Skylark53

Gregg, The problem may not be that the adjustment screws are too tight but rather that the slots in the screw heads are worn and the angle the screwdriver has to be in to actually contact the worn screw heads. I was also asking how technically difficult it would be to synchronise the new hook. Thanks for your response. Skylark53

Hi all, I just received a Chinese replacement hook assembly that I bought online. I was told it fitted my 211G156 sewing machine. it's a beautiful piece of machined excellence... BUT this looks like an installation for an expert because of the timing involved between the needle, the bobbin, the hook... etc.. The reason I decided to replace this piece is that the screws to tighten the bobbin tension were frozen solid on my old hook and could only compensate so much with the upper tension to get a good seem. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do have the Service Manual and the Parts List for my 211G156. Skylark-53

I haven't been on here in a loooong while... A year or so ago I restored my 211G 156 but I haven't used it much since. Is my mind playing tricks on me or do I remember that a larger hand wheel could be had or adapted for this machine? During the restoration, which included total repainting of the machine and table base, resurfacing the table with new Arborite and changing the clutch motor for a stepper motor, fabricating a drip pan and I even found a "Singer" decal to finish it off. My wife just tried the machine and I'm afraid that from now on I'm going to have to make appointments to use it... LOL Skylark53

Hi Ryano, I realize this is a very old post but I'm hoping you still frequent this board, the reason I'm "Highjackng" this post is because of a statement you made in another post dated November 04, 2009 (talk about an old post) in which you stated, talking about a Singer 211G166 : "I did change the bobbin case and a few parts to make the machine have a larger bobbin." If you're reading this, could you walk me through the changes on your machine to accept a bigger bobbin, part numbers, etc.. Thank you for your time Ryano... Skylark53

SUCCESS!!! On Friday, I received my presser foot bar to replace the one that I thought was sticking... As I was fiddling around trying to figure out how to remove the old one, I noticed that the flat spring that provides tension to the presser foot was not in the proper place, it actually wasn't pushing on the presser foot at all. After relocating the flat spring in the notch where it was supposed to go, the presser foot operated normally. Try as I might, I cold NOT make it stick in the upper position... (so now I have a "spare" presser bar... LOL) I had also received several other parts to replace worn ones on the machine. I think I might have already mentioned that the feed dog kept hitting the underside of the needle plate. Someone here had posted instructions on how to adjust the feed dog height and following those instructions, I adjusted the feed dog. The machine now purrs like a kitten with its new servo motor and all its new parts. I'm only waiting on one new part (3" bobbin winder) and a few miscellaneous screws that I want to change to complete the restoration. Thank you all for the tremendous help to get me through this snag in the process... Skylark53

Thank you sooo much Uwe, your pictures are absolutely amazing. I'm not at home right now (visiting my daughters for Christmas) but the mechanics of your Singer 111W155 are very similar to my machine. The only thing different is that my presser bar doesn't have a rounded end at the top (like your 111W and my friend's 211G156), it's a tube that at its upper travel ends about a 1/2" below the top of the machine head (it doesn't look broken as someone had suggested, it looks like it was made that way). The rounded top presser bar on my friend's 211G156 protrudes past the top of the machine's head throughout its up/down movement. Which leads me to think the cause of the binding might be an accumulation of old dried up oil in that upper 1/2" portion of the bushing. Nothing so far seems to have broken down that build-up but oiling but successive manipulation has made it noticeably looser but it still binds at the very top of its run. I agree with you that the response from the Singer 211 owners has been underwhelming but your posts have helped me immensely. As for putting up with this little annoyance, my wife wants to use it for her quilting so I wanted to remove any idiosyncracies for her. Another reason to correct this is that yesterday I received a knee lifter bar to incorporate a foot pedal lift. I'm just amazed at how many parts are STILL available for these old machines. Thank you very much for your help Uwe, it's much appreciated. I'll let you know how things worked out and I'll take pics too. Merry Christmas to you and a yours. Skylark53

I watched carefully to see if the presser foot would stick (in its upper movement) while operating the machine under power and it didn't... It only seems to stick when using the lever to lift the presser foot and at that, only in the upper most part of its travel. Skylark53

An update and a request for help... I fabricated a drip pan, with the appropriate oblong hole for the knee lifter rod, I cut some felt discs for the oiling system, saturated them and also pre-oiled every moving part I could see in the head, underneath the machine and the lifter mechanism at the back of the machine. Gave the machine a try under power from the new servo motor that I now know I'm going to like a LOT... Now I have to adjust the feed dog to prevent it from hitting the needle plate. I will only do that once I install the new feed dog and needle plate I just got. Now for my request... Because I am also expecting a replacement presser bar that I hope will correct my binding presser foot in its upper travel, I need for someone to explain to me how to remove the presser bar from my 211G156... I know how to remove the presser bar guide (the part that looks like a tuning fork) but I need guidance removing the actual presser bar. I've looked at service manual but they are not "Assembly/Disassembly" manuals, "oiling and adjusting manuals" would be a better description of those manuals. Any help would be truly appreciated. Merry Christmas to all... Skylark53

