HELP!! Trying to repair a Vintage N elco deluxe 146B sewing machine(repair issues)

[AlZilla]

I'm about to head out the door but a couple of quick thoughts ...

Sounds like it's hammering. Definitely needs cleaning and oiling internally. Especially the hook area.  A dull needle could contribute to that sound.

The slow start could also be related to lack of lubrication. But very often that slow start means the motor and/or foot controller need to be serviced. 

This is all easy stuff to do. I'll recommend going to you tube and looking up Andy Tube  he has hundreds of videos, mostly on old Singers but it still applies. Also Vintage Sewing Machine Garage.

I'll check in here later this evening and see if we have any updates from you. 

Oh, the stitching is probably a simple issue as well. It starts with cleaning, oiling, checking your thread path, using new thread and needles, things like that.

It's all very Zen. Sit with the machine, go over all the parts of it, study how it works. Become One with the machine . Ommmm...

[friquant]

To get it moving freely, you can oil all the moving parts, remove the bobbin and the needle, and put a brick on the foot pedal to hold it down. Let it run for 5-10 minutes at full speed. Monitor to make sure it's getting freer (faster) with time, not slower. If it gets slower with time, see if there's an oil spot you missed, and see if there are any warm spots on the machine.

[Brandicandi]

On 1/22/2026 at 8:34 AM, friquant said:

To get it moving freely, you can oil all the moving parts, remove the bobbin and the needle, and put a brick on the foot pedal to hold it down. Let it run for 5-10 minutes at full speed. Monitor to make sure it's getting freer (faster) with time, not slower. If it gets slower with time, see if there's an oil spot you missed, and see if there are any warm spots on the machine.

Thank u I will def try this. I appreciate the info.

On 1/22/2026 at 2:42 AM, nejcek74 said:

As it is an old home sewing machine, do you know this forum:

https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/

they have some knowledge there

No I don't I will check that out thanks.

On 1/22/2026 at 2:42 AM, nejcek74 said:

As it is an old home sewing machine, do you know this forum:

https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/

they have some knowledge there

No I don't I will check that out thanks.

On 1/22/2026 at 2:42 AM, nejcek74 said:

As it is an old home sewing machine, do you know this forum:

https://www.victoriansweatshop.com/

they have some knowledge there

No I don't I will check that out thanks.

[Brandicandi]

On 1/22/2026 at 3:58 AM, AlZilla said:

I'm about to head out the door but a couple of quick thoughts ...

Sounds like it's hammering. Definitely needs cleaning and oiling internally. Especially the hook area.  A dull needle could contribute to that sound.

The slow start could also be related to lack of lubrication. But very often that slow start means the motor and/or foot controller need to be serviced. 

This is all easy stuff to do. I'll recommend going to you tube and looking up Andy Tube  he has hundreds of videos, mostly on old Singers but it still applies. Also Vintage Sewing Machine Garage.

I'll check in here later this evening and see if we have any updates from you. 

Oh, the stitching is probably a simple issue as well. It starts with cleaning, oiling, checking your thread path, using new thread and needles, things like that.

It's all very Zen. Sit with the machine, go over all the parts of it, study how it works. Become One with the machine . Ommmm...

Thank u.. I will def check out the YouTube channels u suggested thank u so much. Sorry for the late reply. 

[friquant]

To enable email notifications when someone posts on your topics (like this one), you can visit https://leatherworker.net/forum/notifications/options/

then click "Mentions and My Content"

and make sure the "Email" box is checked.

[AlZilla]

2 hours ago, friquant said:

To enable email notifications when someone posts on your topics (like this one), you can visit https://leatherworker.net/forum/notifications/options/

then click "Mentions and My Content"

and make sure the "Email" box is checked.

Maybe we should mention this to new users when we respond to their initial question.

[friquant]

On 1/29/2026 at 2:56 PM, AlZilla said:

Maybe we should mention this to new users when we respond to their initial question.

Or send the new user a DM after we reply to their new topic. (New users do get email notifications for direct messages.)

[AlZilla]

36 minutes ago, friquant said:

Or send the new user a DM after we reply to their new topic. (New users do get email notifications for direct messages.)

Well, that's probably the best way then, until we see if if defaults can be changed for new users.