Commercial Singer Treadle (motorized) w/96-10 Head

[dikman]

$1000 to paint a sewing machine??? I guess the sewing machine fixation runs strong in your family.

I oiled the 31K20 and it spins real easy. Found a bobbin that fitted and handwheeled a few stitches in some leather, which looked reasonable (nothing that some adjusting won't fix) but it's snagging strands of the top thread, which could be the thread as it's some old stuff I got with one of the machines. I have a bigger problem, however, and it's the same as my other machine - no thread tension release!! In this case I found a photo of the missing part, but even in the parts list it's labelled as obsolete!!! Unless I can make a replacement the machine is of little use. If I can make one then I'll repaint it. While most of my other machines are in varying shades of grey and/or grey/silver this particular colour is obnoxious and is a sloppy job that has been applied rather thickly.

Something to think about.

[suzelle]

dikman,

You got that right! Sewing machine crazies in my family! Myself, I would have used that $1,000.00 to buy some more machines. The trick for me is not to keep them all. Just have fun, fix and learn, and move up.

Well good, you got that machine oiled and it is stitching. That's great. With the tension issue, are you talking about a tension assembly? Or just the spring? If so, I bet you could fix that, I've found those parts and repaired before. Don't give up. If you need the whole assembly, there is a little screw (usually) to the right of the tension disk that you would loosen, then you can pull out the whole assembly.

Its a bit tricky getting the replacement one in, but with some noodling around, you can do it! However, if you hate the paint and don't care to strip it and/or repaint it now, maybe you can think about it a while and come back to it someday when you feel less disgusted. A new day can change everything!

Is the part #44118  ??? If so, there are quite a few on EBAY, found on Amazon too. Would work for a Class 31 machine, and some others. A pretty generic part. Hope that helps. Oh, here is a good Seller I have purchased from in past who has that part, if it is the one you need.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SINGER-SEWING-MACHINE-MODEL-31-Class-44-Class-THREAD-TENSION-ASSEMBLY-31-15/291234422412?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D777003%26algo%3DDISCL.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20131230161411%26meid%3D7f96b9c9cbb24c2f87aa2bd7364a7692%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D291972186688

It may be all you need is the spring? I think "beehive" spring, right?

Oops, nope, that is probably not beehive spring, but maybe this (same seller)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SINGER-SEWING-MACHINE-31-15-THREAD-TENSION-CHECK-SPRING-43946-/291680372608?hash=item43e9814780:g:ORYAAOSwzaJX5TkN

Above says it is for the 31-15, so I would think for your 31-20 too?

In the past, I replaced a tension assembly for a 31-15 and remember it didn't fit in the hole very well on the old machine. All I had to do was sand the inside of the opening a bit with some fine sand paper, then the thing went right in. Worked perfectly.  It was a new part, not a used part. Sometimes the new parts don't fit at all, or you can make them work (maybe!). Some of the parts I got new for that machine didn't work, so I paired them with old parts when I could. Lucky I got that one running because it need parts in the bobbin race too - the entire assembly or whatchamacallit.

Edited March 23, 2017 by suzelle
adding part number for tension assembly

[suzelle]

By the way, I'm considering just finding a new home for this machine, and sending if off with table, motor, and all. I had the joy of getting it running again. This really is a hobby for me to get a good old machine running again.

[dikman]

The missing part is the actual internal lever that operates the little push rod to release the tension (it's shaped like a fish-hook!). I'm in the process of making one. It's good that you can move things on, my problem is things come in but don't go out!!!

[suzelle]

I was looking at the photos of your machine and I think I see what your talking about. You are very inventive! Very cool that you are fabricating your own part! Can't wait to see what you come up with, please post that and I'll have a look back at the machine you are working on. May the Sewing Gods be with you!

[usmc323]

On 3/11/2017 at 6:30 AM, suzelle said:

A friend of mine who is also one of my Customers has a junk store. Originally he had a price tag of several hundered dollars on the machine. He knows I love the old Singers and calls me every time he sees one. He called me about this one last summer, I always tell him "don't buy that" because I know he's trying to find something that I would like and I got enough machines and got rid of enough machines already. LOL.... I din't find this out until later, but one of his Customers traded him for one of his tee shirts that I screenprint for him with his shop logo on it. When he told me he traded a tee shirt for it, I didn't feel so bad that he got it. He told me to come down and see what it was, so I did. Told him I don't want that machine, but I like it!  Then months go by and I stuck to my guns, I didn't buy it.

A couple weeks ago, I am in his shop and see he's dropped the price from several hundred to $59.95, or some silly price. So, I remove all the glasses and junk sitting all over the machine's table and pull it out of the corner and start putting it all together and making some adjustments. the belt was off, the needle was out, the bobbin case was out, and I find out what's missing and what's there. Then I turn the handwheel a couple times until I'm comfortable plugging it in. The cute old motor runs! But she needs some work around the bobbin area. I decide it's definately worth the $59.95 but still don't really want it yet. I tell him what it needs to run, probably just one part, a bobbin case position bracket. Then I put the machine back in it's corner and leave. Then I get a text message from him telling me I can buy the machine for $30.00! So yesterday I went back in, gave him the $30.00 plus tax and now I own a machine!

Initially, I thought the machine was a 31-15, but turns out it is a 96-10. I really only bought it for it's base, but I do love the old Singers and like to see them run. I may need some help with this one though, have never owned a 96-10, never really wanted one. I've always wanted an Industrial treadle base though and figure some day I will come across the right handwheel and treadle wheel to add to it. I'd keep the cute motor though, I love that too!

I'm hoping the bobbin case position bracket is all this beauty needs to run right again. I do intend to make her look pretty again. If she does a good job sewing lightweight leather, well she can stay!

I'm really more in the market for another Pfaff 138-6. The one I bought last Spring and fixed up has been sold. I just needed the space and the money at the time.Thank you all for helping me on that one! It sure did run nice when it left here! New Owner was New at sewing and he was pretty tickled to get such a great machine. He's stayed in touch too, asking questions as he learns about the machine. Nice guy! I didn't know how much I was going to miss that machine until now! But I'm really glad it went to a good place where it is being used daily.

So.... back to the 96-10...Anybody know if a 31-15 or a 31-20 will fit into the opening on this one? I wasn't sure if the bed size of this 96-10 is the same size as the 31-15.

Got any ideas what I can to to beautify this old girl? She is crusty and dusty!

Nice machine. I have a 96-10 with a servo motor - looking for a replacement needle clamp as my take a lot to hold the needle in place.  Any ideas where i can source one?

[suzelle]

On 1/10/2022 at 8:15 AM, usmc323 said:

Nice machine. I have a 96-10 with a servo motor - looking for a replacement needle clamp as my take a lot to hold the needle in place.  Any ideas where i can source one?

Hello usmc323 

Congrats on your 96-10, if it is new to you.  Sorry, I don't know where you can source a replacement needle clamp. When I have to find parts for old machines, I start looking on Ebay and Etsy, then call any shops or repair people that I know deal in old parts. So just try that in your area. Good luck! Hope you find that part and get her running!

[Wizcrafts]

On 1/10/2022 at 11:15 AM, usmc323 said:

I have a 96-10 with a servo motor - looking for a replacement needle clamp as my take a lot to hold the needle in place.  Any ideas where i can source one?

I recently got a replacement needle bar with a needle clamp with a thread guide on the bottom from Bob Kovar. He has parts for all manner of industrial sewing machines. Call him at 866-362-7397.