Cleaning a mucky Singer 29k4

[UKRay]

I have just rescued an old Singer 29K4 from under a pile of saddlebags and old junk in a biker's workshop. It is absolutely covered in grease and oil but surprisingly worked first time when I threaded it up and turned the handle. The stitch tension probably needs a tiny bit of adjustment but it seems to be in working order.

Right now I'm wondering what to do next. Normally if something appears to work okay I leave it alone until it needs fixing but this machine is absolutely filthy and although I've brushed off the worst of the clag it is still too disgusting to take into my workroom.

How should I set about cleaning it? - I'm a demon with a paintbrush and a can of de-greaser - would that be a good start or could I cause damage?

I'd also really like to know how old it is. Any thoughts chaps?

[badger]

Ray,

Congrats on the new machine!

I used WD40 and old rags to clean the Pearson up. Squirt the WD40 into the rag until it's pretty damp.

The WD40 lifts the heavy grease and dirt and leaves a light oil behind. If you then use paper towels afterwards it'll come up clean and dry, but still protected. Work in a small area, get it clean and then move on. I work from top to bottom.

To clean the rust from the Pearson's machined surfaces, I used very fine emery paper (1000 grit) lubed with WD40 again. Shines like silver with just a few minute's work.

Look forward to seeing it clean.

Cheers,

Karl

[Bree]

Whatever you do preserve the decals!! You can't replace them. They add to the value when kept in good condition. Psychological thing I guess.

Heck that machine looks great compared to many I have seen. I would remove dirt, give it a little touch up with a mild degreaser and then start oiling it up!! The part to check for dirt is the INSIDES of the machine that you can't see. Open the access port and clean... turn it on its side and get at it from the bottom. Make sure that the shuttle area is clean. Check the rocker arm and the needle bar assembly. Check the device that rotates the presser foot. Get all of that cleaned and oiled.

Check your treadle carefully for cracks. The cast iron can be quite brittle and it can easily be cracked. If you spot one... you can't just weld it or even braze it without a real good chance of causing even more cracks. The cast iron has to be put into an oven, slowly brought up to a higher temperature and the crack brazed then slowly brought down to avoid stressing the rest of the metal. Most of the time this just isn't possible. So I surround any cracks with hi-strength epoxy applied liberally. That helps "freeze" the crack and replaces the impaired structural integrity of the cast iron with the strength of the epoxy.

Parts are widely available for most 29 class machines. It is very hard to kill these machines. They will likely outlive everyone on this system. The stands may not but the heads will.

I have one 29-4 which is dead. I use it as a parts machine. Somehow a prior owner broke the shuttle gearing (fixable) and froze the needle bar in its housing (not fixable). I don't know what he did but that thing was locked up tight as a drum and utterly useless.

My other 29 class machines all run like the day they came off the assembly line.

[UKRay]

There is something very special about beautiful old machinery. Not just the fact that a machine still works after all these years but more that it carries memories, traditions and culture along with it. It now seems likely that my machine was made in or around 1898. It is a wonder that it survived this long but what a testimony to a geat design.The only obvious damage to the machine is the wooden hand wheel knob - has anyone got one they could spare? I'm happy to pay a fair price plus shipping. If not then I gues I'll find a local wood turner to make one for me - but it would be very nice to use an original.I assume that somewhere there must be a workshop manual for this machine? Has anyone ever seen one? Luke has been kind enough to send me a PDF of a user guide but the service manual and parts list would be a real help.I've checked all the castings, Bree. I can't find any cracks or damage at all. Hopefully I've been lucky. The decals all seem in reasonable order too - especially when you think how long they have been on the machine. Apparently it came from a shoerepairers in Walsall and stood in a corner as their spare machine for many years - hence the good condition I guess.At first glance the insides seem perfectly clean and swimming in oil. in fact, I wondered if there was too much... but when you turn the handle the machine moves really smoothly and makes a really slick noise. The stand seems to be in perfect working order and even had a belt in situ that crumbled to dust when turned the handwheel. The treadle mechanism works perfectly too. When I work out what the rocker arm and needle bar assembly are I promise to clean them thoroughly... LOL Are the parts interchangable between these machines, Bree? You said you have a few of them, are they all 29-4s?

