Fixing this Noisy Singer 221K Featherweight Vintage Sewing Machine

[@susankuhlman6514]

I loved the hole to use to enter with screwdriver. This baby is so thoughtfully engineered.

[@dianei.3138]

I had the same noise on my 1954, followed what you did and now its gone! Thank you

[@fixinstitchinmachines9217]

Got to love a fellow professional’s wonderful work! The card stock feed dog riser was definitely NOT the way to fix the issue. Good job! Sweet little machines! Wonderful teaching skills too! I like how you showed people how to diagnose the issue FIRST, rather then just adjusting the height and risking having something else end up being out of adjustment! Had you just went straight to the adjustment and not discovered the card stock, you might have been hitting the needle/throat plate and caused a different problem if nothing else possibly for a future tech! 🎉. Have a grand day!! Subscribed on the first video I watched of yours. It was people like you that taught me the trade and I always will appreciate people with a great handle on their skill set! Even if its something I have no idea about its always great to watch a professional do their trade!

[@InStitches]

Thank you.

[@guymontana5338]

Nice work! Definitely an uncommon issue. Your absolutely right about them being such smooth running quiet capable machines!!! Love them! If they would bring them back with the same quality of materials…… oh the sales we could make!!!

[@nancypollard4531]

I'm so pleased you got that dear little machine sounding like it should.

[@bierjip1]

Interesting! I have a SF and your video has shown me something I didn't know. Great, thank you!

[@pamelaleitman9305]

Great job and learning experience for me and my newly ownership of 221 featherweight!

[@MGRobinson-e9f]

Outstanding video, thank you. I can't wait to apply what I've learned to fixing the clacking sounds in my FW

[@debbiekollar7508]

Thanks for showing this. Always learning about these wonderful featherweights.😊

[@jentwyn]

Thank you so much for this video. Mty 221 is making that noise. I'm going to make an adjustment and hopefully it fixes it.

[@tinyhandmadedolls4529]

Beautiful little machine, they’re still my favourites and I love seeing them mended. You introduced me to the Elnas and I love them too, but the Featherweights are just so tiny and yet strong and capable! It’s hard to say who is quieter because the Elnas are so nice and quiet too, but I think it’s the Featherweight. If I could only take one machine to a desert island… 😂

[@nanachavis]

Hello and thank you for the video. I have a singer 99k that make a klick klick sound I was told they all have they're very own distinct sound but have not had it serviced yet.

[@jenvanginhoven8587]

Great video once again! I would love to find someone such as yourself in the Netherlands to be on standby for any problems I might have with my Featherweight and three Elna Supermatics!

[@jusuiselisabeth]

really enjoy this episode as I work on my own two Featherweieghts. Unfortunately the camera recording was very jiggly, I enjoy your postings. Thanks!

[@edwardlucas8333]

I would like to buy you a shortie screw driver for Christmas lol Nice video and fix.... I'm sure I'll be referencing this some day

[@pamelaleitman9305]

Great assessment and problem solving!

[@violet2048]

Lovely little champion.

[@r.duroucher225]

What a great video. Thank you. One thing that I never noticed before is that there is a very different noise when the machine is actually stitching on material, and when it is just running without thread. It's very quiet without thread and it makes a sort of rattling when actually stitching. I would guess the thread escapement (if that's the right word) has to move back and forth as the hook revolves to permit the thread to move freely and that's a soft of a rattling type of noise. When it just runs unthreaded it's as quiet as can be. Am I correct that the "basket" in the hook rattles back and forth to permit the thread to feed?

[@szelop]

Mine started clanking when the bobbin is in but runs smoothly without it. Can’t figure out the problem. The bobbin stitch finger is in the proper position so wondering why it started clanking. The stitches are still nice.

[@r.duroucher225]

@@janesmith5967 Aha. I've worked with these jibs and yes, the screws are tiny. Very easy to lose. I dropped one and was only able to find it using a magnet that I used to "sweep" the floor.

[@zamis21]

Thank you!! That noise was driving me NUTS!

[@joanwillenborg6027]

So glad I came across your video. I have the exact same noise and I knew where it was coming from, but could not figure out how to fix it. Did raising the feed figs so high to eliminate the hitting noise cause any other adjustments to get a good stitch? Thank you so very much. Off to get rid of my noise!

[@chrisevola9504]

VERY interesting!! Thank you!!

[@gailschuetze6769]

Great video I will remember this. 😊

[@crr8297]

Nice job, thank you. I wonder if the feed dog or hook was replaced at some time making that adjustment necessary

[@lollieeverett1266]

Thanks

[@yc70jade]

Thank you for this video! My new to me 221 is no where as quiet as my 222. The race rattles. I have adjusted the feed dog height but it's still rattling. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[@InStitches]

Hi. I assume you've oiled the hook race? I would also oil and grease the entire machine. All of the lubrication points are shown in the manual which is freely available as a download if you don't have the physical copy. Thanks.

[@yc70jade]

@@InStitches I've oiled all parts 🙂 When I apply pressure to the race, the rattling goes away. I've tried removing the entire race and hook but it's so tightly screwed in 😔

[@InStitches]

@@yc70jade I'm assuming you're applying pressure to the pin that holds the bobbin case in the base? Maybe the hook and base are worn? You need good quality screw drivers and of the correct size to loosen the hook screws.

[@James-k3z7f]

❤❤❤❤

[@SaffyFoo]

Love you videos

[@musicbox-cz7xu]

I got out my mom's old featherweight and the motor races when I plug it in. and the footpedal is not depressed. Any ideas? I ordered a new cord, but not sure where to start. Thanks, Lynn

[@InStitches]

Yes, it's more than likely either the capacitor in the machine itself of the one in the foot controller has gone short circuit and needs replacing. You can remove them and the machine will still work but it's best to get them replaced if possible. It could also be a short circuit somewhere else. Thanks.

[@musicbox-cz7xu]

@@InStitches I actually ordered the new foot pedal, not just the cord. --Hopefully that will be a place to start.--Thank you for your website!

[@ShiftingSands57]

Check the wiring, if possible remove the drip tray under the machine and take a look, check for capacitors. I recently received a FW that looked to be in pristine condition, the paint was impeccable, it sewed well and beautifully, but on looking underneath saw the capacitor was present and in the process of removing it I found all the wires to the machine were bare, the covers had disintegrated with age [this was a 1951 model]. So a dangerous situation that was only discovered inadvertently. If you machine runs without touching it properly best to check your wiring to make sure it is all safe. Old wiring is a fire and electrical hazard The person selling mine to me had no idea of the wiring situation until I sent them the photos of what it looked like underneath and the bare wires. Just because a machine looks and sews well, does not mean it is safe to use.

[@omfahad3496]

Please I want the 2 in 1 machine, where can I get it?

[@InStitches]

They aren't made any more so you'd need to find one on the second hand market. Thanks.

[@szelop]

Still sounds like something is hitting when it’s stitching. Is that normal?

[@InStitches]

I think it's just the thread loop coming off the back of the hook gib.