MOTOR SERIES # 11: How to Remove a Singer Potted Motor For Long Overdue Grease Maintenance

[@sharonfrey5206]

Glad to see you’re teaching about potted motors. Please do a troubleshooting video if they don’t run after being rewired and greased.

[@MsMarski]

Thank you for making this video. It is so informative and honest. It has given me the confidence to clean and grease my 201 potted motor. Regards

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thebonsaibeliefsystem5449]

Well done video, i just bought a slightly used 15-91 at a goodwill store for $20, i would grade it 90% mint, cabinet was scratch up more the anything, No extra bits. Other then that 100% all there, very glad i found your videos before i even started cleaning it.

[@ronalddevine9587]

As always, very informative video. I've removed several potted motors from 201s, and rewired them. Can't wait to see grease wicks

[@ninjananagardner7672]

I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am to see you do this particular motor . As always your videos are so very informative ! Now I will go ahead and try to rewire my 2 201-2 that have been sitting for a year ! Thanks so much , keep the knowledge and experience coming !

[@candydeister]

I am watching this to assist in my restoration of a 1953 201 with potted motor. My 3-prong terminal houses the light, the foot controller and the power. I will make careful notes of where everything comes off in order to reassemble later. I’ve also been using Kleen Heat kerosene and a toothbrush to clean the worm gear inside. Now to finish watching your series to see how you clean up the gears. So much fun! Thanks a bunch!

[@lordsgirl1123]

The motor screws are sealed at the factory. A tap on the end of the hollow-point screwdriver will unseal them and let them turn. I saw this in an early 201-2 video.

[@LilyoftheValeyrising]

I’m working on one of these now for a customer. Very informative thank you!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@heatherbrown789]

Late to the commentary, but I just purchased a 15-91. I watched this video, just in case. Met the seller, and the whole machine is seized up. I got a great deal, but now I have a lot of work ahead of me. Opened it up and, thanks to the Texas summers, it is dry as a bone! Still, thanks to these videos, I figure I might be able to get it running again. At present, however, the motor won't even come off!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Thanks for sharing

[@heatherbrown789]

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Of course! Your videos have been VERY helpful! Update: I got it loosened up this afternoon. Woohoo! A bit of Liquid Wrench, a little nudge now and again, and some heat from the Texas sunshine. Now I have to wait for grease and wicks for the motor. Wouldn't have been possible without the instruction and demonstration you offered. Thank *you*.

[@lisareed5669]

We say "honking" in Texas, too! (although I am a Kansas girl now.

[@lisareed5669]

Just got my first 201 for about $6.67. It looks like it has begun being parted out, but it is not too bad. (Also got a 101, which has been cannibalized!, and a 2502, which looks in really good (but really dirty) condition, but a spool pin has snapped off, and I'm not sure yet how to fix that.' While I'm at it, I have a Singer 401, free. A New Home, also. And a few others. LOL. I AM HAVING FUN!!!!!

[@kathy_funk]

I would really love to see a video on REWIRING a potted motor. My wires are shot and I don't know how to put new ones on my 15-91.

[@tracisass4983]

Me too! Mine looks like it melted or perhaps small electrical fire in area between terminal and motor. Terminal cleaned up fine and motor looks ok so I think it all just needs new wiring! Someone left it at the dump :(

[@SarahWilliams-oo6zg]

This is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the next one.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@maria2400]

Very impressed. Can’t wait for the next video.

[@athertonca]

I really appreciate this video. I have a 201-2 that I need to dismantle, inspect, repair, and reassemble. I have looked inside the motor housing and it looks as though it has been redone. However, the wire that connects the terminal to the motor is gummy.