Ray,Congrats on the new machine!I used WD40 and old rags to clean the Pearson up. Squirt the WD40 into the rag until it's pretty damp.The WD40 lifts the heavy grease and dirt and leaves a light oil behind. If you then use paper towels afterwards it'll come up clean and dry, but still protected. Work in a small area, get it clean and then move on. I work from top to bottom.To clean the rust from the Pearson's machined surfaces, I used very fine emery paper (1000 grit) lubed with WD40 again. Shines like silver with just a few minute's work. Look forward to seeing it clean.Cheers,Karl

Thanks for the tips, Karl - I'll definitely be back for more engineering know-how as I need it!

[torrbuidhe]

Looking here - http://www.singerco.com/support/serial_noletter.html - that serial number dates to 1897.

If you're restoring and old machine you should look at http://www.needlebar.org/

[torrbuidhe]

There are manuals here, different models but probably good enough if can't find the specific manual -

http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/T.../2672/index.htm

http://parts.singerco.com/IPsvcManuals/

I saw new wooden knobs listed here, by part number -

http://www.college-sewing.co.uk/

[Bree]

There is something very special about beautiful old machinery. Not just the fact that a machine still works after all these years but more that it carries memories, traditions and culture along with it. It now seems likely that my machine was made in or around 1898. It is a wonder that it survived this long but what a testimony to a geat design.The only obvious damage to the machine is the wooden hand wheel knob - has anyone got one they could spare? I'm happy to pay a fair price plus shipping. If not then I gues I'll find a local wood turner to make one for me - but it would be very nice to use an original.I assume that somewhere there must be a workshop manual for this machine? Has anyone ever seen one? Luke has been kind enough to send me a PDF of a user guide but the service manual and parts list would be a real help.I've checked all the castings, Bree. I can't find any cracks or damage at all. Hopefully I've been lucky. The decals all seem in reasonable order too - especially when you think how long they have been on the machine. Apparently it came from a shoerepairers in Walsall and stood in a corner as their spare machine for many years - hence the good condition I guess.At first glance the insides seem perfectly clean and swimming in oil. in fact, I wondered if there was too much... but when you turn the handle the machine moves really smoothly and makes a really slick noise. The stand seems to be in perfect working order and even had a belt in situ that crumbled to dust when turned the handwheel. The treadle mechanism works perfectly too. When I work out what the rocker arm and needle bar assembly are I promise to clean them thoroughly... LOL Are the parts interchangable between these machines, Bree? You said you have a few of them, are they all 29-4s?Thanks for the tips, Karl - I'll definitely be back for more engineering know-how as I need it!

No parts are NOT necessarily interchangeable. Most are but some aren't. Go to the Singer Industrial machine site and download the Instructions for the 29-4 and the service manual with the parts list if they still have it online. When seeking a replacement part use the original part number from the manual. People with spares know the numbers and usually know what goes with what.

The 29 series encompasses a lot of models made over a lot of years. There are improvements over time and that causes some parts to be incompatible. They were also built in several different locations. Very likely yours was built in Clydebank, Scotland. My 29K-60 was built there. It was a very large manufacturing facility employing over 10,000 people way back when.

If you can't track down a manual, I probably have one somewhere either in PDF or in photo images that I pulled from the Smithsonian.

[SteveBrambley]

Hi Ray,

That looks like a really nice example! It is similar to our 29K58 that used to belong to my Grandfather. Do you need any leather belting for it? If so, we've got plenty, although there is a PVC/Polyprop substitute available, if you can get it, but it is fairly expensive.

You could try cleaning it with ordinary parafin oil, the type that is used in oil heaters. It shouldn't do any harm to the decals or the japaning and will remove any dirt and dried oil.

Steve

[celticleather]

There is something very special about beautiful old machinery. Not just the fact that a machine still works after all these years but more that it carries memories, traditions and culture along with it. It now seems likely that my machine was made in or around 1898.

Ray

Your machine looks remarkably similar to the 29K71 that we use every day at the shop. I have an original wooden table that fits around the shuttle arm - very handy for stitching new straps onto horse blankets, and any large flat work!

