Hi Andy, I've been working on this machine and the knobs stays at F, I can't move it to R or D; this machine has both pins, so the Pitman arm is not dragging on the bottom bar. I can not get to the screw that will allow me to work on the spring and reinstall in the boss? this whole end of the pitman is blocked by the top bar...help
Still working on this, Chuck? Sorry for the slow reply. Here are some things that worked for me in this type of situation. Use a penetrating oil under the knob as best you can. Lay the machine back and remove the screw on the bottom of the shaft assembly and try to move the pitman rod towards the hook end of the machine. You are trying to see what is frozen either the knob itself or the pushrod on the end of the pitman shaft. Spray oil onto and around that push rod and into the housing. All this assumes the feed dog is moving when you turn the handwheel. (99.9% it is) I'm guessing there is dried up varnished oil on these parts. Could easily be that the knob itself is stuck to the body up top, the shaft assembly is "glued" with dried oil, or maybe the pushrod is stuck the same way inside the housing for the feed lift bar. It could easily be all three places and many people just keep adding oil over the decades and it builds up nasty layers of gunk. Then let the machine sit in a closet for a decade or two and you get the idea. I have often applied hot air after the penetrating oil using a hairdryer or similar. The heat will thin out the oil to penetrate more, and help soften the dried gunk. I have had parts that took a day or two of this treatment, oil - heat - wait, oil - heat - wait, before the parts started moving. Best of luck.
@@andytubesewing1953 It's now working correctly, I appreciate your help Andy. One thing I wanted to share is this: this mechanism works a lot better if you bring up the foot press before you set the knob from one position to the other, it's practically impossible to move the switch with the foot press down...Thanks again Andy..
@@chuckcamacho9970 Thanks for sharing that presser bar lifter info. The only instruction manual I can find does not have info about the knob or drop feed, but only the "Feed Cover Plate". I looked over the Service Manual troubleshooting guide, and sure enough under the "Drop Feed Knob Turns Too Hard" section one of the answers is "Raise the Presser Bar Lifter" 👍 I pinned your question to the top as maybe others will see it there. Nicely done, Chuck.
Thank you, Andy. I recently found an interest in vintage machines. Your videos make it possible for me to enjoy them. I found a 466 at a flea market for $10. Took it home and shot it down with twin flo. Of course I have to replace that vertical gear. Thanks to you, I can. The machine was dirty and locked down. Now it's free and beginning to come back to life. THANKS! My 2 500A's (Thelma and Louise) thank you too!
Thanks so much for this video! I just got this machine at a thrift store...and didn't know how this worked. I'm going to be opening up the base and will be dealing with the same problem of the stiffness of turning.
Every model I have worked on with this type of feed-adjusting system has needed a little work, including model 466 which I currently have on the bench. The parts clean up nicely and some grease/oil usually gets it working perfectly. Just a lack of maintenance over the decades, I think. Good luck, and thanks for watching my channel.
@andytubesewing1953 Andy, I got my feed dog throwout fixed! It was just gunked up. My husband gave me some gun cleaning oil, since we didn't have the Gunk Grease Remover. It worked great...but gave me a fume headache! I am so glad I watched your video on the tension assembly. I needed to know the correct position of the spring wire. I have no intention of disassembling the entire machine, but have cleaned it thoroughly inside and out. It sews like a dream! I only really need a basic zig zag with free motion embroidery capabilities. I'm a retired professional dressmaker who has been tinkering with my own machines since I was 8. But still have a lot to learn! Thanks so much for your detailed tutorials!
@@KarenLeanneCreates2024 Yes, you're welcome. I'm glad you found my videos. It's a very capable machine for what you want and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It sounds like you're all set then right? Happy sewing!
@23:50 with the presser foot up, it is easy to turn the knob controller... the 457 model i'm trying to get working is also 'missing' that bottom pin you're talking about. given the very little adjustment this knob does to the feed dogs i was unable to figure out it's purpose, that's how i got to your video.. initially i thought it refers to 'forward, reverse, disengaged :}'.. GREAT videos, thanks for sharing your expertise! i may come back and ask some questions once i'm done and power the machine up.
I'm glad you found the video then. Now you know where I'm at so drop by anytime. There are 400+ more videos to choose from: ruclips.net/channel/UCUSPDsHaFtRoz1VA2U1xJ4wplaylists?view_as=public Good Luck with your machine.
Andy thank you so much for your amazing videos. I'm restoring a Singer 478 right now that was otherwise destined for the garbage! I was wondering if I could ask you what a part is. At 12:59 in the above video you are pointing to the part on the far left that looks like a clamp with a slightly bent rubberized end which is bolted on as some kind of "brace". I have one of these on my 478 but it's come loose and I can't find the part name anywhere or how it should be set. Can you please tell me what this is? Thanks!
