, sometimes not knowing if the horse would act up or not. My only comments aren't about the superb workmanship, but more towards security and protection. - our preferred attachment method was on the off side, butt forward, scope on top. If the rifle has a long sling that won't shorten or tuck then there is always the chance of the rifle getting yanked out in thick timber. Scope up, because they aren't delicate but still vulnerable if the weight of the rifle is resting on it and the mounts. The fender over the scabbard. Rubbing the horse shouldn't happen. - we preferred wider attachment straps and I know the OP was just showing it on the horse. The straps hold the weight and though they are doubled only need to break in one spot. Even so, shorter straps attached to the cinch rings are stronger and more secure. Even good horses blow up, and if they do it without a rider with those long straps attached somewhere on the opposite side and rifle in the scabbard it is going to flop all over the place and likely come off. Also don't like seeing the front strap coming right across the neck, even if it is on top of the blanket/pad. I know it is a resurrected old thread. I also know that other people get by just fine with their methods. This is what worked reliably for us.

I horseback hunt and use a regular saddle scabbard when mounted. I tried but don't like any of the extra wide at the shouder slings because they make it harder to get the rifle in and out. I made up a sling with the leather slit sliding strap keeper and 1 1/4" wide strap. Then on the back side where it rides on my shoulder I attached two parallel strips of leather about 8" long - where others have put suede. The strips are rough side out and have a 3/8" gap between. They're attached with a single row of stitching. The theory being the edges of the strips will catch and hold from slipping better. They can twist a little, and the gap between can allow some of the coat or jacket fabric to go up between for a little more friction. Also added a thumb strap. Works OK so far, but haven't tested with different jackets. More pictures if anyone wants them.

A 15-91 is a sought-after machine by the vintage Singer people with good reason. The direct drive motor is powerful. Instructions for complete motor rebuilds are out there for those who want to take it on. The question was does it draw power when just sitting there plugged in - no, it shouldn't, just like most other domestic pedal controlled machines. It COULD if there is a problem with the pedal, cords, or the light or motor wiring. If it does, I would suspect the pedal first. Power doesn't get to the motor except through the pedal. The way Singer designed their connectors makes it challenging to rewire and get correct, and you never know if Bubba worked on it and screwed something up.

Thanks, suzelle! I struggled mostly with setting and adjusting the eccentric on the main upper shift that adjusts foot lift and foot coordination. I even bought a new eccentric, because the function and adjustment was not clear from the information I could find. I did not need it as the original was OK but missing a couple screws. All good now.

Decals from singerdecals.com - not exactly as originals but from a set they sell for 'Singer 31-Monogram decals for commercial restorations". 20 bucks when I got them. And thanks! All my questions were answered here and on Uwe's videos.

I found refurbishing my 111W155 a very rewarding project. Adjustments made sense and parts all robust. Resource documents are out there. I think you'll be happy with it and looking around for things to do with it!!

Glenn knows if anyone does......

I have seen some comments on brushed vs. brushless servos but have no experience. Not sure what the true differences are in terms of super slow speed running vs. torque. Some say brushless is the only way to go, yet my brushed CSM550-1 does everything I want on a Singer 111W155 without needing a speed reducer. I did go with a smaller motor pulley. YMMV

I only use the 2nd one on the left when I wind bobbins. Don't have to change settings for either one that way.