Singer 111W155 Set-Up Question, Thoughts

[David Bruce]

I've read through the different posts on the forum about these old machines and still have some questions regarding setting them up for leather work. I will be using this for the usual suspects, belts, guitar straps, wallets and hopefully some bags and back packs.

This is my first industrial sewing machine and I have limited experience sewing with machines in general. I'm buying this from a local dealer here in Chicago and when I tested the machine out it was very difficult for me to control. The guy at the shop was able to work it smoothly so I know it's my lack of experience and lead foot. I've read that many folks like to use the servo motors that Bob at Toledo carries with the 2" pulley. So here are my questions: What size pulley do you need on the head of the 111W itself? Are there any timing or other adjustments that you have to make when swapping the motors or is it plug and play? This machine comes with a basic presser foot, 5 bobbins, a magnetic edge guide, winder, spool holder and a well used table. What additional feet and or accessories are necessities for the work that I need to do?

The guys at the shop were adamant that I just need practice and that a servo is an unnecessary expense. My fear is that I will ruin projects, injure myself and get turned off from using a machine if I don't slow this beast down. I nearly took the sales guys finger off when he told me to feather it while putting his hand on the wheel! Blood was drawn and he was none too happy. They had a servo that they could install which was an Eagle KM400. Has anyone used these or are the one's form Toledo better? Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

Edited July 10, 2015 by David Bruce

[Wizcrafts]

If that old machine is mounted on an old wooden top table and there are four motor mounting bolts, it is probably the very old style continuous run motor with an external clutch. That setup was replaced with internal clutch motors decades ago and they use three bolts rather than four. One can either learn to feather the clutch, or replace it with a servo motor. Some folks can and some can't.

The servo motors have three mounting brackets, just like the internal clutch motors. If the machine you are looking at has the three hole motor mounts, the change is plug and play. Remove all the old wiring, pull off the old motor and install the new one and its wiring. The Family Sew motor you mentioned, from Toledo Industrial, has all new mounting hardware and wiring and a switch box.

FS-550 motors normally ship with 70mm pulleys. The ones Bob Kovar sells to leather crafters are usually modified with a 50mm (2") pulley. This adds torque at a slight loss of top speed. I have this motor on an old Singer 139 long body walking foot machine, which is like a long wheelbase 111. It can easily be controlled down to about 1.5 stitches per second. Flat out it blasts away at about 20 per second. The speed changes smoothly over the entire range of motion on the motor's control arm. The previous generation of servo motors were not always as smooth transitioning from slow to fast.

You can get larger wheels/pulley for the Singer 111 machines. You'd have to measure the one on the machine and call a dealer with those specs. They'll need the diameter across the top of the belt pulley and the bore of the mounting hole. You can use simple math to figure out what top speed you will get by the ratio of the motor to machine pulleys. A new v-belt will be needed.

Some folks go as far as buying a 3:1 speed reducer that bolts under the table. This slows the machine way down and triples the torque/punching power. It will be faster than hand sewing, but real slow on long straight straps or upholstery seams.

[Tejas]

I started with a 111W155 and no experience, and was intimidated by the speed of the clutch motor. After switching to an FS-550 servo-motor with a 50 mm pulley, and at the lowest top-speed setting, I could single-cycle the needle.

[David Bruce]

Thanks for the replies, I spoke with Bob over at Toledo sewing and he confirmed that it's a straight forward motor swap. I decided to order the servo he sells since he's on the forum and caters to leather workers. It also seems to have the shortest learning curve. I'm not sure of the age of my machine and doubt that it's on the original table. Hopefully, it's a three vs. four bolt model.

The local sewing repair shop said that they refurbished the machine and it appeared to have some new parts and ran well from what I could tell. I did bring along several different weights of both veg and chrome tanned leathers that I use and it blazed through them. Hopefully, I will get the servo in a few days, have the shop do the motor swap and be working by this time next week.

[David Bruce]

Talk about customer service! I ordered the servo motor and some little items on Friday. I called Bob @ Toledo Sewing just to make sure that he received my order on Monday. It was on my porch 30 min. later. If you read this Bob, thanks again! Now I just need to learn to use this old gal.