Singer 51w 55

[Divisionandco]

Hi all - thanks for welcoming me to your community here. This forum has been an excellent resource on my sewing machine refurbishing projects. 

Ive recently acquired a Singer 51w 55, it is a post bed machine. I got it from an old timer who used it for years and years doing govt. contract work. It was relatively well maintained but is running pretty rough. This is a machine I really want to do a full refurb on, but am a little nervous as parts are proving difficult to find. 

I started off with an issue where the stitch length adjustment knob has broken off of the threads to attach it to the handwheel. This was eventually solved with a set of screws just under the top plate. 

I guess I’m just curious what some recommendations would be to start on this thing, what are the first steps I take to a full clean and refurbish?

[Constabulary]

Depends on the overall condition -  would be nice to see some pictures.

I think the 51W shares several parts with other Singer machines - thats the good thing on vintage Singers. So depends on what parts you´re looking for.

 

[Wizcrafts]

I acquired one of those old post machines in the late 1980s. It needed parts. I solved that buy buying another one for $50 from a dealer who had it on a bottom shelf.