Looking at the difference in thickness between the old belt that came with the machine and the new belt I got yesterday, I'm wondering whether I'm making a novice mistake by using an automotive/lawn mower type fan belt. Any comments? Thanks Skylark53

Hi Tinker, I'll be able to assess that better tomorrow... Just got a belt of the proper length tonight, I still need to fabricate a drip pan, I think I've found a source for felt, I have an old typewriter pad I've kept for years thinking I'd find a use for it some day. Then it'll be a thorough oiling and a dry run with the new servo motor. I only heard the machine run once when I bought it and only for a short time. It did have the sticking problem but not when sewing, only when using the lift lever. To be continued... Raymond, aka Skylark53

Thank you Uwe... I don't think it's a sideways interference but I will definitely adjust the height as you suggested (Thanks for the instructions too...) Skylark53 P.S. : Today I replaced the Arborite table top, now I'm refurbishing the legs... Can't wait to try it out with the new servo motor.

Hi Darren, It's the outer presser foot that jams as it nears its uppermost position. You seem to be familiar with this machine or similar machines, what I'd like to know is how many items I'll have to remove to get the outer presser foot bar out of the machine? One more thing I noticed... When I reassemble the machine after the thorough cleaning, I hand cranked the machine though a full revolution and the feed dog wants to push up the needle plate. If the two screws that hold the needle plate are snugged down, it then becomes a binding situation. Is this a timing problem? Thank you very much for your time Darren, much appreciated. Raymond, aka Skylark53

... and I guess the only way to ascertain that I do have a bent bar is to take that part of the machine apart which is why I was asking for dismantling instructions. Any ideas? Skylark53

Hi all, Hope someone can help... I'm in the process of cleaning and refurbishing a Singer 211G156 and I can't get the presser foot to operate properly. As soon as I bring the lever near the top of its travel, it jams and I have to use a drift and tap it lightly from the top for the presser foot to drop back down. I have cleaned everything I can and oiled it thoroughly and it still jams. I even used a mechanic's stethoscope to listen at different moving points and the loudest noise comes from the top of the presser foot rod in its tube. Needle moves freely, no problem there. When I opened the front cover I noticed right away that someone had pried the legs of the presser bar position guide (a tuning fork looking thing). I should have taken a picture of the distorted guide. Once I figured out how to remove the position guide, I straightened it in my vise and filed off the damage the bending had done to the part. When I reinstalled the guide, it didn't make the movement any worse which tells me it wasn't the problem in the first place. One thing that still puzzles me though is whether it's a hard job to dismantle/remove the presser bar, that way I could lightly ream the tube and reassemble the unit. I'm sure THAT would solve the problem but I'm at a loss on how to dismantle it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Skylark53

Is it by the actual diameter of the piping? i.e.: 1/8" piping foot for 1/8" piping? Or do I have to take into consideration the added dimension of the material I will be sewing around the piping? Thanks. Skylark53

I just received my servo motor last Friday (Consew Premier 550w)... I haven't installed it yet as I'm still restoring the table top (new Arborite) but the reason I got it was because I had read on here that they can be run very slowly and still retain power (torque?)... Do you think mine will need a reduction setup? Thanks Dikman Skylark53

Hi all, I downloaded a copy of a Singer 211G155/156 Service Manual from the web but the copy quality is like a "dirty joke from the '50s"... Does anyone have a good copy that they could scan the Figures, the text is quite readable but not the images. Thanks Skylark53

Thank you Eric... I was just asking because I had read about it on this very board. Not worth the time or aggravation for me either... Thank you both for your time. Skylark53

Thank you for this... If ever you do find out if a bobbin upgrade is possible, do let me know. Skylark53

G'day again Dikman, My new servo motor will arrive this week, in the meantime, I'll be resurfacing the table with fresh Arborite. Did you give any thought to my question about increasing the bobbin size on a 211G156? Is it at all possible... I'm still wondering. Thanks for all your help. Skylark53 Also, what size belt (motor to sewing machine) does a 211G156 typically use? Skylark53

One more question: I read somewhere else on this forum that one can increase the bobbin size on a 211G166 by juggling parts from other Singer (or compatible) sewing machines, i.e.: The bobbin case (and other parts?)... I believe this modification will allow a Type M bobbin to be used instead of the Type G that came with my 211G156 (I know the 211G166 is not the same as a 211G156 but I still wonder whether the modification can be done to the 156) So much to learn... So little time... Thanks. Skylark53

I saw that some servo motors had that "needle position" option... I didn't know what it was for, but like you, I don't think it's something I'd need. Thanks again... Skylark53

Got it Dikman, Yes, I did notice the price differences... Also, if I order direct from China, delivery is free. I've ordered from AliExpress before so I know they give good service. Thanks for the follow-up. G'day to you... Skylark53

Thanks Tom, A Google search gave me a bit of insight too... LOL Skylark53

Hi again, The machines I found on AliExpress are rated in watts... 550w, 750w, don't know how that "translates" to HP... Also, I'm only looking at 110v machines. Skylark53