Nix

Thanks. I have to say it was a relief to have this machine stitching again (and it worked superbly before the upgrade). I'm pretty sure my 111w is pre-WWII production or shortly thereafter, and it's definitely seen hard use. I've never had the machine's top or bottom apart to the extent I had it in pieces during this upgrade. Even so, no fastener, collar or screw really put up a big fight in terms of disassembly to change out the take-up lever and the hook and hook saddle. It's amazing the build quality of these old machines and the level of fit, finish, hardness and parts choices. Nix

Just finished a major hot-rod modification to my 111w155 by upgrading the smaller stock G-class bobbin and hook assembly setup to the very large U-class Juki 563 bobbin and hook assembly. As noted in this thread and its linked video, the upgrade requires milling the stock hook saddle to accommodate the larger Juki 563 hook and bobbin. The upgrade also requires swapping out the stock thread take-up lever with that of a Juki 563. In addition, the bobbin case opener should be changed to that of a Juki 563. All of these parts are readily available at various quality/price points. Still, this is a project that is not for the faint of heart. The stock hook saddle assembly must be milled down about 1/16-inch, including the reliefs for the bobbin case opener crank assembly. The cast iron hook saddle machines well, but you need to be extremely careful in fixturing it to your milling table. I used a couple stout milling clamps/hold-downs and a small machinist jack on the outrigger mount extension of the saddle to hold everying steady. Once mounted to the milling table, I proceeded very slowly to mill all of the necessary pockets. The bobbin case opener needs to be clearanced for the larger hook assembly as well. Assembly, as they say, was the reverse of disassembly, but with one sticking point. The new Juki 563 bobbin case opener didn't come anywhere close to working in its stock configuration. However, with a little bit of careful heating and adjusting, it now performs perfectly. Bottom line, while extremely fussy to carry out, I'm really happy with this modification to my 111w. The pics show the new hook assembly with a G-glass bobbin inside and a U-class bobbin for comparison. Nix

I have that big double set of feed dogs -- it's like two parallel sets of long feed dogs (part no. 5840 in the book) -- for mine. However, I'm lacking a correct needle plate that you need to go with it. The corresponding needle plate would be part no. 5881. Is that set-up designed to produce fewer stitches per inch or a better feeding of goods, or both? Nix

Thanks, but that's the Parts Manual, which is available online and in many places, and is complete. What we need is the Singer 42 Class User and Adjuster's Manual. Nix

The problem with the manual that's been posted online and in many places is that it cuts off after page 8, so we're missing a lot of adjusting information. Still, if you're having trouble removing your work, I've attached the relevant passage. The 42-5 is an unusual, yet a fairly robust and simple, machine. I wish we had a full scan of a user and adjuster's manual. I have an original parts book. However, that's readily available online and is complete. The thread always being under tension is an advantage (it's going to sew anything that gets under the feet). Part of that set-up is that, on mine (this may have changed on later models), the primary thread tension discs are not two discs held together, but is actually a pulley that is under spring tension (think of it as setting the drag on a fishing reel). Anyway, if you over-tension it, the pulley will not turn and you will not gain any additional adjustment by tightening it more and more. The secondary tensioner assembly -- the two discs just ahead of the primary tensioner in the thread path is where you get most of your tension adjustment on a 42-5. I've removed the thread oiling cup, the light fixture and the bobbin winder on mine, since I like keeping things clean and simple. Nix

I just measured mine and it's five to the inch. I posted a short video my 42-5 -- kind of a rarely discussed or seen Singer model -- here. Nix