SINGER MODEL 404 MINI SERIES-ALL ABOUT TENSION PART 14c DISMANTLE TENSION ASSEMBLY

[@kathiego233]

I followed your instructions from this whole All About Tension series. I cleaned and replaced the Singer 500A tension unit with the tension unit of the Singer 404. Now my Rocketeer is sewing again! Yay! Thank you so much Andy! from Kathy in Southeastern, Arizona.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Good job! I'm glad you found a solution and happy you have a working Rocketeer.

[@jeremiahsgrotto9156]

Great video Andy, you are helping me a great bit in my sewing machine crash course. All different but yet the same. I spent a couple years working on Industrial sewing machines and zipper manufacturing machines with Talon Zippers, but other than keeping my moms Kenmore running for her back in the day never did much with domestic machines. I'm enjoying having an interest again. Thanks for these videos

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thanks for the comment, and for saving any Singer you are working on. I did the videos for just that reason, hoping to show that people can do maintenance and repairs and keep the machine running.

[@icandothis1238]

Thank you Andy! I am having tension problems so I'm going to watch all of these, and see what I can do about it.

[@andytubesewing1953]

I think they will help. Let me know if you still have an issue and we will work through it. Best of luck.

[@elizabethmis9057]

Thanks Andy, putting it back together now.

[@JanetMiller-n3y]

Hello. I have just discovered your channel, and I love how detailed you are in your work. I have a thread tension problem, no tension. My machine is a Singer Merritt 2404. The tension mechanism is a plastic one-piece iitem, sort of, but I do not know how to remove it, so I can clean it and reset it. I am afraid I will break the plastic.

[@andytubesewing1953]

That model is newer than what I worked on. I researched it and it is based on model 240. The plastic dial just pulls straight off the stud (straight at you) after turning the dial to zero. The parts under that are the same as other Singer models. You can buy and download the SERVICE MANUAL for $8.99 here: manualsoncd.com/product/singer-240-series-sewing-machine-service-manual/ it has diagrams and written instructions for working on the parts of the machine including the tension unit. How to adjust, remove, install, etc. You can also try turning the dial to zero, lifting the presser foot, and blowing air around the tension discs with compressed air or a hairdryer. Sometimes you can carfully slide a piece of cloth dipped in alcohol between the discs and use a back-and-forth motion (shoe shine) very gently to clear out any lint and dirt. Be sure you are threading the unit correctly (I don't know if the machine is new to you :) before you start dismantling parts. Thanks for watching my channel and good luck.

[@annamaxflair]

a few months back I replaced an upper assembly very similar to this one on one of my singers, wish I'd of come across this video then, it was being a royal pain lol

[@andytubesewing1953]

Tension has always been a mystery to us since the beginning of singers sewing company and I had struggled with it a long time until I decided to just learn everything I could about it. So I may know a little bit of how you felt a few months back. But at least you have a nice reference now with this video series. Thanks again for watching my channel. Anna

[@annamaxflair]

@@andytubesewing1953 thankyou to you, i have 17 sewing machines here, singers, kenmores, brothers, with a white & a morse just not to be a snob lol. next healthy addiction, all your videos sir

[@andytubesewing1953]

@@annamaxflair That sounds like a whole room full of fun going on there. An eclectic collection.

[@annamaxflair]

@@andytubesewing1953 when i can get back to lifting, i'll jot the makes & models in for you, it is a fun list of machines

[@michaelisrael66]

Great close up photos.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thank you! It's nice to see some of those smaller parts up close. Thanks for watching.

[@vomMarischal]

Thank you. This is only the second time I've attempted dismantling a tension assembly. Well what do you know....I have a piece missing. No wonder the poor old girl quit working. Oh and also someone oiled the tensioner in case that was the problem LOL

[@andytubesewing1953]

you are welcome Jackie I'm glad you found my channel and it just goes to show it's always worth the time to dismantle clean and reinstall attention you just never know what you will find Hope you can come back and visit sometime take care

[@honeyislandoutfitters9887]

great videos....where can I get singer service/repair manuals for vintage machines?

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thank you. manualsoncd.com/ have many manuals. You can email me at my channel email address; [e-mail] with a Singer Model number you are looking for. If I have it, I'll email it to you.

[@honeyislandoutfitters9887]

Andy Tube ok Thank you

[@andytubesewing1953]

I had what you wanted and emailed to you. We got lucky. Hope your restoration goes well.

[@honeyislandoutfitters9887]

Andy Tube received thank you sir

[@daffycatbennett3555]

Tension assemblies are very "party" aren't they? One little area and you end up with a bowl FULL of parts!

[@andytubesewing1953]

LOL, for sure! The assembly looks complicated doesn't it? I think that's why most people don't fool with it. It would be like me looking at the carburetor of my car. I have a pretty good idea what it does and kind of know when it is not working properly, but no way would I start taking parts off of it, hahaha. It's too much for me. A singer machine, on the other hand, makes sense to me, so I don't mind working on it. Besides, Tri-Flow smells better than gasoline, right? Thanks for watching.

[@daffycatbennett3555]

HaHaHa Tri-flow smells really GOOD! If you go to their website they advertise it smells like bananas. It sure smells better than the ancient grease and oils inside these old machines. I was ever so pleased to find my bed cover plate felt has no odor after being soaked in Krud Kutter and rinsed and dried in the sun.

[@andytubesewing1953]

I remember cleaning the felt on the cover plate the first time with the Krud Kutter. Spray, soak, rinse, repeat repeat repeat. Man, it was full of oil. But it was sure worth it. Odor free like you say. Worth the price of the KK right there. I think you are having a good time with your 503 machine :)

[@robertberry2671]

I need an original tension assembly for a Singer 457K that has the three disk for double thread. Know where I can get one? I think it's the same as what a 404 uses. My machine has one with plastic knobs and only two disk for single thread.

[@robertberry2671]

Have any videos on the ones with the plastic knobs people are using on the Singer machines?

[@andytubesewing1953]

A search just now on eBay came up with a few for sale starting @ $10. Both types are there.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Sorry, no.

[@robertberry2671]

23:36 getting the pin out ... would a small paper clip from behind push it out?

[@robertberry2671]

Your pin looks like someone previously used a nail to replace their lost pin. I've saw that done quite often ....

[@andytubesewing1953]

Yes, if you could maneuver it around the Tension Releasing Lever.

[@andytubesewing1953]

I have also seen a modified finishing nail used as a replacement. The one shown here is the original tension releasing pin.