On 8/22/2020 1:34 PM, wrote:
On Sat, 22 Aug 2020 12:22:34 -0700, Paul Drahn
wrote:

On 8/21/2020 11:34 AM, wrote:
I have an old Singer sewing machine. It is a model 221, AKA a
Featherweight. I got the thing at a garage sale for 5 or 10 bucks and
everything was there but the foot pedal motor control.
So I bought a modern PWM style control instead of an old carbon
disc style one because it was supposed to be better. At least I think
the new one is PWM. It is very light and doesn't get hot after lots of
use.
I think it may be under performing though because the little
machine seems to run too slow. I did go through the machine, cleaning
and adjusting it. It was dirty inside, had old congealed lubricants
clogging and sticking stuff up. Things were also really out of
adjustment so it would not have been able to sew even if it was
turning freely.
The machine now turns quite freely. It is oiled with the proper oil
and the motor, which I also cleaned and lubricated, is lubricated with
the proper grease.
So after all that the machine still runs too slowly. At least in my
opinion. The motor just doesn't seem to have much oomph and I'm
wondering if maybe the foot pedal control is not delivering enough
current and/or voltage. Since the control is PWM output would an
analog meter like my Simpson 260 be a good tool to measure the current
and voltage?
Or maybe someone here knows already about these machines and the
foot controls and can tell me what to expect from a properly
operating control. And the best way to check it.
Thanks,
Eric

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I bought one of those for my wife almost 60 years ago. She still uses it
for all her sewing. I bought a complete rebuild kit a few years ago and
still have the leftover pieces. The biggest problem is lint and dust
collection, but you have taken care of that.

Have you actually tried sewing cloth with the machine. My wife seldom
operates it at full speed. Sewing with the machine is an art, not a race.

And the foot control is a wire-wound resistor with a slider.

Paul
Yeah, I do sew with it. That's why I bought it. I have a larger
machine that is really heavy and a real chore to set up. That little
featherweight is a joy to use. It is supposed to be able to sew
leather but the motor stalls. Looking online for information about
this machine I found out all sorts of folks collect them and actually
use them a lot. I also found a zig zag attachment that I use when
patching holes in my work shirts.
Eric

Wife has trouble patching denim with hers, if more than 2-3 layers
thick. Original motor is not powerful enough. She has to help the
machine by hand.
Paul