mmike956

Picked up a Union Special 61300C on a chopping block table this weekend at a sale here in Georgia. I'll post pictures as soon as I get them made. The machine turns over well and the old clutch motor purrs. It's missing the bobbin and case plus the slide access plate for the bobbin. Thread stand and machine rest dowel too are gone. Nice table top and cast iron treadle. Don't know whether to move it as is or part it out. I'm open to advice.

Recently there were 2 SLF2s on ebay. They were pricey then I found another one there missing it's base but I bought it anyway for $70. They are nice units. I wish there were more of them available.

You were right! I had it backwards. Now I switched from the 50 year old Nomex T70 to 92 bonded nylon for the first time. That nylon is hard to keep on the bobbin! Top thread tension seems sensitive too. I have a few cones of the old Nomex left and I like it but when that's gone bonded nylon or polyester is all there is I guess. With nylon so springy, how well does it lock at the end of the stitch? None of my machines have a reverse feature so I either rotate the work or slacken the thread and back the work up beneath the presser foot and make about two steps with the needle.. On the 29K the foot can be rotated for a lock.

The bell crank lever had a screw missing and I replaced it along with the roller. Now I get 9 stitches per inch but the walking foot rubs the needle bar!

After some limited experience with my 29 I've come to the reluctant conclusion that modern equals will serve you better. The stitch length on the older machines and maybe on all of them leave something to be desired. I like mine but if I had if to do over again.....I wouldn't have bought it. I would've picked up a modern cowboy or something similar. My 31-15 and 153W102 can do anything I would've really needed. I enjoy the mechanical nature of these machines than I do their actual utility. So, I would be a fixer rather than a sewing person. I had the 29 confused with a larger model I saw in the shoe shops as a kid probably a Singer model 7 maybe? My nomenclature may be off a bit there. Anyway..,here we are.

Problem solved....not with thread guide but hook to needle spacing! Hasn't missed a stitch since closing the gap ever so slightly. Maybe now I'll learn to make something with the machines instead of practicing stitches!

Many thanks! The 29K looks more robust than it really is. But it's still a wonderful machine to have. It'll reach some tight spots. I've ordered a cam roller to hopefully get the slop out of the walking foot. Stitch length is a little short to suit me. The current roller has a flat spot on it.

Can this machine work well with 92 bonded nylon, top and bobbin too?

Earlier in this topic I was having trouble with my 153W102 missing stitches on certain materials. Well....It still is but I think I have found the problem. The thread guide at the bottom of the needle bar is missing. I've ordered one and a screw. We'll see how it works in a few days. This machine wasn't powered until the other day. I installed a new servo motor finally. I had been hand turning the machine while waiting on my set up to be complete. I hope this solves the problem.

Many thanks for clearing that up for me!

Can any of you identify this part? It was in with some sewing stand parts a friend sent me.

A robust table it is! I'll post the progress as it takes place. Many thanks!

Realistically I could probably recover the monetary cost of the machines I have but that's not the focus. We can't put a price on our effort to restore them to a fine tuned working order. That value can be found only in the enjoyment the hobby brings us. I actually have room for one of those tables mentioned here. That may well be the next project! A 5X10 cutting table. Do you have any dimensions or specifics that need to be adhered to? Plywood or lumber for the top? I'll use steel tubing for the frame as with the sewing stands. I'm ready to get started! There's one at the local fabric store here that has a scissor track in it. Maybe that isn't necessary. What do ya think?

There's certainly plenty of room! I don't think I could justify any more machines...unless I could scare up a cheap post bed model. Now all I need is to learn how to use them effectively. I don't think there's any way to prosper by finding, repairing, and trying to resell these old machines. One must enjoy them as a beholder and don't expect to get anything more.....the profit won't be there. The real value is seeing one more old machine diverted from the scrap yard and into the hands of those who appreciate them. I wouldn't be able to break even on the resale of any machine I have.

Not much progress on the room itself, the carpet still needs to go but by the time I retire I'll have it like I want it. I have an out building but it isn't convenient. I want a work shop in the comfort of the house. There's plenty of room upstairs here and it's just me and my daughter who occupy a 2700 square foot house with half that area upstairs, it is a gold mine of space. I'm in the gathering phase of it all now. I don't even know what I really want to sew! I treasure the machines and I have enough of a variety of types to do most anything. I'll probably be going to the speed reducers to slow the pace down a bit. The good ones sure are expensive! Here is the latest progress on the set up. I'll be glad to see some oak flooring exposed in the future. A lot of work yet to do.