It's called the "Feed Stop Bar", part#153012. It is set to control the drop of the feed dog when changed from R to F or D. Suggest you buy the digital copy of the 96-page Service Manual for $6.99 here: manualsoncd.com/product/singer-400-series-service-and-repair-sewing-machine-manual/ The diagram for the part is on page 9 and the adjustment information is on page 11. Thanks for saving the machine, and for watching my channel.
Andy, that glide pin looks a lot like what I know as a "roll pin". They are fairly easy to insert and remove and are usually found in hardware stores. In your case, if you were able to pull out that top glide pin you might be able to pivot the pitman arm out of the way of the shaft and the spring. I'll have to compare this to the system on my 237.
Hold on a second singer model 457 is internationally known to have a bad plastic gear on top of the vertical shaft if it isn't broken when you buy it it will be the first time you use it other than that it is a fantastic machine you can replace the top gear for about 10 bucks I have a video on how to do it ruclips.net/video/M3bFtlV1Y6s/видео.htmlfeature=shared. This video has 125k views now which gives you an idea of how common the problem is so if you don't mind spending a couple of hours and 10 bucks you'll have a nice machine good luck and thanks for watching my channel
@@andytubesewing1953 wonder if anyone makes a metal gear to replace the plastic one? Of course I'm sure the plastic is of much better quality now. Thanks a lot! ❤️
@@hawkinscsa nobody makes a metal gear specifically but you can take a metal gear from a different model and use it the problem is it mates with a plastic gear on the horizontal arm shaft so you'd have to replace that with a metal gear also and that is an awful lot of work for this machine better off with the newer type plastic gear that'll probably last 20 or 30 years
Andy, I watched your video earlier as the knob on my 457 was jammed. I want to use it specifically for freestyle embroidery. We managed to unjam it by persuading the Pitman to slide back and forth, but the knob now moves from R to D (1, 2 and 3 on my 1969 machine) freely with no click at the mid-point and the feed dogs stay in the same Regular position. We're not sure where to go from here. Can you suggest anything please?
It sounds like "persuading" the pitman to slide has persuaded the feed dog not to move? In the video I remove the spring that is under the knob and explain how that controls the "stops" of the knob as you turn it. If the knob is just turning freely then the spring is not stopping it in positions 1, 2 or 3 ( you have those numbers on a 1969 model 457? I've never seen that.) I show the parts of the system in the video. Do the parts on your machine look the same? Without seeing or touching the machine it sounds like a parts has slipped out of place during the "persuasion". I could only follow the bracket while turning the knob and see what moves at each end. Has it slipped of the set screw, or at the feed dog end? I think I'd be inspecting the parts at the knob end. On the feed bar is also a part called a "STOP" that is adjust to control how far down the dog can go. I guess if someone mis-adjusted it too high then the feed dog could not drop enough, even if the knob and bracket were working. The biggest clue is the knob is just turning freely; no resistance or stops. To me that is a loose or broken part. I have the parts drawings and the Service Manual if you want them. andymanuals53@gmail.com I get a lot of emails, so tell me what you are asking for. Good Luck, and thanks for watching my channel.
Nope, sorry, Ann. SOmetimes, part of the original accessory kit was a "Feed Cover Throat Plate" like this one; www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/vintage-original-feed-cover-plate-fits-singer-models-240-247ap-252-257-258-259-288-327-328-329-337-338-347-348-353-354-360-362-366-367-413k-413k13-416k-418-457-466-476-477-478?variant=17705494577250 They can be hard to find now but sometimes on eBay they can be part of a box of feet accesories for some of the models listed. There is also another type of small plate that is put on under the regular needle plate that lifts the needle plate up enough above the feed dog. It also came with the kit on the 457 and other models sometimes. Most people do not know what it is for, even when they have one. Here is what I mean; www.ebay.com/itm/NEEDLE-THROAT-PLATE-179608-SINGER-457-STYLIST-SEWING-MACHINE-ORIGINAL-PART-/183900390237?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10 See that funny black flat cutout? that's the part.
Hi Andy, I've been working on this machine and the knobs stays at F, I can't move it to R or D; this machine has both pins, so the Pitman arm is not dragging on the bottom bar. I can not get to the screw that will allow me to work on the spring and reinstall in the boss? this whole end of the pitman is blocked by the top bar...help
Still working on this, Chuck? Sorry for the slow reply. Here are some things that worked for me in this type of situation. Use a penetrating oil under the knob as best you can. Lay the machine back and remove the screw on the bottom of the shaft assembly and try to move the pitman rod towards the hook end of the machine. You are trying to see what is frozen either the knob itself or the pushrod on the end of the pitman shaft. Spray oil onto and around that push rod and into the housing. All this assumes the feed dog is moving when you turn the handwheel. (99.9% it is) I'm guessing there is dried up varnished oil on these parts. Could easily be that the knob itself is stuck to the body up top, the shaft assembly is "glued" with dried oil, or maybe the pushrod is stuck the same way inside the housing for the feed lift bar. It could easily be all three places and many people just keep adding oil over the decades and it builds up nasty layers of gunk. Then let the machine sit in a closet for a decade or two and you get the idea. I have often applied hot air after the penetrating oil using a hairdryer or similar. The heat will thin out the oil to penetrate more, and help soften the dried gunk. I have had parts that took a day or two of this treatment, oil - heat - wait, oil - heat - wait, before the parts started moving. Best of luck.
