Should I overhaul my Singer 401A or purchase a Janome 2012?
#21
I have my mother's 401a and is going to cost $179.00 to overhaul and put in good shape. I am planning on sewing crafts, beginning quilting, and some home decor projects. Should I have the overhaul performed or purchase the Janome 2012 (my price range for a new machine)? The Singer has never been serviced and was having serious tension problems.
If you do not have the instruction booklet, PM me and I will be happy to mail you a copy of the pages (6) showing exact places to oil and grease. (I use Singer brand oil and grease products) Don't let go of the machine - it might just need some TLC.
Last edited by pheasantduster; 10-21-2012 at 09:09 AM.
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
I agree that the cost is steep just to clean and adjust the tension. I turned my 401A over onto the floor and jammed the gears (this machine had never been in hospital). I dreaded the cost, but off she went to my local sewing center. $25.00 later, she is as good as new. It sews anything! I'd try to get her fixed AND get a new machine if you can affort it. The 401A has all metal parts and will outlast anything made of plastic.
#23
1. Most will be able to learn to oil and grease vintage machines.
2. Not everyone is comfortable working on machines.
3. We who work on machines have not seen this one. Is it possible there is an issue you have missed?
4. Overhead varies a lot depending on location.
5. Level of overhaul varies among techs. It is not out of line to a) shop around for price and b) ask what will be done and c) is there a warranty on the work?
6. It is likely that tune-up on a 'modern' machine will cost that much, and also likely to need service again long before the vintage machine will.
I'm just saying, prices vary depending on a lot of factors. For an oil and lube, I think the price is high. For a machine that is glued together with bad oil, and requires a teardown, maybe not.
2. Not everyone is comfortable working on machines.
3. We who work on machines have not seen this one. Is it possible there is an issue you have missed?
4. Overhead varies a lot depending on location.
5. Level of overhaul varies among techs. It is not out of line to a) shop around for price and b) ask what will be done and c) is there a warranty on the work?
6. It is likely that tune-up on a 'modern' machine will cost that much, and also likely to need service again long before the vintage machine will.
I'm just saying, prices vary depending on a lot of factors. For an oil and lube, I think the price is high. For a machine that is glued together with bad oil, and requires a teardown, maybe not.
#24
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Beautiful Orygone
Posts: 11
Thank you everyone for your replies. My daughter came over this weekend with an old "Crock Watcher" (precursor to the Crock Pot I guess) she inherited from her aunt. It is from the 70's and still cooks like a champ...not too hot like a lot of the newer, light-bottomed pots of today. Looking at the way her unit is built tipped the scales in favor of keeping my Singer 401a...The old adage..."They don't build them like they used to" is so true...I think the Singer has many years of great service left and if there is something it can't do...well, I guess I can go try my daughter's new machine.
#26
Thank you everyone for your replies. My daughter came over this weekend with an old "Crock Watcher" (precursor to the Crock Pot I guess) she inherited from her aunt. It is from the 70's and still cooks like a champ...not too hot like a lot of the newer, light-bottomed pots of today. Looking at the way her unit is built tipped the scales in favor of keeping my Singer 401a...The old adage..."They don't build them like they used to" is so true...I think the Singer has many years of great service left and if there is something it can't do...well, I guess I can go try my daughter's new machine.
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Harrisburg, OR
Posts: 443
I'm in the Eugene area...let me know if I can be of any help. There have also been ads on cl recently for someone cleaning and selling vintage machines in the Eugene/Florence area. They will do a clean up for $30. Someone else posted a response to their ad that they were very happy with the service they received. I think you're smart to get your 401 going whether you buy a new machine or not.
#28
My initial interpretation of this comment was that the people on the board that fix machines are not familiar with it. Not so.
I can also post a how to on how to disassemble and adjust the needle tensioner back to factory specs. That may fix your tension issues. Otherwise, somewhere here I posted how to disassemble and clean the bobbin case spring. It was for a featherweight, but the principle is the same. That's all (and probably more than) a lot of the repair shops would do. It's standard when I service, because I don't want to see the machine back, but I know one repair shop that bragged to me that they spend 10-15 mins on a service. I don't think that's something to be proud of personally.
#29
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
If you mean we haven't seen the machine in person, or a photo, agreed.
My initial interpretation of this comment was that the people on the board that fix machines are not familiar with it. Not so.
I can also post a how to on how to disassemble and adjust the needle tensioner back to factory specs. That may fix your tension issues. Otherwise, somewhere here I posted how to disassemble and clean the bobbin case spring. It was for a featherweight, but the principle is the same. That's all (and probably more than) a lot of the repair shops would do. It's standard when I service, because I don't want to see the machine back, but I know one repair shop that bragged to me that they spend 10-15 mins on a service. I don't think that's something to be proud of personally.
My initial interpretation of this comment was that the people on the board that fix machines are not familiar with it. Not so.
I can also post a how to on how to disassemble and adjust the needle tensioner back to factory specs. That may fix your tension issues. Otherwise, somewhere here I posted how to disassemble and clean the bobbin case spring. It was for a featherweight, but the principle is the same. That's all (and probably more than) a lot of the repair shops would do. It's standard when I service, because I don't want to see the machine back, but I know one repair shop that bragged to me that they spend 10-15 mins on a service. I don't think that's something to be proud of personally.
#30
Miriam, I love your "favorite quote" Never let a sewing machine know you are in a hurry, and have used it a time or two myself lately when carrying on a conversation in my sewing room......just a note in passing here. And to get back to the subject at hand, fix the 401, and if you have the money to spend, tell DH you want the new one for Christmas, and then let us know next year sometime which one you like better.
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