Newbie with an old machine

[TJ959]

Hi I'm new here and I'm new to sewing machines. Until now, I have been hand sewing my work. I recently picked up a Singer 29-4 sewing machine. After much cleaning an oiling, I tried a little sewing. The thing wants to sew about 11 to 13 stitches per inch. The online manual was not much help and all adjustments made no difference. I'm fairly mechanical but sewing machines seem to be more like black magic. Does anyone know anything about this thing. I tried to download a picture but it wouldn't let me. 

[nylonRigging]

Forum archives 2014

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/56434-singer-29-4-stitch-length-and-foot-pressure-adjustments/

 

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[Wizcrafts]

In a nutshell, there is a thumbscrew on a sliding tab that rides on the back of the legs that the presser foot mounts to. Raise the foot all the way with the hand lift lever on the back, then loosen the thumbscrew and  lower the sliding stitch regulator block until it just touches the top of the raise foot. Tighten the thumbscrew. This setting gives the maximum stitch length your machine can produce in its existing condition. Factory spec is 5 stitches per inch into about 6 ounces of leather (a typical boot upper thickness). Make sure the pressure spring along the back is exerting pressure on the foot or the stitch length will be too short. The feed is done by the teeth on the foot under pressure from that long flat spring on the back.

If the maximum stitch length is significantly less than 5 per inch, the feed motion bell crank needs to be replaced.

[TJ959]

Thanks so much for the reply and the links. Looks like I'll be replacing a part or two. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since this machine has been used in a shoe shop and it's 30 years older than me ... and I'm old.

[TJ959]

I have disassembled the sewing head of the machine and to my inexperienced eye, everything looks good. It was dirty and dry and 133 years old but good. I'm going to order the feed motion bell crank probably tomorrow but I'm wondering if I should replace anything else as long as I'm in there. It seems to work fine except for the stitch length issue but I don't know much about sewing machines. Anyway, so far this has been kinda fun.

[chrisash]

I dont know the availability of that part, some parts are no longer available, but there was a post a year or more ago on this forum about a guy completely stripping a 29k and using thin slivers of brass to bring that part back to original size 

[TJ959]

I have found at least one source for the part. It is rather expensive for a little piece of steel but worth it if it fixes my problem. I thought this thing was 100 years old until I looked up the serial number and found it was 130. I guess it has a right to be a little worn.

[CowboyBob]

7 minutes ago, TJ959 said:

I have found at least one source for the part. It is rather expensive for a little piece of steel but worth it if it fixes my problem. I thought this thing was 100 years old until I looked up the serial number and found it was 130. I guess it has a right to be a little worn.

Is it around $38.00 ?

[TJ959]

More like  $89.95

[TJ959]

I checked this out a little further and this is a used part. It seems to me that their 100 year old part is probably not much better than my 100 year old part. Is there any place where I can get the specs on this???

[shoepatcher]

Deal with Bob Kovar at Toledo Sewing.  The best.

glenn

[CowboyBob]

3 hours ago, TJ959 said:

More like  $89.95

We have them f/$38.00 + shpg.

[TJ959]

Cowboy Bob fixed me up.  Thanks Bob.

[CowboyBob]

Your Welcome,Tom 

[TJ959]

Well after a little grinding and fitting the part is installed and the machine is working. The stitches are a little closer together than I had hoped but they will do. Now all I have to do is get more familiar with the machine and learn to sew with it. Thanks again everyone.