Singer 221 Featherweight Motor Rehabilitation Part Three

[@dawnchasse4598]

The price of wool wicks nearly tripled in 4 years. 5 feet= $15.75

[@andytubesewing1953]

😲Maybe inflation is worse than I thought! At least you get a lot of it compared to two wicks for $9.95 singer-featherweight.com/products/wicks-wool-set-of-2 I pinned your comment for others to see, thank you for the news I guess. 😊

[@dawnchasse4598]

@@andytubesewing1953 Thank you for your reply. You are right, it is better than $9.95 for 2 inches of wick. Just a bit of an eye opener when I went to order... So good to see you are still following your posts. I appreciate you and wish you the best life has to offer..😃

[@aliceposey424]

I love the Featherweight shop!!!

[@andytubesewing1953]

Agree.

[@nancymohler5866]

Hi Andy, I'm Jennifer Delio's mom. I have been watching your video's on the 221. I started with a 301A and completed the machine using Jenn's videos. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your videos! This is turning into a fun hobby for me, Jenn got me started when she visited in August. Have a great day!

[@andytubesewing1953]

Nice to hear from you, Nancy. I'm glad you are having fun with the machines. It is a rewarding hobby, and thanks for saving the machines. Please give my regards to Jennifer. I remember trading a couple emails with her last October. I think it was a tension issue, but she never let me know what she found. I did not know about her videos. I hope she is doing well and you both take care.

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

Got wick? lol. Great vid. Have a blessed weekend.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Man, do I ever have wick, haha! 58 inches. Thanks for watching.

[@GaryT1952]

Great upload Andy! Equally great problem solving and perseverance. The correct grease, pre-loading the wick (excellent method BTW..I'll be using that next time) and threading the wick onto the spring are the keys to making your rebuild a success. Good call on the Tri-Flow for the gears...I'm sure Singer would have used something similar if it was available 70 years ago.

[@andytubesewing1953]

thank you very much. I appreciate the encouragement!

[@NolaTheAlamoChiliQueen]

The THREAD JAM TOOL from Featherweight Shop is a MUST HAVE for featherweight owners. It takes about 30 seconds to clear a jam with it! They are top notch! Nice people to deal with.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thanks for sharing.

[@terrymcclean4582]

Once again you have shown that in the absence of a neat trick, that practice, patience and determination can save the day. Thanks as always.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thank you very much, Terry ✨

[@aliceposey424]

Love the pan! I have used a pan like that! I love it!

[@andytubesewing1953]

Haha. I've cooked poached eggs in one on camping trips. Tune for dinner and eggs for breakfast 🐟 🔥🍳

[@ronalddevine9587]

It might have been easier to use a candle in a candle holder to melt the grease. As always, great informative video. Thanks Andy.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Yes, maybe so, Ronald. Not as much fun for me though probably safer. Another viewer mentioned a hairdryer or heat gun, all good ideas. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@ronalddevine9587]

@@andytubesewing1953 love ya, dude.

[@andytubesewing1953]

@@ronalddevine9587 😍

[@karribenedict4919]

You could use a candle for heat also

[@andytubesewing1953]

Absolutely!

[@candydeister]

Just finished replacing my wicks. The side attached to the wires seemed to have a longer tunnel. My wick doesn’t protrude like the other side. Also, I had only 2 washers come out, one in each end. You had three from one side? I’m not going to worry about it. At least my wicks are brand new and my coppers are pretty again!

[@andytubesewing1953]

Yippee! You may have one of the other motors used on the featherweights over the years. You can push down the wick from the top to have it contact the motor shaft. Good job, Candy

[@meganmills6545]

Another wonderful video - I was on the edge of my seat waiting for this installment - and am so glad to now know what I need and how to do it if my wicks are beyond hope. It was definitely worth the wait - so I thank you yet again!

[@andytubesewing1953]

thank you so much, Megan 😄✨

[@vsmetc7305]

I’ve bought felt from McMaster-Carr too for my 15-91 and 201 Singer machines. It works great and they shipped to me in Canada. Got it in two days. Such fast shipping. Unbelievable.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thanks for letting us know they ship to Canada. Two-day shipping to Canada is impressive! Thanks for watching.

[@meganmills6545]

I had tried to order some in New Zealand but they told me "We will not accept orders from you due to the cost of complying with US export regulations. Those regulations apply whether the products are shipped directly outside the US or somewhere within the US for later transport." So naturally I gave up on that. It's great they'd ship it to you as it looks to be the best stuff around and the perfect size.

