Singer 111W-155 With Treadle. Would It Work If You Dont Need Much Speed?

[mikesc]

"Something else"..
When the reverse lever is down, ( machine in reverse ) it is at the bottom of it's "slot" in the machine head..measure the space in the "slot" that is left above it, make a wedge ( wood or brass, or thick hard plastic ) that will fit into that "slot" space..Thus the "wedge" will hold the reverse lever in the down position..make a "lip" on the wedge ( so as to stop it falling inside the machine head )..fix a ring onto the part of the "wedge" that is facing outwards towards you..( you could make it all out of brass in one piece ) so that you can pull the wedge out ( allowing the machine to run in "forwards" ) after the required stitches have been made in reverse..

You could even make it "spring loaded" so that you'd have to swing it down to put it into the slot, but that a quick tap downward on the reverse lever would release it to swing back up and out of the way..

Got access to compressed air ? or a low voltage DC solenoid ? ( or a scrap car door lock solenoid )..or a knee operated lever with spring return..even more possibilities open up..

Edited July 30, 2016 by mikesc

[cdthayer]

This machine doesn’t have the slot for the reverse lever, but your idea would work for one that did.  This one just has a lever attached to a shaft on the right end of the machine, and has a spring inside the pillar to hold the linkage in the up position when not reversing.

I never have grown very fond of machines that have reverse levers or buttons that need to be held while backtacking or sewing in reverse (mostly domestic home-use machines, but some industrials).  I prefer the ones that have a lever that will stay put until I’m ready to move it and sew the other way.

I think my daughter’s power stand has a peddle rigged up on it to activate the reverse with a foot, so she’ll be ok.  I’m having my problems because I’m fiddling with it in a treadle stand just to play with it and make sure it sews well for her.  I have a couple of power stands that I could try it in, but I’m just having too much fun with it in the treadle.  Vinyl and woven upholstery fabric can be sewn with the 226 fairly well in a treadle.

Maybe I can hang a pork chop from the lever, and train my little shop dog Rex to take a bite from it when I need reverse?  That would take some serious training, and I don’t know if either one of us is up to that....

CD in Oklahoma

 

[dikman]

18 hours ago, cdthayer said:

Maybe I can hang a pork chop from the lever, and train my little shop dog Rex to take a bite from it when I need reverse?

Sounds like your medication might need changing......

[leecopp]

I rigged a spare industrial table top to a two speed xwide, two speed patcher treadle base. I tried treadling my 111w155 and felt like there was just too much machine resistance.  I freely admit that while the machine sews well under power, I am not convinced that it is operating to spec as I had never used another. I guess I need to try one more time with the smaller drive wheel and get things settled in my mind.  The machine is a heavy beastie. 

I am using the above treadle on my 42-5 with good success.  I am also using an orphan 29k band wheel for my 78-1 just to slow things down some from the 16" industrial bandwheel.

I have recently switched to 1/4 hollow poly tubing which seems to slip a little less and can be easily adjusted.

[CowboyBob]

I set a needlefeed 111W up once for an Amish guy that wanted to sew belts & worked but was pretty hard to treadle ,we stuck a walking foot 111w in the stand & it really took alot more foot power than the needlefeed.The walking foot 111w has alot of resistance going on when it walks it makes it hard to treadle.The older mchine like 29 & 42-3 have large wheels & the walking foot works different & they will spin & go around -3 x when you do it if they are oiled good.It might help a 111 treadle easier if you could find a heavier handwheel w/a small pulley.One like what's on the 42-5.

[mikesc]

I'd be tempted to rig up something using a chain drive and gears , pedals etc from a bicycle..I think you'd get more control and power for less "effort" like that..could be a fun project ..could even add wheels and go mobile :)..and..add a basket for the dog, and a cooler for the pork chop and a few beers..:)..The Australian version would require a built on BBQ..

[Yetibelle]

I like that converted 29K base.  I think I will have to try that. 

 

Nice Work!