Here is a picture of the 29K58. I picked it up a couple months ago. It needs a cam roller replaced that controls the stitch length. I took it apart and found a flat spot on it. Makes the walking foot a bit loose. I paid too much for it but I found it local in Atlanta so I drove 55 miles and paid premium versus driving 1000 miles for a cheaper one. It was missing a couple of hard to find screws but I managed to obtain them from College in England. The machine is slow but handy!

Eric, I tried that and still had the same dilemma but after a few more rotations I found a tell tale piece of evidence that explained it all. The machine actually picked up a few stitches with loose loops underneath....Guess what.....thread tension issues unnoticed by this newbie. A lot of frustration and even cursing and swearing issued toward the machine that only needed a friend that knew what he was doing to help it along a bit and here we are at a solution to the problem. I'll be able to sleep tonight. In the days before the internet a problem like this would be solved with a trip to the wrecking yard. Many thanks to all of you who guided me through this mechanical analysis. Mike

Aha! After doing an autopsy on this machine and putting it back together in correct timing I found the thread not being pulled into the tensioner in the bobbin case. This may well be the smoking gun. Maybe the needle isn't going deep enough to set it into the tensioner?

Hook timing was definitely off a bit. I have it apart right now and haven't had time to mess with it for the last couple days. This machine is OLD and it had been in storage for no telling how long. I had a time moving the hook gear. The old Singer wrenches Granddaddy left me came in handy while moving the hook gear mount. I removed the hook to get rid of some thread trapped beneath it and I guess one must take care not to have the hook 180 degrees off upon reassembly. What a mess!

I just happen to have a box of 135X17s to compare the old needle with, that's how I identified it or thought I did. I did move the needle bar to compensate for the length difference and I set the timing according to the manual. Maybe I'll go back upstairs in a little while and try it again. I had to leave it alone yesterday after a couple hours of messing with it. I must be overlooking something. It was working fine before I fixed it now I can't even get it to work with the old needle. It acts like its too close to the hook. This particular machine isn't one that Granddaddy left me. I bought it from USAdealer in Los Angeles. It was about $200 plus shipping and when it arrived I found the stitch length position pin had been brazed into the balance wheel. I couldn't see that detail from the picture on the site. The end of the arm shaft with the adjustment flights was broken off. I put another balance wheel on it and extended the position pin and now use the set screw to adjust the stitch length. It sewed so well I didn't mind the broken shaft so much. It still has the old fabric timing belt installed and when that breaks I can either replace the shaft then or just leave it and replace the belt alone. I'm not sure if this model is worthy of sinking much money into. I do appreciate all your advice. I'll keep trying.

I noticed my 153W102 had a 135X17 needle installed when I got it. It sewed fine and I decided to put a new needle in it and decided to use what the manual called for, a 135X7. Now its skipping every stitch except for the first one. I adjusted the needle bar to no avail. Changed thread sizes too. I did everything I knew to do and then just walked away from it. Any ideas?

Last night I actually used the long leather belt off the 29K and shortened it to fit the 154W101 for a trial run. The machine isn't even bolted down yet but a successful seam was sewn. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing that double row of stitches forming. Once the V belt is here I can place the machine in a more precise location on the table top. The 29K doesn't need it's belt anyway, I use the hand wheel to operate it.

That is true however the V drive belt is a long skinny one! 3/8"X53". Not an easy find at the auto parts counter but is available. I've seen belts that piece together in segments but this was the easiest fix for me. By the way, The belts aren't here yet but on the way. The tables are made from 14gX1"X2" rectangle tube and some 1/2" standard pipe for pedal pivot shaft. The pedals require a little reaming to fit the pipe but it eliminates the need for the perforated channel and brackets. 3/4" standard plywood and a 3/8" birch smooth plywood laminate make the tops. I do have 2 factory tables one being a chopping block style in need of a little love and a green colored counter top style that was a free gift from an alteration shop here. I can't wait to see how the servo motor works with the cylinder arm machines. It just dawned on me that one of the tables sports a grey linoleum store bought top. I'll keep you posted.

Here are a few more pictures.

Here is the ongoing progress on the home made tables.