My "new" Singer 211G166

[dikman]

Picked it up today, I had to completely dismantle it all to get it in my car and then re-assemble it when I got home (which included figuring how to put castors on it so that I can move it around in my shed). I know my back is going to complain tomorrow as those clutch motors are heavy!! Came with 14 bobbins, which was a nice bonus, and runs well - but is almost uncontrollable for my needs! Once it's started I can feather it down fairly slow, but the initial start is sudden and fast. This is with a 3" pulley fitted (it came with a 4"). Tomorrow I'll swap over the servo motor from my other machine and try that, although I suspect I'll probably have to make another speed reduction pulley as well. The bonus is that I can fit the needle synchronizer adapter that came with the motor (couldn't be fitted to the other Singer).

I had a quick look at the innards, everything looks lubricated but I'll spend more time on that tomorrow. I've got the service book and the parts listing, bought some needles on the way home (size 18 and 22 to start with) and figure I'm just about set to have some fun.

I had a look at the 132-K6 while I was there - it's quite a beast, but I think this one will suit my needs better.

[dikman]

Today I swapped over my Chinese Servo motor, with a very small pulley, to the 166. It's like a completely different machine! I can now start very slow and it will chug away at a nice relaxed pace, giving me almost complete control over it. I reckon I can get away without using a pulley reducer. It went through 1/4" of reasonably hard veg without any problems, just using the fabric needle that came with it.

Now I just have to try some thread in it.

[Skylark53]

I'm new to this forum but I've read several mentions replacing clutch motors with "servo" motors... Can you give me more information? I have 211G156 that I'd contemplate upgrading.

Thanks for your time.

Skylark53

[dikman]

G'day Skylark (your name makes me think of the classic "Skylark" series of SF books by E.E.Smith). A servo motor is generally a smaller, lighter DC motor that is controlled electronically via a control box. They are generally programmable, to some extent, so that you can set the maximum speed you want and also the startup speed. They are also available in different sizes (horse power).

They will give you much better slow speed control than a clutch motor and only run when you press the foot pedal, unlike a clutch motor which is running all the time. If you're happy with your machine as it is then that's good, but if it's too fast to control how you'd like to then it may be worth considering fitting one. The motor should be a straight swap, using the same mounting holes, and the control box/on-off switch screws to the bottom of the table. You might need a new v-belt (longer or shorter).

In my case I've bought two via Aliexpress (Chinese ebay), as like most things in this country, they're expensive to buy here. I fitted small (1 3/4") pulleys to the motors to slow the output down as much as possible, and in the case of the Pfaff I fitted a very large (8") pulley to the machine. All this has given me crawling speed at the needle! I can't fit a larger pulley to the Singer, due to its design, so may fit a speed reduction pulley set to it as well as the servo.

As you can see, and I've slowly found out, industrial sewing machines can be a lot more complex than you'd expect.

Edited October 18, 2015 by dikman

[Skylark53]

Hi Dikman,

Thanks for the quick response... Do you still have a link to the Ali Express for that DC servo motor? What horsepower rating did you get?

Thanks again.

Skylark53

[Skylark53]

Hi again,

The machines I found on AliExpress are rated in watts... 550w, 750w, don't know how that "translates" to HP... Also, I'm only looking at 110v machines.

Skylark53

[Northmount]

746 watts = 1 hp

Tom

[Skylark53]

Thanks Tom,

A Google search gave me a bit of insight too... LOL

Skylark53

[dikman]

Hi Skylark, this is the place I bought mine from, mainly because they had a warehouse here in Australia - If you go to www.aliexpress.com and search on sewing machine motor you'll find lots and lots. Many are the same motor, just different stores, and the prices will vary of course. Spend some time getting familiar with what's available as they come in 110v and 220v and hp varies too. Mine are 550w, roughly 3/4 hp.

Edit: blast, I had to delete part of the address 'cos it linked to my account!! The company I used is Lishiu Skyrit Import and Export.

Edited October 18, 2015 by dikman

[Skylark53]

Got it Dikman,

Yes, I did notice the price differences... Also, if I order direct from China, delivery is free. I've ordered from AliExpress before so I know they give good service.

Thanks for the follow-up.

G'day to you...

Skylark53