The Victorian machines are an absolute celebration of the ironfounder's art; why use straight bracings on the treadle stand, when some elaborate scrollwork would do the job? And the decals are little masterpieces. These machines are redolent of an age when time was cheap and quality was foremost, and I'm sure they'll outlast both of us!

I hope you'll raise a glass to its 110th birthday!

Terry

[UKRay]

I'm delighted to say that my lovely 29K4 is now squeaky clean and working beautifully. WD40 did the trick combined with an old toothbrush for the tricky bits.

Thanks for all the PMs guys and thanks for the kind and helpful comments.

Steve, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing your Grandfather's machine and I'd really appreciate a chunk of that belting as that is only bit of the machine that is absolutely shot! I'd like to collect some when we come to visit if that is okay - it should be quite soon.

Terry, I have heard about those flat bed tables from Luke - he made one of his own - and would like to get one for myself as it would be invaluable for some of the jobs I do. Could you let me have a picture sometime so I can see how yours is made - or if anyone knows of an original table for sale then do get back to me. I'll gladly pay a fair price plus shipping. Don't worry about the glass raising... already done!

Torrbuidhe, thanks muchly for the manual info and the source for a new knob - I'm on it!

The only other thing I am hunting right now is some information about bobbins. I only have one and it looks like the one that was supplied with the machine when it was new. I'd like to get a few more but don't know what size to ask for. They apparently come in two sizes - large and small - anyone know which one this might be or how I can tell? Once again, I'm happy to buy used or new bobbins if anyone has some to spare.

[scottishshoemaker]

What a good looking machine UKRay, I have a 29k58 that was left in a farm yard next too the milking shed you can imagine the state it was in. I used Jizer to clean it up and stripped it all down and got a mate of a mate to sand blast the treadle base then repainted it all, minus the workings. for bobbins you'lle be looking for the small size as the large one is for the 29k71 long arm patcher. Try Siserve Ltd, 37 Kenilworth Drive, Oadby, LEICESTER LE2 5LT U.K.Tel: +44 (0)116 271 7152. thats where I get all my parts and great service, just ask for Neil and tell him George from Perth told you.

[torrbuidhe]

Here's a picture of a 29k58 table -

http://www.needlebar.org/cm/displayimage.p...m=45&pos=16

[SteveBrambley]

I'm delighted to say that my lovely 29K4 is now squeaky clean and working beautifully. WD40 did the trick combined with an old toothbrush for the tricky bits.

Thanks for all the PMs guys and thanks for the kind and helpful comments.

Steve, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing your Grandfather's machine and I'd really appreciate a chunk of that belting as that is only bit of the machine that is absolutely shot! I'd like to collect some when we come to visit if that is okay - it should be quite soon.

Terry, I have heard about those flat bed tables from Luke - he made one of his own - and would like to get one for myself as it would be invaluable for some of the jobs I do. Could you let me have a picture sometime so I can see how yours is made - or if anyone knows of an original table for sale then do get back to me. I'll gladly pay a fair price plus shipping. Don't worry about the glass raising... already done!

Torrbuidhe, thanks muchly for the manual info and the source for a new knob - I'm on it!

The only other thing I am hunting right now is some information about bobbins. I only have one and it looks like the one that was supplied with the machine when it was new. I'd like to get a few more but don't know what size to ask for. They apparently come in two sizes - large and small - anyone know which one this might be or how I can tell? Once again, I'm happy to buy used or new bobbins if anyone has some to spare.

Hi Ray,

No problem, as I said, we have the best part of a reel of 5/16" leather machine belting, and you can certainly pick some up when you come along. Also, I have a wooden table which should fit your machine, it once fitted Grandfather's 29K58, however, the original iron treadle stand is missing (long story) so it is of no use to me, so you may as well have it before the Deathwatch Beetle get it!

Steve

[UKRay]

Thanks for all your kindness and help guys. I have been overwhelmed by work and so apologies for the delay in responding. I have been using the machine tonight and can hardly believe how well it stitches. A bit more 'fettling' and I'll be a very happy man indeed!

I'll give Siserve a call in the morning! Thanks George.

Cheers,

Ray