Singer 47K5 heavy duty zig-zag sewing machine

[Uwe]

This machine came up in a general thread on zig-zag machines. It seems a significant and rare enough machine to have its own topic for future reference and easy googling

I had made a video demonstrating the machine. I didn't know which exact model it was at the time:

 

Today I came across two more unrestored versions of these machine hiding under a shelf. One of them had a type tag, which is how I found out what model it is:

 

 

I also found a nice quality Singer 47K1, K3, K5 parts manual: Singer 47K1, K3, K5.pdf

The Smithsonian had a cool 1936 sales brochure "Singer Sewing Machines For Rope Stitching" featuring this machine: Singer Sewing Machines for Rope Stitching.pdf

 

Edited April 13, 2018 by Uwe

[Darren Brosowski]

Steve Bonnet - Singermania - has a 47KSV that has been cut in half and has a 4 foot extension added. It is a beast

[PhilipKrahn]

I’m looking to buy one of these machines. If you still have these or know of any others, please let me know!

[Dogwatch]

Hey All,

:I was poking around in the back of my folks sail loft and they have a Singer 47k1 that hasn’t run in over 30 years.

i cleaned it up and everything seems to be in order except for sewing. The timing is good and the top thread is perfect but the bottom is a complete mess. 
 

The bottom makes tons of loops, gets about 4 inches and then the thread breaks….. unfortunately my parents don’t remember much about it. I would like to get it working to ease the burden on some of their moderate duty machines by getting this one working well. 
 

I think it is a tension issue with the bottom thread but am not 100% sure about it. 
 

if anyone has any ideas I’m all ears!

Thanks

RJ

 

 

[Northmount]

Loops on the bottom, increase the top thread tension to pull the knot up into the material.

Don't use thick threads for thin materials, need to have the knot smaller than the thickness of the material.

A picture of the top and bottom of the stitching may help define the problem.

[Dogwatch]

Northmount, thanks for the reply.

I’ll check the tensions when I swing by there this weekend. I’m pretty sure I had the top side tensioner as tight as it would go, but I have no idea if it was threaded correctly. I was basing my threading off of the class 7 next to it on the floor, so it would be pretty easy to get off track. 

[Northmount]

14 hours ago, Dogwatch said:

Northmount, thanks for the reply.

I’ll check the tensions when I swing by there this weekend. I’m pretty sure I had the top side tensioner as tight as it would go, but I have no idea if it was threaded correctly. I was basing my threading off of the class 7 next to it on the floor, so it would be pretty easy to get off track. 

Needle might be too small, so hole too small to pull the knot up into the material.  Refer to this needle/thread chart.  https://www.tolindsewmach.com/thread-chart.html

Proper threading is critical.

Make sure the thread is between the tension disks, re-check your thread path against the manufacturer's instructions.

Post photos of the sewing and the thread path.

All we are doing is guessing at this point,  Need more information, the thread size, the needle size, the thickness of the material you are sewing.

 

[Oharjo]

Tuning into this conversation... I have a 47K5 and find the thread is getting caught on the shuttle mechanism somewhere when I am on uneven or thicker stuff. Is generally sewing fine on 2-4 layers of fabric.

Machine is threaded properly

Haven't yet determined exactly where or under what particular circumstances it is catching. Needle is brand new 7x23 using 138 thread.

[Oharjo]

OK, here's some more on what seems to be going on. The top thread seems to occasionally (I haven't figured out if there's a pattern to when yet) get caught between the shuttle frame and the shuttle, on that piece that goes over the top of the bobbin. See the video. Anyone have any ideas what might be causing this? Is it a tension problem? When I look at the parts diagram that Uwe linked to above it shows a very tight clearance between that arm and the shuttle/bobbin, and mine is much more open (see photos). Is this the problem? 

All suggestions welcome!!!