[@chrystalhenthorne8209]

Good stuff. This task may be in my future. Thanks soooo much!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kathy_funk]

You make it look so easy! A few months ago I tried and tried to remove those two bolts inside my 15-91's handwheel area and they would not budge in the least. One forum I joined suggested "tapping" the end of the screwdriver with a hammer, which I tried. No good, even after tapping it quite a bit harder. Still would not loosen those bolts (and I sure wish I had watched this beforehand so I would have been a little more gentle!). Another person suggested using a specific screwdriver tip made by Brownell's (tip #360-6). I ordered the tips, but I was pretty desperate to keep sewing masks at that time, so I tracked down another machine and kept sewing on that one while waiting for my order to arrive. Now that I have the (perfect) tip, I will go back to the original 15-91 to see if I can dislodge those screws. The wiring is shot and I don't want to get electrocuted. I absolutely MUST get that motor off. QUESTION: Have you ever used a little heat when removing old screws? How do you accomplish that without causing damage to the machine?

[@candydeister]

A neighbor who works on cars let me borrow a can of Aero Kroil. By golly, it loosens screws nicely! Spray, let sit a bit, then try again. It moves!

[@lordsgirl1123]

These screws are factory sealed. There is an instruction video on You Tube where a man instructs in potted motor removal. He taps the hollow-point screwdriver with a brass hammer to unseal the screw the screws. These machines are unlike another other domestic and must be respected and handled correctly.

[@tracisass4983]

Yes please show us how to rewire this 15-91. Thanks!!

[@irisramos3038]

Thank you for this video I recently received a 201 from 1940 the machine still works but the wires just crumble to the touch. Looks like I have a long project ahead of me. Do you have a link for that tool kit? Or a thing else that might be helpful

[@ianbutler1983]

Iris, It is a Chapman gunsmithing screwdriver. Many firearms have similar screws.

[@lordsgirl1123]

Thank you!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

You bet!

[@slowsmooth3440]

What screw driver kit are you using? New here, first video, thanks for your service and time.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Hey there. I think I have a video on these in one of my Tool/Equipment video series. These are made by Chapman and are Made in USA. Hard to believe I know but they've proven to be very durable and tough. My set is Kit No. 9600 which may have been updated since I got mine. Mine came with 15 bits, but is expandable so you can add bits by purchasing additional ones as needed. This is why you always see open spaces in the box here. Here is a link to their site: chapmanmfg.com/

[@carlingwheeler9796]

I just bought a 15-91 1954 machine. I need parts can you help me?

[@steveleaf286]

Hi, just found your videos, thanks! What happens when the balance wheel does not come off easy peasy? I have pulled, and pulled it. Before I do anything else I thought I'll ask you.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

You might try penetrant oils or sewing machine oil and heat. This can take a few cycles of trying but will often work. Old oil gums up like a kind of 'glue' and will soften with heat. Sometimes, just sewing machine oil and heat is all you need; well that a bit of patience!!

[@steveleaf286]

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage Thanks, I applied some oil. I started to work the balance wheel in and out slowly. Each time the travel of the wheel was closer to it coming off I was finally able to remove the BW after several times. YEA! I cleaned things up and out. Now I need to find a video on how to get the buttin winder to work without the needle working at the same time. Thanks again!

[@lindacook175]

how much would you sell that machine for? I am interested. Kindly, Linda

[@sherriscreativemind]

What number chapman screwdriver set to you have, if I can ask? Very helpful video, I've got a 15-90 that I'm gonna clean up. Thanks bunches!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Hello Sherri. My set has "Kit No. 9600" on the label. It came with 15 bits although I believe they sell a variety of sizes.

[@shannonvickers5732]

I was gifted a brother sewing machine from my dad's friend... and I'm struggling to find out what model it is so I can reasearch if there's anything missing.... bare in mind I have no experience with a sewing machines at all🤦‍♀️🤣... it's dated 1959. 🌻

[@yetimangaming9384]

I picked up a American home deluxe sewing machine that was made in Japan recently and got it back up and running thanks to your videos but I'm having trouble finding info on it it looks like a singer class 15 clone but i can't figure out we're to search the serial number up at any tips?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

There may not be a serial number record kept but you might find some info on one of the Vintage sewing groups online that specialize in Post WW II Japanese made machines.

[@yetimangaming9384]

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage thank you iv kinda got a love for the odd ones

[@cocasio7190]

Thank you!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

You bet!