Servicing a Singer Clutch Motor

[mikesc]

Jag..shift or auto..? depending on the answer he could fit an engine from a V12 (Jag or Sov )..But trying to fit a Chevy 350 small block..."mess" is being kind..
re.."disposable society"
I posted a link to these lyrics before.."I Used to Work for Harvester"..sings a good song does Don..

[Gregg From Keystone Sewing]

16 hours ago, mikesc said:

Jag..shift or auto..? depending on the answer he could fit an engine from a V12 (Jag or Sov )..But trying to fit a Chevy 350 small block..."mess" is being kind..
re.."disposable society"
I posted a link to these lyrics before.."I Used to Work for Harvester"..sings a good song does Don..

It was a kit he purchased out of Texas, and it included all kinds of harnesses, and stuff for gauges and things like that.  Again, I'm not really into it, thankfully.  I remember when the horn broke, it cost hundreds of dollars to get if fixed, and they were very hesitant to get involved, for good reason, after the engine was installed.  The engine was never mounted correctly.  I don't know all the details, other that, to this day, it's stuck up on the auto lifter for many years now.  I remember connecting a line to the two tank gas tank thing as well, minor in the grand scheme of this.  I don't even know if the car will ever even be safe to drive anymore.  But boy does it look great, and I can remember the precise suspension and steering.  

[mikesc]

You can ( last time I looked ) buy the complete cars for not much in the UK ( due to their fuel consumption..especially the 6..it was always the underpowered one for the car's weight ) ..I have a red Sov Double Six ( V12 ) ( the nice one with the 4 round headlights and the "pepper pot" wheels ) in storage at St Trop..When I eventually bring it up here it will be via a detour into Italy to be converted to run on GPL or petrol ( gas on the left side of the pond )..without which at French gasoline prices I'd need to be followed by a fuel truck..Beige leather and burr walnut wood interior..immaculate..and in good running order..and cost me ( I actually got it in a straight traded ..I did some old style signwriting..asked around $700.00 for it..was offered the car in payment :)..nothing..
Indeed the handling and ride are great for a largish, heavy luxury saloon car ( compared to most cars in the UK or Europe ) ..and compared to some of the Caddys and other wallowers etc that I have driven in the US they appear quite small and sporty ;)

I have a friend here who visits the US two or three times a year to buy, both old and new Corvettes and Mustangs to drive and sell here..he likes Jags..but prefers 'vettes..has kept a half dozen or so for himself..If ever I buy a sewing machine from the US, I'll have him swing by and collect it for me, bring it back here in the trunk :)

My engine hoist* lives right next to my 29K.

Every one has to have a treadle 29K and some sort of walking foot machine(s)..and an engine hoist ( for working on engines, and handy for working on sewing machines, and manoeuvring heavy metal and blocks of wood etc for sculpting )..Have yet to convince my wife that I need a milling machine / lathe..

ps..love the Lucas "smoke" : ) you think Lucas made dodgy electrics..you should see Renault..vehicle electrics from the twilight zone..

Edited March 30, 2017 by mikesc

[ndnchf]

Back to servo motors....

 

Is there any real difference in the various brands of 550, 3/4hp servo motors? - Consew, Family Sew and many others that all look the same? Most come with a 3" pulley, some vendors offer a 2" pulley.  Is there any other real difference other than name ?

[mikesc]

Theory would say.. No..because they are obviously not each running their own factory in China where the servo motors are made ( and the Chinese that I have been in touch with are quite happy to "rebadge" if one orders smallish quantities ) ..There are however differences in where the controls are sited, what type of controls they are ( dial or digital display ) and what the lowest settable speed is ) ..the Jack motors ( which is what we Europeans seem to have..and which are what appear to be shipped to OZ under various names ) all have a digital display and speed control which is in a separate box that one can site away from the actual motor..so as to be where the "on/off" switch would be in a classical industrial machine set up .right hand side under front of table..

The motors in the US mostly appear to have a laser speed control box on the motor where the motor speed is governed by the interference with laser beam of a tongue on a pivoting arm actioned y the foot pedal...this type can be "modded" for smoother "ramping up"..some very good threads he re "how to mod" this type..
the other sort available in the US are the "dial on the body" type..these ( AFAIK ) cannot be modded..but may have a lower initial speed setting possible ..about 100 rpm .

The Jacks ( and skyrits and most other ones that you'll see on alibaba or ebay out of China ) have a digital display control box that you can fix where your old switch would have been ..and the control at the motor is another box which is actioned by the foot pedal..the box at the motor end is not actioning a laser, it uses a magnetic system..and cannot be tweaked or modded..the lowest initial speed possible is 100rpm..and some models are set to 200rpm.

Of course if you use a speed reducer pulley set up between any of the servo motors and your machine, you can get much slower again, and have more torque..

Price is not really a good indicator of quality..all the servo motors can be bought in smallish quantities from China for under $50.00 per unit.( with or without shipping ) before taxes dependent upon specs and quantity ordered

Edited March 30, 2017 by mikesc

[ndnchf]

Thanks for the detailed reply. 

The motors I was looking at all have the dial on the box with a number of settings. I compared the listed specs of at least 4 or 5 of them.  They seem to all be the same.  I realize buying from a reputable dealer provides a little more peace of mind should something be wrong with it. I'm just surprised how many different brands there are.  Are there newer versions for 2017 that offer improvements over those that came out in the last couple of years?

I don't need a speed reducer, at least not yet.  But the 2" pulley would be preferable.

[mikesc]

Wiz has the sort that you are looking at I think..maybe some others here have them..IFAIK the dealers on here can fit a 2" pulley to them before they ship them to you ( dealers who specialize in leather machines know that the smaller pulley is the one that their clients are gong to want, but specify it when you order anyway )..Best reason for buying from a dealer who is on here is that they will stand by their merchandise..and you won't be faced with dealing with China if you get a "dud" ( which can happen, as no dealer has the time to check each individual motor that they ship out ) and need a return or an exchange.

re the number of "brands" of anything..you'd be amazed ( or maybe not ) just how few true manufacturers are actually making what is sold under various "brands" in all walks of life..I know the "biker leather","country and western" and the "sexy leather" market very well, most of what you see marked made in the USA is not actually made in the USA..by most I mean as much as 90% of the big brands merchandise..that is from jackets to saddle bags to grips to paddles to fringe waistcoats to bras and corsets and BDSM wear..and their margins are huge..buy in a real leather corset for $20.00 from Asia sell it with a US brand label for $350.00..or really good quality ( brands that you all know ..and maybe wear ) biker jacket made in Asia for $50.00 , the "brand" lining sewn in in Asia..shipped to the USA and have just one final short seam sewn ( or the label with made in USA ) sewn in in the USA..and sold for $500.00 and upwards in the stores..

eg..I have a leather item ( women's luxury wear ) that I designed many years ago..I have it made in Asia..I pay $20.00 per piece..the people who make it for me make the same item ( with my permission ) for others for around $25.00 ..luxury item ..sells in high end New York ( and elsewhere ) store for $650.00..has the importers "brand" on it..not the only item I have designed that this happens with

A lot of "brands" work like this..profit is not so good on motors as on women's luxury wear..but very few "brands" make their own stuff..

[ndnchf]

I just got off the phone with Bob Kovar at Toledo.  A new servo motor, thread, needles and bobbins will be on their way shortly. Now I need to get going with removing the old motor and controls.  Then I want to refinish the table and service the machine.  I'm looking forward to a new adventure with this machine!

Steve