Singer 111G156 - Timing Belt Replacement

[gottaknow]

One of my biggest frustrations as a head mechanic in a factory is buying replacement parts. When I started in 1980, you could call Singer direct and get original parts. They always were made to spec of the same material. You could swap a part, adjust, and be on to the next one. I don't just order 1 of anything. I will normally order 3x the quantity I need in order to get one I can use. I return things that aren't to spec. My vendors take care of me because of the volume we buy, but it's just made extra work. I still use a lot of 50's and 60's era Singers because there's a lot of jobs that don't require all the options of the newer machines. I have Singer 211's that have the original hooks in them and can still perform 40 hours a week at high speed. Last year, I purchased a new Chinese Juki double needle lockstitch. I estimate it's useful life at 5-6 years before the inferior materials in the bushings and bearing carriers are wasted.

All that to say I feel your pain CD. I don't think I'll ever get used to the poor quality. Fortunate for the leatherworkers, the machines run at a much slower speed and should last a lot longer.

Regards, Eric

[Constabulary]

I still use a lot of 50's and 60's era Singers because there's a lot of jobs that don't require all the options of the newer machines.

Thats exactly my thought!

All these fancy things on new machines cost a lot of money when they are broke!

F.I. - I love the belt driven bobbin winders that sit next to the machine. Guess what it cost to replace an built in bobbin winder (not sure if that can happen but you never know). An external winder cost about $15-$20 - if it will break at all.

Its the same with modern cars. There is so much electronic junk inside the cars. Light sensors, rain sensors... What a bullshxt!

[cdthayer]

Well, I'm back to square one on my Singer 111G156. The bad Tension Release Slide #240500 that I bought and tried to make work, didn't, and then it broke. The tab that goes up to push in the tension release pin broke off. I guess I'll shelve this machine until I can find a good part.

Does anyone know what the difference is between the 111G156 Tension Release Slide #240500 and the 111W155 Tension Disc Slide #264527, or is there any difference other than the part number?

CD in Oklahoma

Edited November 5, 2013 by cdthayer

[Constabulary]

Not sure but maybe they have sent you a wrong part. It is probably for a clone, maybe for a consew.

I just checked Ebay and found one that looks as if it could fit, it seems not to have the "wide tongue"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SINGER-111W-TENSION-RELEASE-SLIDE-PART-240500-/120926491838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c27c7d4be

I have bought all parts for my 111D156 from sharpsewing on Ebay and had no problems. But I have not tried the release slide but maybe you can contact them and send them a picture through the ebay system. The guy who always answered friendly was Sam.

[cdthayer]

That's where I got mine, and it had the same photo for the one that I bought, but you can see the difference on the one that I got.

CD in Oklahoma

[Constabulary]

didn´t know - so I have no further idea! I don´t know how mine looks (I will leave it in there until it´s broke) but can´t you carefully grind it down?

[cdthayer]

...can't you carefully grind it down?

That's what I did, but the part had other issues. The entire thing was out of spec. The ring that slides on the presser bar was out of position causing the two tabs to not fit into their positions properly, and the pilot pin on it that has to slide in the hole in the Presser Bar Lifting Bracket to keep the slide setting straight on the bar would not align with the hole when both parts were on the bar. Even by grinding down the wide tab that depresses the tension release, the rest of the design flaws wouldn't allow the part to function.

By the time that I discovered all of this, I had already modified the wide tab to fit into the bracket groove, so I'm stuck with it. It's probably one of those parts that has been sent back umpteen times (as Eric mentioned that he has to do), and it finally found a home in my scrap box. It's really aggravating. Not only am I out the cost of the part and the time it took me to try to make the part work, but my machine is still dead in the water until I can find a part that is correct.

CD in Oklahoma

[Constabulary]

not sure how important the ring is. I think the part is held in place good enough by the just the upright pin and the large screw. So why not cut the ring and grind down the tongue.

Not sure if it works, its just another idea. Maybe you can try this with the broken part - somehow.

[cdthayer]

Yesterday, I received another part #240500, Tension Release Slide, from another source and installed it in my Singer 111G156 this morning. I'm thankful (Thanksgiving Day) that it is the correct part, and I must say that it's really nice to have good parts to work with. I test-sewed with it by hand-wheeling to begin getting things adjusted before putting it in a power stand. I've got to decide on a stand and get it set up later.

I'm also thankful to you guys that have helped me with this basket-case machine that was so out of whack. I went back to some of Eric';s posts to fine-tune some things, and I really appreciate him taking the time to be so informative.

I at least have it sewing now, and hope to dial it in and make it a good working machine soon. Thanks again.

CD in Oklahoma

[gottaknow]

That's great CD. I'm glad it's working out. I'm glad to help whenever I can.

Regards, Eric