Singer 31-20`

[Wizcrafts]

9 hours ago, photo2u said:

Hi,  I am new in this forum and I was looking for ways to make my 31-15 utilize tex 69 thread properly.  I am interested in knowing how to "clearanced the shuttle driver and shuttle race" as you did to your machine?

I welcome any advice,

G

My Singer 31-15 has a pinned shuttle driver that can't be rotated to adjust timing. When I bought it, the clearance between the ends of the driver and the shuttle was just enough to clear standard cotton or polycore garment sewing thread. This made for excellent results with thin thread, but not with bonded 69. My solution, which was passed along by a friendly industrial sewing machine dealer, was to carefully pry the ends of the shuttle driver out a little. This increases the free space between the driver and the shuttle. I fine tuned the clearance for #69 bonded thread and called it a day.

Because the 31-15s had fixed position shuttle drivers, the only way to time the machine is by moving the needle bar up or down and changing the clearance to the shuttle. Many of these almost 100 year old machines have partially or fully stripped set screws on the needle bar. If you can get the screw to turn it is best to replace it with a new one. Then you can fine tune the needle's eye to hook point very slightly, or even to change needle systems. I set mine to use system DBx1 , also known as; 16x231, 16x257, 1738, or 1515. These are the same needles my serger uses, so I get double duty out of these needles.

Here is a discussion about the Singer 31-15 that I was involved with.

Note, that if you set too much clearance on the shuttle driver, the shuttle action will become sloppy and you'll get unpredictable results.

[photo2u]

3 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

My Singer 31-15 has a pinned shuttle driver that can't be rotated to adjust timing. When I bought it, the clearance between the ends of the driver and the shuttle was just enough to clear standard cotton or polycore garment sewing thread. This made for excellent results with thin thread, but not with bonded 69. My solution, which was passed along by a friendly industrial sewing machine dealer, was to carefully pry the ends of the shuttle driver out a little. This increases the free space between the driver and the shuttle. I fine tuned the clearance for #69 bonded thread and called it a day.

Because the 31-15s had fixed position shuttle drivers, the only way to time the machine is by moving the needle bar up or down and changing the clearance to the shuttle. Many of these almost 100 year old machines have partially or fully stripped set screws on the needle bar. If you can get the screw to turn it is best to replace it with a new one. Then you can fine tune the needle's eye to hook point very slightly, or even to change needle systems. I set mine to use system DBx1 , also known as; 16x231, 16x257, 1738, or 1515. These are the same needles my serger uses, so I get double duty out of these needles.

Here is a discussion about the Singer 31-15 that I was involved with.

Note, that if you set too much clearance on the shuttle driver, the shuttle action will become sloppy and you'll get unpredictable results.

Thank you so very much for helping me out.  I am new at this as I just got into sewing.

I was reading your instructions and I truly do not know the areas you are referring too.  I am including an image to confirm if my understanding is correct.

I welcome any input!

 

Edited October 28, 2019 by photo2u

[photo2u]

3 hours ago, photo2u said:

Thank you so very much for helping me out.  I am new at this as I just got into sewing.

I was reading your instructions and I truly do not know the areas you are referring too.  I am including an image to confirm if my understanding is correct.

I welcome any input!

 

Is this the area where the "prying" is needed? Please advise!

 

[Wizcrafts]

3 hours ago, photo2u said:

Is this the area where the "prying" is needed? Please advise!

 

Yes, that's the shuttle driver. I think I see a crew on your shuttle driver. If so, unscrew it/them and remove the driver. Insert it in a vise and carefully bend one of the arms out slightly. Reinstall it and see if there is more clearance for the top thread. Also, polish the trailing end where the thread exits.

[photo2u]

15 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

Yes, that's the shuttle driver. I think I see a crew on your shuttle driver. If so, unscrew it/them and remove the driver. Insert it in a vise and carefully bend one of the arms out slightly. Reinstall it and see if there is more clearance for the top thread. Also, polish the trailing end where the thread exits.

Thanks for getting back to me and helping me out with your sage advice.  You are a fountain of info and I am absorbing it!   I took out the shuttle driver.  I clean and polish it the best I could.  I was wondering how much I should carefully bend one of the arms?  I was thinking about 1.5mm? or less?  

Also, you mentioned "polishing the trailing end where the thread exits" is that in the stainless steel Shuttle Hook?

Thank you!

 

 

 

[Wizcrafts]

6 hours ago, photo2u said:

Also, you mentioned "polishing the trailing end where the thread exits" is that in the stainless steel Shuttle Hook?

No. I was referring to the driver. Polish the end where the top thread exits.

If your hook has burrs, polish it to a shine.

[photo2u]

On 10/29/2019 at 5:46 PM, Wizcrafts said:

No. I was referring to the driver. Polish the end where the top thread exits.

If your hook has burrs, polish it to a shine.

Great!  I buff the driver as good as it can be.  Thanks for the info.  Finally, could you please let me know how about how little a should pry the end of the driver's?  1 or 2 millimeters?

 

Edited October 31, 2019 by photo2u

[Wizcrafts]

8 hours ago, photo2u said:

Great!  I buff the driver as good as it can be.  Thanks for the info.  Finally, could you please let me know how about how little a should pry the end of the driver's?  1 or 2 millimeters?

 

Trial and error. Keep in mind that if you ever-flex the driver it may break. So, source a replacement just in case.