AlZilla

That machine sat in garages and sheds for a decade or more before I got it. That screw is loooong gone. I ordered a new hook and bobbin case. Meanwhile, that screw happens to be a standard thread (#0-80). My local hardware store had some longer ones. I was able to shorten one up, after shooting a couple across the workroom with the Dremel. But, I have it back together and working. I ran a couple of stitch lines and have some obvious tension issues. I need to study up and try to isolate it so I can ask some focused questions if it doesn't work right. I'll start a new thread if I need more hand holding. Thanks for the help!

Got it. After an hour or so of checking and rechecking, I nudged the hook to the right about .010" and now it pulls the bobbin thread clear every time. Along the way, I pulled the bobbin case to see if anything was underneath (nothing there) and discovered a missing tension screw! No point in trying to run any stitches until I replace it. I have about 25 domestic machines around here dating from the 1880's to the 1970's. While I wait for a new bobbin case, are these things pretty interchangeable? Like I could scavenge a screw from something else? I don't want to start blindly pulling those tiny screws out and losing even more! Thank you, @Wizcrafts for the help1

Thank you, @Wizcrafts for giving me a trail to follow. Tomorrows tasks. I haven't gotten past the thread hanging issue to actually run any stitches yet ...

OK, I feel like this is a dumb question and the answer is staring me in the face, but here goes ... On my 111w153, the hook picks up the needle thread, it rotates around the bobbin as expected and stops dead in it's tracks when it gets back to the tab that locks under the throat plate. I can't figure out why. I found a few videos of people looping the needle/bobbin thread and it slips right around. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Some details: This is not a machine I've ever used I switched to the lightest thread I have (24) I have not had the bobbin case out I had the belt off months back for reasons I can't recall and had to re-time it. Seems I got it right, since it picks up the bobbin thread. Thank you!

I've acquired an industrial table and I need to lengthen the opening to accommodate my 111w153. The table formerly housed a 44-10. Is there a preferred way to cut these holes? I'm about 3" shy length ways. I have plenty of woodworking tools (except a jigsaw, which seems like the right tool). I've looked online and found a couple of videos and I can sort of envision how I'll do it, but I just wondered if someone had a good tutorial or video somewhere. I have the 44-10, too. Ideally, I'd like to make it so I can swap the 2 back and forth. A couple of pics, just because ... Thanks for any forthcoming help!

I can braze but I've ordered the parts and they'll be here in a week or so. I don't have any shoes waiting to be patched so I can wait. It's lifting and walking, it feeds nice and if I manipulate the foot back and forth while hand cranking it (without thread yet) I can get about 6 stitches per inch. I've learned a lot about these machines and I'll be on the lookout for more ...

Very, very nice. Thank you for posting a link to your old thread. Looks like a fast easy adaption. I'm headed to ebay today to get the parts.

Well, that's discouraging. But, I can grind. What part requires grinding? Hopefully its not a curve or, worse an inside curve. Thanks

No problem at all, just want to be sure I order the right things. In fact, it's a manual you posted I'm using! I can see where those parts could be my trouble. Thanks for your help.

These terms are confusing me a bit. Do you mean the bell crank and the ring slide bar with the cam roller and stud? 8559 and 8562?

Well, I'll go look at parts diagrams and figure out which part that is. Looking at videos tonight I also realize my foot isn't actually lifting when it comes forward. I bet that will tell someone something. I'm off to the parts diagrams ... Thanks!

OK, I have an odd problem. The foot walks back and forth fine when the foot is uu but has maybe a 1/4 of play forwards and back if I reach up and try to move it.. I tried running various things through it today without thread and that's when the problem became obvious as the material would hardly advance. The clamp is installed correctly, I believe, based on various pictures I see online. Too dark to go up there tonight but I can get one tomorrow. The result is that at max stitch length, my stitch holes are about 12 to the inch. Now - If I move the plate in the clamp from under the screw to the opposite side of the presser foot arm(s), it eliminates the play but brushes against the needle bar. I hope I just have some bone headed thing put together wrong. I know that's probably clear as mud ... Maybe I can take a short video tomorrow. Any ideas?

You must be referring to the video. I thought the guy was a little slap dash but for a newbie, seeing the head disassembled and put back together is great. Or it would have been had I found it before I got mine back together ... But I agree totally, good wrenches and screwdrivers are essential.

