Black2 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Hy fellas, well i got the bug to buy a an old singer (due to budget) to do a few leather projects. Found a 111w100 dirt cheap. Found out the hard way that "W" doesn't necessarily mean walking foot But even without it, it feeds everything i do just fine so far. So on to the next gripe, apparently this machine only does a minimum of 6 stitches per inch Even if i manually set the drive eccentric set screw to its max. So my question... is there any known way to reduce the stitch length? Im hoping to get at least 4, that would be great. Although i hate to start another project, i have a lathe, mill,etc., so im not afraid to open it up. But if that's the case maybe ill just look for another head. Although i don't want to break the bank either. I grabbed this one for $50 on craigslist, and found a worktable as well for $35 that i converted and cleaned up. I had a heavy duty 12 volt motor lying around, hooked it up to a PC power supply and regulated the voltage via an old dewalt VSR trigger that i retrofitted into a guitar hero drum pedal. So yeah, im a cheap ass. I have a whopping $100 into this so if i can get it do 4 stitches ill be in heaven! AH, almost forgot, i promised free pics. Here she is all cleaned up. It was a mess but its all working great!.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Looks good, If you open the upper plate & look to the left of the timing belt,you might have to turn the machine around so you can see the little screw,there SHOULD be 2 in there,take the 1st one marked BB on the diagram & turn CC in as far as it'll go,reinstall lock screw BB & it will be as long as it can be.We can get a teflon foot for it that will reduce the drag of the steel foot or you could even just glue some teflon on the bottom of the feet to help. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black2 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Yeah that was the first thing i tried. I set it to its max travel but it only will give me 6 stitches. I was thinking of somthing more drastic. Like machining the drive eccentric plate to increase its travel. Are there any other 111w-XXX machines that do 3 or 4 stitches per inch? I thought there were. Is stitch length adjusted the same on those? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cobra Steve Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Yeah that was the first thing i tried. I set it to its max travel but it only will give me 6 stitches. I was thinking of somthing more drastic. Like machining the drive eccentric plate to increase its travel. Are there any other 111w-XXX machines that do 3 or 4 stitches per inch? I thought there were. Is stitch length adjusted the same on those? Hi Black2. The feed mechanism might be "gummed up", or is not moving to it's maximum/minimum capabilities due to lack of oil or lubricants over the years. Try some WD 40 on every component of the machine while running it at a higher speed. This will start to loosen up the moving parts, linkage's and eccentrics. After running the machine for 10-15 minutes, oil it everywhere. Be liberal with the Wd 40, and the oil. Of course you will have to clean the machine after doing this. This may help. Good luck. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted February 28, 2012 (edited) I looked it up & that's all your going to get.You can see the chart what other models get for stitch length. Bob Edited February 28, 2012 by sewmun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Steve has a good idea. These machines do get gummed-up over time. With the WD-40, stay off the screws as much as possible, but it won't be a problem if you don't. Also stay away from the belt with the WD-40. I have never thought of WD-40 as a lubricant, but more as a cleaner. Spray it on, run it in, even spray while running, then wipe it off. Repeat as necessary. Oil pretty well afterward to force any WD out. One thing you might want to know. Singer used some of the damnedest thread pitches in their long production life. They must have owned a tap and die factory. I've never had to replace a screw on a 111, so I am not sure if they are the exception. Good repair shops like Bob, Steve, or a local old timer usually keep a box of old screws for their own use when they lose or bugger one up; keep that in mind and get a magnetic dish for screws. Singer bearings on the shafts are often hand lapped to the shaft, if you don't know what that means, don't take the shafts out, if you are going to paint, just leave the shafts in and mask them off. I have seen some way cool paint jobs over the years, but I can tell you that a black 222 will sell for more than a pink one. Art Hi Black2. The feed mechanism might be "gummed up", or is not moving to it's maximum/minimum capabilities due to lack of oil or lubricants over the years. Try some WD 40 on every component of the machine while running it at a higher speed. This will start to loosen up the moving parts, linkage's and eccentrics. After running the machine for 10-15 minutes, oil it everywhere. Be liberal with the Wd 40, and the oil. Of course you will have to clean the machine after doing this. This may help. Good luck. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 28, 2012 I looked it up & that's all your going to get.You can see the chart what other models get for stitch length. Bob Bob; You posted the scan upside down! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CowboyBob Report post Posted February 28, 2012 What are you talking about?? Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 28, 2012 What are you talking about?? Bob Thank you for flipping the stitch length jpg right side up. Now I can read the columns without hanging from the ceiling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted February 28, 2012 I thought he was posting about the 901M111, a very rare machine. Art Thank you for flipping the stitch length jpg right side up. Now I can read the columns without hanging from the ceiling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wizcrafts Report post Posted February 28, 2012 I thought he was posting about the 901M111, a very rare machine. Art PRICELESS! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted February 28, 2012 Art, You are in rare form today with pink machines and a rare 901M111 Singer machine. Wiz hit the nail on head with PRICELESS. Regards, Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black2 Report post Posted February 29, 2012 Thanks for the advice and the chart. I took the machine completely apart when i got it home, so everything is super clean and oiled well. The thread selection dial on the machine only goes down to 6, so i know thats what it can do from the factory. Im just trying to figure out how to increase the travel on the feed dog/ eccentric. If other 111W's can do three, then this one should be able to as well if i can nail down the differences. I think if i lengthen the arm that connects the eccentric drive to the feed dog i can get what im after. Now im curious as to what specifically is different in the other 111w's that increases their feed travel? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
