MOTOR SERIES #16: How to Replace Grease & Grease Wicks With Lubricant on a Singer BT Motor

[@user-hx6wt9dh7w]

Thank you so much I am so glad I watched this!!! You answered all my questions.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@christinefinewood4467]

What brand of grease is in YOUR syringe?

[@sarahwilson7576]

This was so helpful! My machine is missing one of its grease ports and I am struggling to find a replacement. Do you have any suggestions? It is a Singer 66 made in 1948.

[@LoveMusic-pd5iz]

I've only done this once and it was an explore and learn event. I appreciate soaking in your knowledge. Before the wick is reinserted in the holder, why couldn't grease be put in a thin line along its length? Would the wick get too wobbly to fit back in the holder?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

That could happen. You might consider "priming" the wick at the bottom end where it touches the bearing/bushing and then fill in the port the rest of the way with grease.

[@maryellenrenteria5832]

Please do a video on this -->I have just purchased a 66 Red Eye the appearance is in good shape but it won't turn, it missing the bobbin winding unit, it has a 1.2 amp motor and light that works too. The plugs are old and need to be replaced and the needle holder is missing. The biggest issue that it has a broken piece inside the machine. The part (not sure what it's called) needs to be replaced. This broken part can be accessed from the back under the swing plate (you now are looking at that part) it broke at a 45 degree angle at the top. It looks like someone may have forced it to move, maybe because the handwheel/needle mechanism wasn't moving. Could you do a video on the inside replacement of these parts and provide a parts website I can purchase these parts? Thank you for your videos! Mary Ellen

[@brandonlandrum1560]

I have a Singer 66-18 Do you have any recomendation on what grease i should use?

[@joezgorski9944]

I have just purchased a Singer Model 31-15 industrial machine. Everything works fine but I want to lubricate everything including the motor. The motor seems to take grease at one area where there is a removable cap and at another location on motor there is a hole and I’m not sure if oil goes there or grease. I have no clue what the correct type of grease to use on this motor and any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks Joe Z

[@pamelaleitman9305]

What is a potted motor?

[@LoveMusic-pd5iz]

Forgot to ask, what is your opinion about using synthetic oil and grease on vintage sewing machines?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Synthetic lubricants can be a great improvement if you are talking about a car engine where high temps degrade traditional oils. FYI, synthetic oils are still petroleum based, but are a LOT more highly refined. For the purposes of a domestic sewing machine, synthetic has not super advantage given the temps that home sewing machines create with just friction. Regular sewing machine oil is just fine.

[@minna7751]

I am so confused about oiling vs greasing the motor and there are so many different opinions out there. I've read that if the ports don't have a little spring for grease reservoire but the whick goes all the way down the tube from top to bottom then it should be oiled instead of greased? I own SewRetro but really want to make sure I use the right medium. I paid a lot to get the motors fixed by a motor specialist (who is no expert in sewing machines) and am terrified of ruining them by using the wrong stuff...

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

You are wise think about it since some people will put anything in a motor. For this motor type (and some others) you should never use oil for the lubrication. The SewRetro grease you have should work just fine as it softens as the motor warms up. Melting points of various kinds of grease vary and having the right melting point is crucial so you get just enough liquification for the motor's bearings without melting TOO much and ruining the motor. If you have new wicks and grease, it can help to put ONE OR TWO DROPS ONLY of sewing machine oil on the TIP OF THE WICK ONLY to help jumpstart the wicking process for the new grease. Or you can simply do that with the new grease and skip the oil to help prime the wick. But never use sewing machine oil as the primary lubricant unless the manual specifies to do so.

[@minna7751]

@@VintageSewingMachineGarage THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I absolutely trust your opinion and your videos have lead me to collect and repair roughly 20 beautiful vintage singer which has kept me sane and happy during the past year. I even got my mom into them and unfortunately she did use oil on such a motor once or twice (and probably not sparingly) because we read that on a blog. Will problems show in the long run? Is there any way for me to save it and prevent further damage? All the best from Heidelberg and thank you so very much for sharing your knowledge and passion with us! ***

[@ParabellumX]

You could've held the Zirk fitting with the needle nose pliers while you applied heat. Nonetheless, I learned something from this video. Thank you! 😊

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Great point!

[@lindaa.9741]

It appears the heat gun is 'burning' the wick. Does that affect the wicking ability of the wick?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Great question Linda. It can. As you can see, even when set on Low, heat can be very strong on these materials. In this case, it was not enough to damage the wick to where it would not function, or I could have simply cut another piece and redid the procedure. Given how little heat it takes to melt this grease, a hair dryer (also used with caution on Low setting) can be a better alternative.