rachelwilla

I got a Singer 301 and I didn't completely know what to look for apparently. I am used to a different type of machine. I brought it to a shop to have it fixed and make sure it was in working condition. The owner said that he fixed everything that needed to be fixed and that it was ready to go, but in watching You Tube video instructions on how to wind a bobbin I see that the inner silver part of the fly wheel on my machine is completely stuck. The outer part of the flywheel moves and the needle moves up and down but not the inner wheel. It won't move at all and I am supposed to be able to move it forward to disengage the flywheel.

How do I fix this? Is it going to be difficult to do on my own? I waited a while and now I am not sure if the shop owner who supposedly completely overhauled the machine will agree to take it back and do what he should have done to begin with. Frankly I don't want to deal with that or to go to someone else. I'd rather learn how to do it myself. Thanks so much!

Mom3

Let's check to see if you are doing it right first, okay? Hold the big wheel with your left hand so the wheel doesn't rotate. Grab the small inner wheel and turn this wheel counter-clockwise until it stops. That should be it.

rachelwilla

Hi- thanks for your reply! That is exactly what I try and do. The inner part of the flywheel is frozen. It doesn't budge. So my question is how to best repair it.

amyjo

probably some dried up gunky oil sticking it. check with Miriam or Tammy. they know a lot.

rachelwilla

Thanks. I'll look them up.

J Miller

Occasionally, I run across a machine that has the stop motion knob cranked down uber tight. It's not frozen, it's just cranked tight. Sometimes these knobs will work loose and usually their owners get tired of it and really crank on 'em.
I have had to wrap leather around the knob and undo it with a pair of adjustable pliers.

Joe

miriam

I've seen nick marks all around one or two - chisel marks on one - makes me think someone took a hammer to it - chisel on the other... Brute force is usually NOT the answer with a sewing machine, yet that seems to be the go to for guys. I'm not as big and strong as Joe - the leather strap doesn't do it for me. I have a jar grip thing that some times helps. Some times it takes oil going into the screw cracks - it can take a long time to penetrate. I stand the machine on the wheel and then put some T-F down into the threads. Remember that knob is an inny not an outie... Maybe give the wheel a turn maybe if you are lucky some oil will penetrate. Then you might turn the machine the other direction and let oil flow a different direction. Some times heat helps some times not. It is likely someone put the little middle thingy in wrong and then did like Joe said and really tightened it up. Then some times I get my brute strength DH to come and try to get it off. Penetrating oil, patience, penetrating oil, patience, heat? brute strength when necessary. No hammers please.

I've also gotten the knob off after all that and the wheel won't pull off - if you get that far oil it some more and patience.

lswan

The grease and oil have frozen it. You can get it off. A blow dryer will get the metal hot. A rubber mallet with a few hits (protect the wheel with towels). Oil around it. Loosen the stop screw. It will come off. When you do get it off, clean the inside of the wheel (rubbing alcohol or degreaser- don't get any on the machine paint). Add a drop of oil. Before you put on the silver wheel, take off the hand wheel. Make sure you mark the placement of the washer between the silver wheel and the handwheel. It only goes on one way. With the handwheel off, clean the shaft, clean the gear out (wood toothpick), a drop of oil on the shaft- put it all back together. This will make sure when you wind the bobbin, the needle bar is disengaged. I have 4- 301s and have had to do this on 3 of them when I got them. You can do it.
Linda

ArchaicArcane

I've also used a strap wrench in the past:
http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/strap-wrench

No affiliation to the store, they just have a good pic.

They're nice because they don't leave marks and they tend to slip before you can totally bubba it.

lakekids

I had this problem with a featherweight. I stood it on end with the flywheel up and filled the area with PB blaster. I let it sit for a week. Tried to wiggle the stop motion wheel. Let it sit some more. Tapped with a rubbger mallet. let it sit some more. Found an adustable wrench that would fit and voila! off it came.

Patience and a lot of oil/lubricant.