@@andytubesewing1953 Thanks for your reply Andy, I'll give this a try and report the progress...thank you very much
@@chuckcamacho9970 Sure, and good luck.
@@andytubesewing1953 It's now working correctly, I appreciate your help Andy. One thing I wanted to share is this: this mechanism works a lot better if you bring up the foot press before you set the knob from one position to the other, it's practically impossible to move the switch with the foot press down...Thanks again Andy..
@@chuckcamacho9970 Thanks for sharing that presser bar lifter info. The only instruction manual I can find does not have info about the knob or drop feed, but only the "Feed Cover Plate". I looked over the Service Manual troubleshooting guide, and sure enough under the "Drop Feed Knob Turns Too Hard" section one of the answers is "Raise the Presser Bar Lifter" 👍
I pinned your question to the top as maybe others will see it there. Nicely done, Chuck.
Thank you, Andy. I recently found an interest in vintage machines. Your videos make it possible for me to enjoy them. I found a 466 at a flea market for $10. Took it home and shot it down with twin flo. Of course I have to replace that vertical gear. Thanks to you, I can. The machine was dirty and locked down. Now it's free and beginning to come back to life. THANKS! My 2 500A's (Thelma and Louise) thank you too!
I'm glad you found my channel and thanks for saving those machines. Regards to Thelma & Louise ✨
Thanks so much for this video! I just got this machine at a thrift store...and didn't know how this worked.
I'm going to be opening up the base and will be dealing with the same problem of the stiffness of turning.
Every model I have worked on with this type of feed-adjusting system has needed a little work, including model 466 which I currently have on the bench. The parts clean up nicely and some grease/oil usually gets it working perfectly. Just a lack of maintenance over the decades, I think. Good luck, and thanks for watching my channel.
@andytubesewing1953 Andy, I got my feed dog throwout fixed! It was just gunked up. My husband gave me some gun cleaning oil, since we didn't have the Gunk Grease Remover. It worked great...but gave me a fume headache!
I am so glad I watched your video on the tension assembly. I needed to know the correct position of the spring wire.
I have no intention of disassembling the entire machine, but have cleaned it thoroughly inside and out.
It sews like a dream!
I only really need a basic zig zag with free motion embroidery capabilities.
I'm a retired professional dressmaker who has been tinkering with my own machines since I was 8.
But still have a lot to learn!
Thanks so much for your detailed tutorials!
@@KarenLeanneCreates2024 Yes, you're welcome. I'm glad you found my videos. It's a very capable machine for what you want and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It sounds like you're all set then right? Happy sewing!
@andytubesewing1953 right! Just one final thing...my machine has the rolled pin on the lower portion of the arm. I forgot the term!
Very useful video! It’s been hard finding info on the feed throw out knob.
I'm glad you found the video then Jacob and nice of you to comment please visit my channel again thank you
@23:50 with the presser foot up, it is easy to turn the knob controller...
the 457 model i'm trying to get working is also 'missing' that bottom pin you're talking about.
given the very little adjustment this knob does to the feed dogs i was unable to figure out it's purpose, that's how i got to your video.. initially i thought it refers to 'forward, reverse, disengaged :}'.. GREAT videos, thanks for sharing your expertise! i may come back and ask some questions once i'm done and power the machine up.
I'm glad you found the video then. Now you know where I'm at so drop by anytime. There are 400+ more videos to choose from: ruclips.net/channel/UCUSPDsHaFtRoz1VA2U1xJ4wplaylists?view_as=public
Good Luck with your machine.
Andy thank you so much for your amazing videos. I'm restoring a Singer 478 right now that was otherwise destined for the garbage! I was wondering if I could ask you what a part is. At 12:59 in the above video you are pointing to the part on the far left that looks like a clamp with a slightly bent rubberized end which is bolted on as some kind of "brace". I have one of these on my 478 but it's come loose and I can't find the part name anywhere or how it should be set. Can you please tell me what this is? Thanks!