OK, I've got it back together and working. Mostly just old, dried lube and a touch of rust. For any future people who stumble across this thread with a similar problem, follow Wizcraft's advice above. I found the below linked video after I had mine back together. In this one he disassembles a frozen head. In the one after, he reassembles it. Would have been helpful to watch first... Thanks to everyone who chimed in. I learned a lot.

So, pics attached. I think I'm looking at the top and bottom of a part the manual calls a "Revolving Bush" (8573) and it should slide out downwards and I'll need to remove the top pin in the (8675) "Foot Bar" which will come out with it. The Foot Bar is not going to remove vertically up and out of the Revolving Bush I don't think. It looks like I'd need to unpin it and drop it out the bottom. So, Experts, am I looking at this right? Because that Revolving Bush is solid tight in the head casting. My thinking is to let some penetrating oil soak down in there a day or two and tap it with a nylon mallet. Good plan? Thank You!

Wow, thank you for taking the time for such a detailed response. I'll follow your directions exactly. I'm thinking the above parts are entombed in dried gunk. Unfortunately, there's a dearth of videos and exploded views of these old machines. Guys like you are invaluable.

I dragged home an old 29-3 that almost wouldn't turn, having sat for 3 decades. I now have it spinning like a roller coaster and am awaiting a new belt. I have 1 issue left - the rotating presser foot doesn't rotate. There is no thumbscrew above the ears as I think there is supposed to be and I'm confident nothing is broken off in there - I can get a probe in 7/16" and hi res pics don't look like there's anything down there. It wouldn't move at all yesterday. Today after liberal applications of WD40, PB Blaster and whatever else I had on hand, it turns about a 16th of an inch. It does not come up against a hard stop in either direction, but rather a soft stop. I think it's gunked as badly as the back end of the machine was. It looked like a 300,000 mile engine back there and I really think it had been lubed with motor oil. Just thick, black tar-like stuff caked everywhere. So, my question is, does anyone think I'm overlooking anything? I see how the head comes off and I may remove it so I can either soak it or tear it apart. On a lower priority one of the ears is broken off and I'll be looking for a replacement. The one on the left in the pic. I'm angling for the one on the right, too ... Thanks!

I have a couple of inexpensive knives somewhere around here made from 80Crv2 and I just don't like them. There's a sort of granularity/striation/something to the bevel that just won't go away. It runs perpendicular to the edge on both knives. I'd like to try the design, but a different steel.

"Line shaft clutch". Now I at least know what it's called .. It wouldn't move yesterday but an overnight soak in penetrating oil has it moving this morning. I need to find a belt since the existing one doesn't look long for this world. I'm going to keep at it today, getting the internals cleaned out and oiled so I can at least see it spin under it's own power, once I find a belt. The only parts that seem to be missing so far are whatever connects the knee lift to the arm on the back of the machine. Thanks!

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I've been doing a surface clean and it looks not too bad. I see what you're saying about just adding the pulley. Somewhere I had read that the clutch motors can be grabby but I suppose I should see for myself. Upon getting the front cleaned up, I see that it's a 153 (not 155) so I apparently lose a little lift. But for my present purposes, the extra 1/8" matters not. I'll get after the internals next and see what's going on with the sticking foot control. This may be easier then I anticipated I'm pretty excited...

I'm a new leather crafter and have been given an old Singer 111W155, which will require a lot of elbow grease and love. It appears to be mostly complete, if not all there and everything seems to turn and spin by hand. I could use some guidance as I start going through it. What's obvious on initial inspection: The wiring needs to be reworked The foot control is hung up and rusty Belts are going to be an issue No bobbin winder Surface rust on various parts of the machine Serial Number is obliterated I've downloaded manuals, started looking at Youtube videos and I'm reading through posts here of previous newbie owners. The table has a motor attached and what appears to be a spare older motor/clutch setup. The table top will need to be replaced but it's a homebrew setup anyway. My only request at the moment would be can someone give me a general idea of what to look at first, sort of an order of operations to get started? I've read enough to know that the usual recommendation is to slow these things down with a servo motor and I plan on doing that, once it all appears to be in order. Thank you for any assistance forthcoming!

In my limited experience, practice and very, very sharp blades. I try to use the same blade too long and even try stropping it. Also, I use a guide where ever I can. Multiple passes with minimal pressure seem to give me better control.

I like it. Anybody can buy the same old boring tools and dyes that everybody else has and turn out more of the same old stuff. This took thought and creativity. Lucky sister you have!

"Plasti Dip" might work for you. It's a rubberized product to coat tool handles. You could build a few layers and see what works.