[@vsmetc7305]

@@meganmills6545 the USA have everything it seems. And if u live there it’s free shipping. So often things I want from there, the shipping is more then the item

[@PatriciaSpayd]

I’m wondering if Singer repair shops had a mythical magic tool that would take off that shiny pressed grease port cap for the wick. Would make life easier, but as the wicks have been I there for 70 plus years, Singer beat the odds on replacing the grease wicks!

[@andytubesewing1953]

I had a couple of viewers who claimed they just pulled them up and out with a plier. I was too worried about damage though.

[@kennethjones5173]

Really informative, much help on these good old motors. Thanks

[@andytubesewing1953]

thank you, Kenneth. Nice of you to take time to comment. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@mjremy2605]

I would use a synthetic silicone grease. Syringes don't cost anything. Get a curved tip, done. It irritates me to look for wicks and pay for shipping, etc. I have a 301 machine that needs a thinner wick than FW I think. Why can't we make our own wicks? Out of felt or wool? Surely it is not rocket science, eh? How about wicks for oil lamps, same thing, no? Please comment. I want a universal solution. A tool that is very useful is a dental pick scraper from Amazon for $5. Cleans out drain hairs, scoops up felt pads at bottom of sewing machines... super useful.

[@andytubesewing1953]

IMO the synthetic silicone grease will not melt properly like the motor lube does. Interestingly, Singer did away with the silver tube and wool sick system the 2nd year they made the 301A model, and all models after that. No motor lubrication system on the PA-style motors. A sealed shaft bearing on top and a sintered bronze bearing on the bottom. No need for wicks so why make them in the future. I do enjoy your comments, and thanks for sharing ideas.

[@danmorrissette4814]

cool tricks with the wicks! ;-)

[@andytubesewing1953]

Thanks. Yeh, it was slick 😉 and thanks for watching my channel ✨

[@Braisin-Raisin]

Can you use a hair dryer instead for heat? Could you put a doubled thread down the silver tube from the outside down and pull it out of the shaft opening, Tie it to the spring and pull from the top to help it get around the curve.

[@andytubesewing1953]

A hairdryer? Certainly. I used my method so you could hear me and a hairdryer is too noisy for that. Any safe heat source could be used; that's up to you. As far as a doubled thread give it a try and let us know, or better yet post a video so we can learn too! I'm a self-taught amateur as far as working on VSM, and the methods you see me use are my own. I hope to show and teach people that they can save and keep these machines in service for decades to come while giving viewers ideas about how it is done. I expect people will surely develop their own ideas, methods, and workarounds that suit them and their abilities, and the tools they have on hand. Thanks for watching my channel.

[@Braisin-Raisin]

@@andytubesewing1953 Of course, never thought of the noise! I am more than an amateur - I usually learn from my mistakes but have always done fiddly, very small work. When I have a motor that I want to remove the wick, I shall give it a try with the thread. I thought it would be a way to get round the corner. I will take photos - I am definitely not set up for doing a video and would be too embarrassed to publish it.

[@andytubesewing1953]

@@Braisin-Raisin That sounds good. A few viewers have told me they were able to get that tube cover off but I was nervous about damaging it and these motors are very expensive here, even the Alpha Sew replacement is not cheap. Spending time to fiddle with the springs and wicks I can afford. You'd be surprised about making videos and uploading them to KZbin. Even a SmartPhone can record a very nice video w/ sound. When you upload you set the viewing so you can make it private that only you can see it. It's an easy way to see how it would look on the channel. You can change it to public any time you like, or just delete it. Anyway, you are doing more than your share by saving the machines, and thanks again for that hard work.

[@caroldanheipl625]

How are you Andy, How do you feel?

[@andytubesewing1953]

Stable for now and kind of you to ask.

[@aliceposey424]

I have made springs by winding wire around a knitting needle of the right size.. and I wonder if you have a piece of wool fabric if you could make wick from that.??.. I was about to order a wool pressing mat $40 for an 18 inch square..I discovered in my stash a piece of wool fabric ..several yards. I put it on my ironing board and it works wonderful. I think I could make a wick also.

[@andytubesewing1953]

I only know that the wick/cord I bought is rated for wicking, is considered firm, and if you follow the link you read the weight & density. It's 95% wool. www.mcmaster.com/8767K22/

[@aliceposey424]

@@andytubesewing1953 Like your little can pan..I have made wicks for lamps etc.. 100% wool..felt .. interesting what we used to make when you could not order things! but I have some wonderful interesting catalogs recipes, instruction manuals form the early 1900's, 1950's..very interesting!

