When I first bought my Singer 500 Rocketeer I wasn't too pleased with some of its issues. It had two minor problems and two major problems. I thought that it would be like most of the machines I've fixed up; I sewed right away with them. Not the Rocketeer. At the time I didn't have the money or time to fix this thing up, but I want this machine to work. I have plans for it.
The first two problems were easily fixed. The automatic thread control caused tension problems so I simply skipped it when I threaded. Secondly, the tension had to be changed from straight stitch to zigzag. I found the right numbers for each when sewing basic cotton, wrote them down, and put them in the manual where I can glance at them if I forget. I still think having to change the tension so much is absurd, but I don't use a zigzag much so I don't care about this.
Now the two major problems --and even they aren't too bad. The first one is the old foot control that came on the machine. It still has the knee lever attached in the photo --it had been mounted in the cabinet. The control heated up badly after a few minutes of sewing. Not good. The second problem was the machine would stall. I would sew a bit and lift my foot off the control. When I put my foot back down on the control the motor would whine and the machine wouldn't sew until I gave the hand wheel a quick spin to get it going. This happened every time I lifted my foot off the control and became annoying.
Replacing a foot control is easy. I remembered I had a couple of extra foot controls in the workshop --I don't have to buy one! I had taken a bakelite one off the Singer 128 when I made it a hand crank and an electronic one was given to me by a cousin. Although I like the old bakelite ones I put the other one on the machine. Why? It's brown and the cords to the Rocketeer are brown. They match! (Actually my husband was walking by and offered to wire the foot control up so I let him --he likes minor electrical stuff).
After putting the foot control on I went ahead and oiled the machine again to make sure it was ready. What a difference! That old foot control was terrible. The machine isn't even stalling anymore. I thought I was going to have to open the motor, change the brushes, and clean it --maybe eventually but not in the immediate future. I don't know if the stalling problem was caused by the old foot control or not but this machine is working wonderfully now.
I purchased a slant shank walking foot over the weekend. I intend to try the Rocketeer out as my straight stitch quilting machine.
2 comments:
I LOVE it. What a beautiful, classic machine. Too bad about the foot control, but hey, glad you solved the problem. I've been working on some issues with a Singer 15-91, but think I have most of the bugs worked out. Sounds like you know a lot more about repairing them than me. I can do the basics, including changing the brushes, but would probably not take one apart anytime soon. Enjoy your Rocketeer! Lane
No, I only know the basics myself. I always go to the Yahoo Vintage Singers group and search the files for stuff. I have more experience with repairing my 15-91. In fact, the 15 is my primary machine and my absolute favorite. If I had to choose I'd throw out the Rocketeer and keep the 15-91 --no offense to you Rocketeer lovers but I prefer the 15.
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