I'm sewing on a 30+ year old Singer. It will only go in a straight line or very hardly noticeable small zigzags. When I open the side panel and look at the mechanism that moves the needle back and forth it doesn't move right even when I'm just changing the straight stitch position. It maybe moves 1 mm to either side, but that doesn't help me when I need to do a bigger zigzag or change my needle position. Any advice?
By TJG
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The gear used in your vintage Singer to permit the needle to change position has failed and you need to have it replaced by a sewing machine repair tech. Just the repair (part and labour) will cost you about $25USD (£20-30GPB depending on locale), a bit more if the part is still being 'newly milled'.
Be sure that you ask the tech to save the failed part for you, it's very educational to see the worn silicone or plastic.
Also be sure (this is the really important part) that he/she lets you know if the replacement part is newly milled or a salvage part. If a salvaged part, haggle the cost down but be sure to be fair about the labour cost.
Salvaged parts come from 'unknown' machines, usually. I used to do a lot of vintage electric Singer repairs for my sewing students but have given it up. Why? Because unless I knew for certain the conditions the salvaged machine (bought at car boot sales, charity shops, etc) were kept in and sewn on, I couldn't be sure how long those parts would last.
What surprised me was the sheer number of people who would go to the trouble of cleaning and oiling a vintage machine to make it look a lot better than its real condition! I quickly learned I should pull the cover anytime I was offered a vintage machine to check the condition of the plasticised parts, and frequently those pulled covers revealed completely unsalvagable parts.
A lot of techs buy their parts the same way I used to and not all will tell you without being asked if the part they put on your machine (at premium prices) is a salvaged part.
The disappointment of a failed part mid-project was too much for me and my students; I gave up on vintage electrics and started encouraging new students to buy either a non-electric vintage or a brand new modern machine that comes with a warranty.
Depending on where you live, you can buy a nice basic but with some decorative and stretch stitches, modern electric Singer for under $175USD (£190GBP or less). I also tell my students the Brother or Janome basic machines are excellent. Look for the top-drop in bobbin feature for a jam-proof sewing experience.
The all steel-cast iron non-electric Singers can cost from $25USD (£15GBP) and up depending on area and condition (and it is very easy to restore an old rusty to pristine sewing condition!); these machines can sew zig-zag (either a built-in or an attachment stitch). Parts can be salvaged with confidence, and a lot of the parts including the drive belts are still being newly milled today.
If you go with a non-electric, message me or post a request on this thread and I'll post you a link to a restoration manual that will have your non-electric Singering away like the day it was built:)
I had the same problem. I took my machine to the repairman. He put a drop of lubricant on the shaft that moves the zigzag and pushed the shaft from left to right several times to work the lubricant in. Hope this helps.
Dotty
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