[@sherriscreativemind]

Andy, I think I need to replace my lube port springs that hold the wicking. I have the 3/16" wicking but pulling out the springs was difficult, so they stretched out. What size? Length and diameter and where would I get them? I looked on McMaster and I saw compression springs but don't know if those are what I need. If anyone else knows, please chime in! (If it's not a bother). Thank you!

[@andytubesewing1953]

I don't know the exact size. I have nothing in the documents about the size/length/diameter of that spring. The model 221 parts list calls it "Oil Lubrication Spring", Part No. 194326. A search for that part number shows it was also used on Singer models 15-88, -89,-90 and was called the "Arm Shaft Grease Cup Wick Spring". I don't know of anyone who makes or sells that part. The Featherweight Shop may have one or may be able to measure it, ( singer-featherweight.com/pages/contact-us) but you have the other one that is still good (I assume) I would take the two springs and the motor parts to a local hardware store, and ask for help before I tried ordering one online that I was guessing at.

[@sherriscreativemind]

@@andytubesewing1953 thanks much! I appreciate your help and these awesome videos. 😄

[@kevincondit79]

I think it would be easier to use a heat gun or a hair dryer.

[@andytubesewing1953]

Probably, Kevin, but it would not have been as much fun for me. Thanks for watching.

[@afroninjadeluxe]

Could not a slot be cut in to the top of the cap to allow a flat-head screwdriver to unscrew it?

[@andytubesewing1953]

Like with a small hack saw or Dremel blade? I bet it could be cut. The two fellows who told me they were able to remove the tube caps said they were not screwed in, but just pressed into the grease tube. This video at the featherweight shop shows a cutaway motor and you can see how far that silver piece goes down into the grease tune. singer-featherweight.com/blogs/schoolhouse/learning-about-the-motor-lubricant-ports About 75% of the way inside the tube on that motor. I do not know if all motors are the same; I've only worked on the one in my video. Here is a quote from a comment on the part one video "" I used the pointy pliers to grip the inside and outside, and did a light twist while pulling them out. They are pressed, not screwed,"" That's what I tried but it did not budge and I felt I was damaging the top of the silver cap part so I stopped.

[@JesusCliment]

One reason I did not care too much about breaking the caps is that I started feeling I was going to have to buy another motor, as I had cut the electrical wires and I could not solder them. I removed the caps, i reinstalled them with grease and the wicks from McMaster and I found some information over youtube on how to remove the copper rust over the wires so that they could be re-soldered. So at the end it all worked out: new wires, new wicks and new grease, all with ease.

[@andytubesewing1953]

@@JesusCliment Thanks for the great information, Jesus. That motor must have run as smooth as butter when you finished. Nice clear explanation. Take care.

[@kevincondit79]

Is there a way to remove the cap to install the WICk? I was wondering why you did not try to remove the cap

[@andytubesewing1953]

I talked about that at the start of part two kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYjaloudnMh-hbs There were comments on part one from viewers who DID pull that silver cap up and out of the grease tube. I gave it one try but it did not budge for me and I felt I might damage the cap so I quit. I did not try heating it or using a penetrating oil or anything like that. So I believe yes, it can be done and if you do it please be sure to make a video b/c I think everyone would love seeing that. Thanks for watching.

[@JesusCliment]

I did it, as Andy explained in the 2nd part of the motor videos. It was relatively effortless, and worked fine when I put it back inside, with a bit of pressure (not too much). But it of course depends on how long it has been there and how much dry chemicals are there, which can make it harder to remove.

[@andytubesewing1953]

@@JesusCliment I was hoping you'd see Kevin's question. Thanks very much, Jesus. I very much appreciate what you add to my channel. Don't Stop! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4ece32jiKicf5o

[@rogergriffith5368]

Andy do you have a contact, website? Maybe

[@andytubesewing1953]

KZbin is the only Media I use, no website, no business. The email for this Andy Tube Channel is [e-mail].

[@meganmills6545]

@@andytubesewing1953 Get ready, Andy, for the flurry of wick orders. $3 and an SASE would be a brilliant deal! Limited while 58" of stock lasts though, eh? :-D

[@andytubesewing1953]

@@meganmills6545 I know, right? My wife says I should find a partner and go into business selling the wick and the boxes of parts I have accumulated. I have shoeboxes of presser feet for gosh sakes! I just don't want to be on eBay after talking to some of the sellers. I'd rather have my own website as thriftyfarmgirl does. Maybe someday in the future, who knows?

[@candydeister]

Megan Mills I’d buy a set!