It's called the "Feed Stop Bar", part#153012. It is set to control the drop of the feed dog when changed from R to F or D. Suggest you buy the digital copy of the 96-page Service Manual for $6.99 here: manualsoncd.com/product/singer-400-series-service-and-repair-sewing-machine-manual/ The diagram for the part is on page 9 and the adjustment information is on page 11. Thanks for saving the machine, and for watching my channel.
Andy, that glide pin looks a lot like what I know as a "roll pin". They are fairly easy to insert and remove and are usually found in hardware stores. In your case, if you were able to pull out that top glide pin you might be able to pivot the pitman arm out of the way of the shaft and the spring. I'll have to compare this to the system on my 237.
Roll pins are also known as "spring pins"
Thanks, Terry. Now I know what to ask for, "roll pin", or "Spring pin". I appreciate you sharing. I pinned your comment hoping others will see it.
So I have a 477 with identical feed dawg drop, though the manual shows no feed dawg drop.
Thank you for your videos for the 457 Stylist. Strangely, mine did not come with this knob.
There are two versions of model 457. one with, one without and that's about the only difference. Thanks for watching
@@andytubesewing1953 Thank you. Your videos are the best in explanations and good lighting, with good camera views too.
@@sylviaramsay3511 So kind of you o say this, thanks! 💖
Just found one of these, thinking about picking it up. But it may have plastic gears up top! So don't know yet. Thanks for the videos.
Hold on a second singer model 457 is internationally known to have a bad plastic gear on top of the vertical shaft if it isn't broken when you buy it it will be the first time you use it other than that it is a fantastic machine you can replace the top gear for about 10 bucks I have a video on how to do it
ruclips.net/video/M3bFtlV1Y6s/видео.htmlfeature=shared. This video has 125k views now which gives you an idea of how common the problem is so if you don't mind spending a couple of hours and 10 bucks you'll have a nice machine good luck and thanks for watching my channel
@@andytubesewing1953 wonder if anyone makes a metal gear to replace the plastic one? Of course I'm sure the plastic is of much better quality now. Thanks a lot! ❤️
@@hawkinscsa nobody makes a metal gear specifically but you can take a metal gear from a different model and use it the problem is it mates with a plastic gear on the horizontal arm shaft so you'd have to replace that with a metal gear also and that is an awful lot of work for this machine better off with the newer type plastic gear that'll probably last 20 or 30 years
Andy, I watched your video earlier as the knob on my 457 was jammed. I want to use it specifically for freestyle embroidery. We managed to unjam it by persuading the Pitman to slide back and forth, but the knob now moves from R to D (1, 2 and 3 on my 1969 machine) freely with no click at the mid-point and the feed dogs stay in the same Regular position. We're not sure where to go from here. Can you suggest anything please?
It sounds like "persuading" the pitman to slide has persuaded the feed dog not to move? In the video I remove the spring that is under the knob and explain how that controls the "stops" of the knob as you turn it. If the knob is just turning freely then the spring is not stopping it in positions 1, 2 or 3 ( you have those numbers on a 1969 model 457? I've never seen that.) I show the parts of the system in the video. Do the parts on your machine look the same? Without seeing or touching the machine it sounds like a parts has slipped out of place during the "persuasion". I could only follow the bracket while turning the knob and see what moves at each end. Has it slipped of the set screw, or at the feed dog end? I think I'd be inspecting the parts at the knob end. On the feed bar is also a part called a "STOP" that is adjust to control how far down the dog can go. I guess if someone mis-adjusted it too high then the feed dog could not drop enough, even if the knob and bracket were working. The biggest clue is the knob is just turning freely; no resistance or stops. To me that is a loose or broken part. I have the parts drawings and the Service Manual if you want them. andymanuals53@gmail.com I get a lot of emails, so tell me what you are asking for. Good Luck, and thanks for watching my channel.
On the 457 without the knob controller, can you drop the feed dogs?
Nope, sorry, Ann. SOmetimes, part of the original accessory kit was a "Feed Cover Throat Plate" like this one; www.vintagesingerparts.com/products/vintage-original-feed-cover-plate-fits-singer-models-240-247ap-252-257-258-259-288-327-328-329-337-338-347-348-353-354-360-362-366-367-413k-413k13-416k-418-457-466-476-477-478?variant=17705494577250
They can be hard to find now but sometimes on eBay they can be part of a box of feet accesories for some of the models listed. There is also another type of small plate that is put on under the regular needle plate that lifts the needle plate up enough above the feed dog. It also came with the kit on the 457 and other models sometimes. Most people do not know what it is for, even when they have one. Here is what I mean; www.ebay.com/itm/NEEDLE-THROAT-PLATE-179608-SINGER-457-STYLIST-SEWING-MACHINE-ORIGINAL-PART-/183900390237?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
See that funny black flat cutout? that's the part.
Cool, Mine has a feed throw out.
It's a very nice feature for sure.