Singer 108WSV36

[brongle]

So, I impulse bought this machine the other day. Saw it pop up on facebook, the guy happened to be passing through my area the next day, and the price/timing was just too good to pass up - hell, it's the first time I've had a machine dropped off at my shop, really can't beat that. I've been looking for a cheap cylinder arm machine for a while now and learned that those words don't usually go together, so when this one came up for a few hundred bucks, I jumped on it. I'm planning on using this as a binding machine for my bag projects. 

 

It's a 108WSV36, apparently came out of a shoe factory in MA quite a while ago. I've found the limited info that's out there on this model - seems one other forum member had one with this specific subclass, but it's very similar to the 108W20, and that's the manual/parts list I've been referencing so far. I just started getting into it yesterday, and so far, I've identified the two primary functional parts that are missing: the cloth timing belt and the feed regulating spindle.

Found the specs for the timing belt in another thread and was able to verify them against the pulleys in my machine, so I'm planning on 3D printing a replacement in TPU today, if not only to get things moving. I'm hoping a printed replacement can hold up for actual use too, as the cloth belts seem to be increasingly rare. I'll share that file here once I test it. If that doesn't hold up in the way I like, I'll probably end up making a jig to locate and crimp the staples for DIY belts that match the original style.

As for the feed regulating spindle, it seems like I'm going to need to get a little more creative. I've got a screwdriver jammed in there where it'd normally sit, and was able to verify that the feed mechanism works! Surprisingly, despite this machine's condition and the fact that it hasn't run in quite some number of years, I haven't found much that's frozen up with rust or varnish. If anyone here with a 108 class machine would be so kind as to share pictures of their feed regulating spindle with a scale reference in the photo (a ruler is fine), that'd help me out tremendously. Seems like it's a 1/4" OD, based on the hole it goes into, but I'd like some reference for OAL and point length so I can reproduce it. I'd love to see a pic of the inside of the threaded cap as well if possible. Below is the subassembly in question.

 

This particular machine seems to have originally been set up with a stationary binder of some kind,  and there's no way to connect a synchronized binder to the drive slot in the feed dog plate through the cover that's on there. This means I'll also need to either make a new cover plate with those mounting features or modify the existing one. I'm leaning towards a reproduction there in order to preserve the parts it came with. I've got a cheapo generic single fold right angle binder that I'm going to attempt to set up as a synchronized binder. I'd love to see pics of any binding attachments that other folks have for their 108 class machines, particularly showing the mounting and drive features. 

I'll keep updating this thread as I get deeper into the machine, and I'm happy to share any CAD that I come up with in the process if other folks are interested in printing or machining replacement parts for their machines. I'm trying to make as much as I can here, because that's the part of this kind of work that I enjoy the most and it's pretty clear that the fairly uncommon parts I'm missing will rapidly add up to more than the machine itself cost me. 

 

A semi-related question that's been bouncing around my head - this machine, as well as my other two, has a horizontal rotary hook. I like that from a design standpoint, and I'm really curious as to why oscillating hooks seem to be a little more common. I understand that on larger machines that have a lot of needle travel and really big bobbins, it becomes impractical to wrap that much thread all the way around a hook, but I see a ton of smaller machines that still have oscillating horizontal hooks. Is one more reliable than the other? Gentler on the thread? More tolerant of a wider range of thread sizes? Seems like a rotary hook would be much smoother at high speeds and I don't really see any obvious downsides.

[Constabulary]

you still can find some 108w / 108K parts f.i. at college sewing in the UK. But you have to enter the parts number or "search word" for certain parts to find them cause they do not have all the "108 parts" listed in the right machine section.

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=9&q=108w

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=9&q=108k

They have the feed dog that can govern the binder attachment plate:

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/224704c-feed-dog-singer-108w.html

and the swinging attachment plate:

https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/224738-binder-swing-base-singer-108w.html

Certain Singer feed regulating spindles also can still be found but they most likely need a modification in length (at least) and the stitch length number on the knob may not match but you at least can "get something".

https://parts.jacksew.com/feed-reg-spindle-generic-202310/

https://www.ronsew.com/feed-regulating-spindle-224122-for-singer-112w115/

 

Edited 56 minutes ago by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

I have a 111 feed spindle somewhere so I can compare the length and tip shape with my 108w20 machine.... stay tuned

EDIT:

Top: 111 feed spindle (224122 on spindle shaft)

Center: 107w feed spindle

Bottom: 108w feed spindle (208540 on spindle shaft)

Edited 20 minutes ago by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

here: 108w on top and 111 below - tip shape is different but I think you can machine a 111 spindle to make it work for the 108w.

The knobs seem to be the same.

So I think this spindle is a good candidate for reworking

https://www.ronsew.com/feed-regulating-spindle-224122-for-singer-112w115/

But in the end decision is yours - I only can give "part hints".

Edited 10 minutes ago by Constabulary

[Constabulary]

108w20: Total length from inside of the knob to spindle tip is approx 116mm and the machined tip is approx 13.23mm. But I´m not a machinist - the measures are close but probably but not 100% correct.